Disabled vet finds he has thousands in unclaimed cash
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SEATTLE -- Buford Neal is a Korean War veteran. The 84-year old lost his legs during his service, but not his way of life.
"I've tried to treat everybody like I want to be treated," Buford said.
We wanted to show a little kindness back and typed his name into the state Department of Revenue's unclaimed property website. It includes anything from un-cashed checks to utility refunds, when the owners can't be found.
Buford's name popped up six times. He has money waiting.
"I could of used it from then until today," he said. "Yeah, that's for sure. I've been poor."
It turns out, Buford had cash sitting in an old checking account, and he's done some real estate transactions with money left in escrow. He suspected both, saying he tried to get money out of a checking account when he was going through a divorce, but he didn't get anywhere.
"I went and talked with the manager once or twice. But after that I didn't go back," he said.
His wife Evelyn also explained how they might have left money in escrow after a sale.
"It was going through escrow and they said, well, the money, we have to allocate it here and there and then if it's left over. Well, we just figured there wasn't anything left over," Evelyn said.
Buford discovered he has more than $9,000 in unclaimed cash. Both Buford and Evelyn were stunned.
"I never dreamed that this would happen," said Evelyn. "It was more than I was hoping for."
"I told her I'm gonna take her and buy her a hamburger. Be nice to her," Buford joked.
"I'll take some fries with that hamburger," Evelyn joked back.
"I didn't tell him but just sitting here I've already put up curtains and blinds, got new shoes," she laughed.
But then they revealed their real dream has been to travel to Texas and visit the ranch where Buford grew up. They simply couldn't afford it.
"I said, 'God will make a way.' He'll make a way. Just be patient," Evelyn said. "And I kept telling him that. And here you knock on the door today."
"Think nine grand will take us?" Buford smiled.
"It'll take us and we can have that hamburger," Evelyn replied. "I feel kinda rich. It feels good."
The Department of Revenue has $817 million in unclaimed property. You can see if any of it belongs to you by visiting claimyourcash.org
The service is free, so be sure to go through the state's site and don't use a website that says you need to pay for the information.
"I've tried to treat everybody like I want to be treated," Buford said.
We wanted to show a little kindness back and typed his name into the state Department of Revenue's unclaimed property website. It includes anything from un-cashed checks to utility refunds, when the owners can't be found.
Buford's name popped up six times. He has money waiting.
"I could of used it from then until today," he said. "Yeah, that's for sure. I've been poor."
It turns out, Buford had cash sitting in an old checking account, and he's done some real estate transactions with money left in escrow. He suspected both, saying he tried to get money out of a checking account when he was going through a divorce, but he didn't get anywhere.
"I went and talked with the manager once or twice. But after that I didn't go back," he said.
His wife Evelyn also explained how they might have left money in escrow after a sale.
"It was going through escrow and they said, well, the money, we have to allocate it here and there and then if it's left over. Well, we just figured there wasn't anything left over," Evelyn said.
Buford discovered he has more than $9,000 in unclaimed cash. Both Buford and Evelyn were stunned.
"I never dreamed that this would happen," said Evelyn. "It was more than I was hoping for."
"I told her I'm gonna take her and buy her a hamburger. Be nice to her," Buford joked.
"I'll take some fries with that hamburger," Evelyn joked back.
"I didn't tell him but just sitting here I've already put up curtains and blinds, got new shoes," she laughed.
But then they revealed their real dream has been to travel to Texas and visit the ranch where Buford grew up. They simply couldn't afford it.
"I said, 'God will make a way.' He'll make a way. Just be patient," Evelyn said. "And I kept telling him that. And here you knock on the door today."
"Think nine grand will take us?" Buford smiled.
"It'll take us and we can have that hamburger," Evelyn replied. "I feel kinda rich. It feels good."
The Department of Revenue has $817 million in unclaimed property. You can see if any of it belongs to you by visiting claimyourcash.org
The service is free, so be sure to go through the state's site and don't use a website that says you need to pay for the information.
