Anyone had dealings with a company called Pro Search?

zaksmum

Got a letter today asking me if I could assist a company called Pro Search. They are looking for a person in connection with unclaimed entitlements and this person has the same initial and maiden name as me - a very rare name.

They say their research has given them to understand I have used this name and ask me if I can confirm this. It goes on to ask if I ever lived at a certain address.

I did not live at this address but I had an uncle who lived in that general area - not the same address - with whom I shared the name (my father's brother).

He died in 2004 aged 79 and had no biological children, but he and his late wife had informally adopted a child during the war.

I am wondering if it's worth responding, or could it potentially be some sort of scam?

Upsidedown_Bear

Have a look at this thread.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2618369

zaksmum

Thanks for that upside down bear. So on balance it probably is just a scam then.

Upsidedown_Bear

If you Google "Prosearch scam" there's lots more info out there.

zaksmum

Thanks again Upsidedown bear. I'll have a look.

Nitram_Siwel

After receiving a letter from ProSearch telling me I was entitled to £59.76 HBOS unpaid dividends, I phoned Shareview 01214157066, who are the Loyds/HBOS nominees. Use option 4 speak to an advisor, give him your account number and address etc. Tell him you have received a letter from ProSearch, state your entitlement, and he will ask for the 7 figure ProSearch reference which is on your letter from ProSearch. He then puts you on hold as he checks the records and then informs you of your entitlement. My entitlement was as stated, had to pay £20 for re-issue of a cheque and that's it, £39.76 for one phone call!
£20 charge would be the same for any value of cheque, much less than ProSearch charges! but thanks to them for providing the reference number.;)

msb5262

Why would a newbie suddenly revive an old thread, I wonder?

Nitram_Siwel

Simple answer- I did a Google search on 'ProSearch' and arrived at this thread. I thought there may be someone that would appreciate the information and save themselves some money. Obviously not you msb5262.

aileth

Seems legit .

Sparhawke

zaksmum wrote: »

Thanks for that upside down bear. So on balance it probably is just a scam then.

I have heard of them before.

It may be that your family or whatever had dividends in a company, have died and these people have found them for you.

Usually though these companies are vultures, they may have found that some shares were floating free, and they may have researched births, marriages and deaths and found you but if you were to authorise them to act on your behalf then you will end up losing your rightful inheritance to them.

It may just be you have a hidden windfall that they have advised you of, do your own research and dump them. You are under no obligation to use their services or pay them for services already rendered because you had no agreement with them

msb5262 wrote: »

Why would a newbie suddenly revive an old thread, I wonder?

This is not such an old thread, only a couple of months old so could still be viable. I dislike it when threads are years old though and the original poster is nowhere to be seen lol

Nitram_Siwel

I can assure everyone it's legit, how could I possibly gain from this? I thought the idea of this forum was to help one another save money, (The clue is in the heading MoneySavingExpert.)
The charges from ProSearch are ridiculous, look through the thread or do a Google search.
It doesn't matter what shares you hold or which nominees you hold your shares with, if you receive correspondence from ProSearch or any similar company offering to claim back your entitlement, go directly to the nominees and most will do everything for free, apart from the small charge to re-issue the cheques which you are entitled to. It's entirely up to the individual.