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•  "Our database is kept forever," said DeJabet, adding, "we never erase your name… if it has not been paid out, you will always be in there."
•  It is, she said, what is called "a perpetual liability to the state of South Dakota--we are obligated to pay that at any point in time, and your heirs can come back and claim it." And, she added, many do.
•  With about 9,000 new properties a year to handle, the two explained, and only three staff members, it is not feasible to do cold calling, searching for people, even though some may appear obvious to the casual observer. DeJabet said they do go through and pull out the public entities that may be listed.
•  And, Sattgast noted, "we have been advised by the Attorney General not to do a cold call," since it could be a mistaken identity.
•  If something is sent out to somebody in error, agreed DeJabet, "it becomes very difficult for them to understand" when it is found it does not belong to them after all.
•  Sattgast said he encourages people to check, since the state is currently holding
•  $23 million worth of property… just waiting for rightful owners to claim.

•  Sattgast and staff members are not just sitting back waiting for you to call, however… they are doing what they can to be visible and available at large statewide or regional gatherings of people, such as at the Sioux Empire Home Show, the Black Hills Home Show, the State Fair, the Sioux Empire Fair, Brown County Fair and DakotaFest in Mitchell.
•  And the newspaper advertising that is done each year reaps benefits seen in increased numbers of applicants.
•  By emphasizing the web page in that advertising this year, DeJabet said, there were 2,000 more claims submitted as a result during the three-week cycle of advertising. People who call in and are on call waiting also are encouraged to use the web page. People with so-called "smart phones" can scan the ap logo in printed information to also take

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