Nyárérzés / Summer feeling

Nyárérzés / Summer feeling, originally uploaded by Márk Borbély Photography.

Unclaimed property

Unclaimed Finance LLC, heir locators/finders who specialize in reuniting unclaimed property with their rightful owners. We have made a short interview with them:

What is Unclaimed Property?

Unclaimed property is defined as property that has gone through the following process: abandonment, and escheatment. A property is considered “abandoned” by the property owner whereby there has been no account activity or communication a period of time required by State law, oftentimes this period is 5 years. The process of escheatment applies to all financial institutions, brokerage firms, and recently retail institutions since the passing of law requiring abandoned gift checks and gift cards recorded on abandoned property reports. Prior to the property being transferred to the State’s Treasury department, the institution must make a good faith effort to locate the property owner. If they are unable to locate the owner, the property is escheated and/or transferred to the State in which it became abandoned; the State now becomes the owner of this account.

 Uncashed checks, traveler’s checks or gift cards
 Money orders and travelers checks
 Utility and security deposits
 Checking, savings and safe deposit accounts
 An inheritance, proceeds from a life insurance policy
 Stock dividends and certificates
 Bail bonds and inmate account refunds



How do you go about locating heirs and recovering asset in the United States?

We use a proprietary database as well as social media networks to try to locate property owners. If the property owner has been identified as deceased, the property will then become an heir claim, and we then focus our attention on looking for any potential relatives.

What is the misconception that people have about claiming their properties Unclaimed Property?

Given the many types of fictitious and fraudulent pieces of “too good to be true” communications we receive on a weekly basis via telephone, email, or regular mail, we have a right to be wary and suspicious consumers. However, the biggest misconception about Unclaimed Property is that the consumer believes there isn’t any possible way they could have unclaimed property in their name or that of a close relative who has passed away, making them an heir.

Next would be their mistrust of Government, in the sense that they have the misconception that if there is any money owed to them being held by the Government they have to “jump through hoops” and endless red tape in order to retrieve it. Both of these scenarios are simply not true, which is why in addition to actually locating and performing all the back end paperwork for our clients, Unclaimed Finance educates consumers on the entire process from transfer to the State Treasury offices to cutting the refund check.

What are the advantages of using the service of Unclaimed Finance LLC?

Our clients are the forefront, the focus and epicenter of our operations; without them our company would cease to exist. In return for their trust in us, we provide a full-service model wherein once they sign the forms required to release the funds as mandated by Law, we handle everything – legal review, telephone calls, email follow-up, in the event the release is contested and requires an in-person Court appearance, etc. Our service fees are the cheapest in the industry and always in compliance with State laws, averaging around 15%, cheaper than the 33 1/3% lawyers require.

Where and how can a prospective unclaimed property owner find you?

Unclaimed Finance is on the web at http://www.unclaimedfinance.com or call 24 hours a day, toll-free at (855) ANY-FUNDS. Our staff is diligently working through the database of to locate 4 million unclaimed property owners – as you can imagine this takes time. We reach out through telephone, email and US mail – so if you receive a communication from us, don’t delay, your money could be in your hands as quickly as 6-8 weeks.

PR Consulting

Jerome Cleary is publicist and PR Consultant in Los Angeles, California. We have made a short interview with him.

How did you get interested into the PR Consulting and Publicist Field, Who or what inspired you?

While many people go to college to get a degree in Public Relations, which are great as, I happened to be helping a friend out in your small home office PR firm part time. I learned how to be a publicist from the ground up and became a great writer and PR story pitcher. Making the goal of putting together a great news story and then trying to get as many media placements as possible inspired me.

Which was the most interesting and challenging task you have accomplished during these years?

I would have to say that taking a well known plastic surgeon who was older and reinventing him and putting him on to the first four seasons of E!’s Doctor 90210 TV series was the most interesting and challenging. From this PR placement I was able to drive over one million dollars in new patient revenue in to his medical practice. This made him famous and a name brand and made three other doctors in his practice so well known that they left and started their own practice.

What are the qualities to be the most important to be a successful PR consultant?

Many people have asked me this question and there are many answers to consider. So here are some questions to ask yourself. Are you good with interacting with TV and Radio segment producers and able to shift gears immediately and give them what they want and need? Are you an incredible writer that can come up with five to ten new story ideas instantly? Are you methodical and deliberate? Are you a great listener? Are you on top of every news story and trend happening every minute? Do you have a steel-trap memory? Are you an incredible storyteller? Are you able to be super nice and friendly? Do you know how to instantly make corrections and adjustments? Are you a tenacious person who won't take no and will not take rejection personally? Are you able to intuitively able to get what the vibe is when interacting with a magazine or newspaper editor? Are you able to crank out the work and stay up all-night and work through the weekend? Can you make crazy deadlines? Are you significant already in your community and city? Do you have many allies and connections? Are you able to access situations immediately to see what is needed? Do you have an outstanding sense of humor? Do you know what is appropriate and inappropriate? Do you care what people of you? Are you content in your life presently? Can you write better than most people you know? Do you know what makes a great story? Are you aware of the differences between ad copy and a press release? A great publicist is able to do all of the above well and do it naturally.

Which is a field that will not need any PR services?

Well that depends as I think everything needs PR services. If you are major star or celebrity the media calls and emails just pour in constantly but they too still need a top publicist. A well-known political figure would still need PR services. See a publicist acts at the agent or manager to the PR client to interact with the media and the PR services are the icing on the cake to help support, protect, enhance and defend the PR client.

What is your secret in “long term relationship” building?

My secret in long-term relationship building is to care a lot and to listen well and to keep that person as a friend too. I still interact with former and future clients and with media contacts to let them know what is going on in my life that is not necessarily about me being a publicist.

Václav Havel Memorial, Prague Castle

Václav Havel Memorial, Prague Castle, originally uploaded by stribs.

BikeAPack - The Folding Bicycle

BikeaPack.com has invented a folding bicycle. We have asked them about this great invention:

This is amazing, how does the folding of the bicycle work in order to fit in a full bag that is only 9 inches x 13 inches x 21 inches? 
Well, it weighs only 18 pounds. It folds (or unfolds) in about a minute without tools. Actually, the unique invention is that the wheels fold.

Really, the wheels fold and how is that? 
The secret to that is in our patent on our website www.BikeAPack.com, but basically it has an internal driveline, so there is no chain or exposed grease. The tires are pre-inflated and snap into place as the wheels unfold. It then looks, rides, and feels like a normal bicycle.

So say that again, about how quick it is for someone to fold or open it before riding it? 
About a minute.

And that's without tools? 
Right

Where can I buy or order this folding bicycle and how much does it cost?
We are not taking deposits or orders yet. It's in pre-release right now on the website. We still have work to do and we're NOT in a hurry. It takes time and refinement to be the best.

Very cool, thanks for your time. The website again to see the pre-release of the folding bicycle that fits into a backback is www.BikeAPack.com

BikeAPack is available on FACEBOOK.

breathtaking

_DSC2389a, originally uploaded by ColmanLi.

Creative fly attendant

A Forest of Palms

A Forest of Palms, originally uploaded by RobStead.