Finders International

[Jackiemh]

Hello everyone
My brother has just received a letter from the above people regarding tracing missing beneficiaries.
My initial thoughts were that it was a scam but I see that Finders International is a legitimate
concern.
Has anyone had any dealings with them? Why haven't I (or my other brother) received the letter - or is it held up with snail mail?
Jackie

[Andy J2022]

Why haven't I (or my other brother) received the letter?

Perhaps they haven't found you yet

[Jebber]

They are one of the companies featured in all the BBC Heir Hunters series.

They may have yet to locate you and your other brother.

[Wellington66]

Hi Jackie,
I was contacted by Finders back in May of 2014.  I wasn't given any information at that point apart from being told they had been instructed by a firm of solicitors to try and trace relatives.  I was asked to sign an agreement for their commission.  I cannot remember exactly but I think it was February 15 when I eventually received a payment from my late distant cousins estate.  This came from the solicitors involved.  Not a life changing amount i hasten to add but very nice to receive none the less.  I asked Finders for a family tree which I did receive.  The solicitors also sent me a balance sheet naming everyone who inherited. Great for family history research.
I must be a lucky person because several years previously I had a similar experience with a different firm of heir hunters.
Hope this helps.
Welly x

[Jackiemh]

Thank you for your responses.
As our parents had been mentioned in the letter, I was thinking that this might apply to all 3 of us.
Yes, Welly that did help. I have been racking my brain to think who, what, when and why. Not that any of our ancestors was well off.
Just have to wait for developments.
Regards Jackie

[Wellington66]

You are welcome Jackie,
I also couldn't think who my relative might be.  As it turned out I did know of her and had researched that particular branch of the family.  She was a distant cousin who never married.  I hope you have a nice surprise eventually!  Welly x

[LizzieL]

I had a letter from a different firm of HHs a few years ago. My brother got a similar letter but a couple of weeks earlier - reason for the delay, they used the most recent address for me that they could find from electoral register which I moved from in 2003 and then chose not to be listed on the public ER. So my letter was forwarded by the people who bought our old house.
The supposed deceased relative was on my father's side of the family, but he having been deceased for several years at the time did not get a letter, but his sister (my aunt) who had died four months previously did get a letter. This was forwarded from her former care home to her son (her executor and my first cousin).
The tree which I received from the HH did not include this cousin, but did include his two siblings. The reason being that his two siblings were born in England but he was born abroad (his father was in the RAF at the time).
So as to who gets the letter depends on how thorough the HH is and where and how up to date their information.
The deceased "relative " was not ours - just happened to have the same name and year of birth and lived in same county as my father's first cousin.

 

[Jackiemh]

It does get rather complicated doesn't it?
Our surname is one of the lesser common ones but I do know of at least one other individual of the same name to each of us three so it is quite possible that we are not eligible.
Interesting scenario though.
Thanks again
Jackie

[Jackiemh]

Well, it appears that it is relevant to our family; being a cousin of our mother.
From their follow up letter, they know of me but not our other brother; cousins were not mentioned.
They must have quite a task as I know the lady in question had 8 brothers and sisters; most of whom married but several did not have any children.
I have been given the job of providing family information.
Jackie