I got a letter from Joseph Richards & Associates saying they’re holding a check for $330 from Noble Energy made out to me. They want $66 as an investigation fee, but I called Noble Energy, and they said they’ve never issued me a check. Joseph Richards & Associates is in Bakersfield, CA. Has anyone else dealt with them? Is this a scam?
That sounds sketchy. If Noble Energy says they didn’t issue a check, I’d be super cautious. Did the letter look legit?
Lyra said:
That sounds sketchy. If Noble Energy says they didn’t issue a check, I’d be super cautious. Did the letter look legit?
Right? Asking for money up front is usually a red flag. I’d avoid sending them anything until you’re sure.
Lyra said:
That sounds sketchy. If Noble Energy says they didn’t issue a check, I’d be super cautious. Did the letter look legit?
You can check with your state’s unclaimed funds department to see if anything is actually owed to you. Might save you some trouble.
@Marlo
Yes, I’ve done that before. It’s super easy to check online for unclaimed funds through the state.
I’ve seen similar cases with these types of companies. They might not be scammers, but they definitely overcharge for something you could do yourself.
Abigail said:
I’ve seen similar cases with these types of companies. They might not be scammers, but they definitely overcharge for something you could do yourself.
Exactly. They’re probably charging a fee to retrieve unclaimed funds, but you can avoid the middleman by going to the state directly.
I found a BBB profile on Joseph Richards & Associates. Their rating wasn’t great, and they’ve had complaints. Worth checking out.
Evans said:
I found a BBB profile on Joseph Richards & Associates. Their rating wasn’t great, and they’ve had complaints. Worth checking out.
BBB ratings can tell you a lot. If they have a lot of complaints, that’s a big warning sign.
Definitely check with the government’s unclaimed money website before doing anything. You don’t need to pay to claim funds yourself.
It’s not uncommon for companies to handle unclaimed funds, but the fees are often unnecessary. I’d avoid it unless you’re sure.