Hidden Payouts vs paid asset finders and recovery agents

How statutory finder-fee caps work, what a paid asset recovery agent actually does, and why a flat subscription costs less on most claims.

The short version

Paid asset finders locate unclaimed property and take a percentage of it, which state statutes cap — commonly at 10%, as low as 5% in Washington, with many states voiding agreements signed within 24 months of the property being reported. Hidden Payouts charges a flat subscription and takes nothing from your recovery, so on any claim larger than a few hundred dollars the subscription is the cheaper path.

Side-by-side comparison

Hidden Payouts compared with paid asset finders
	Hidden Payouts	Paid asset finder / recovery agent
How you pay	Flat subscription (free plan available)	Percentage of the amount recovered
Cost on a $2,000 claim	$9/month Pro subscription	Up to the state's statutory cap on the payout
Statutory fee caps apply	Not applicable — no fee taken	Yes, commonly 10%; 5% in Washington
Who files the claim	You, with the official issuer	The agent, under a signed assignment
Who the money is paid to	You, from the state or issuer	Often the agent first, then you
Contract required	No assignment of your claim	Yes — a fee agreement
Covers federal sources and settlements	Yes	Usually unclaimed property only
Ongoing monitoring	Yes	Per engagement

You never need a finder to claim your own money

States hold property in trust and return it free of charge. A finder's only real value is locating something you did not know about — and that is a search problem, not a legal one.

Know the fee rules before you sign

Finder fees are regulated because the practice has been abused. Several protections are common across states.

A statutory percentage cap on what a finder may charge
Agreements signed too soon after the property is reported are void in many states
Written disclosure of the property's value before you sign
No state requires you to use a finder, ever

The honest trade-off

A finder costs nothing if they find nothing, and takes a slice if they do. A subscription costs a small fixed amount whether or not it finds something, and takes nothing from the payout. If you expect any meaningful recovery, the flat cost wins; if you want zero out-of-pocket risk, start on the free plan and search the official portals yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Are asset finders legal?

In most states, yes, subject to statutory fee caps, disclosure rules, and waiting periods after property is reported.

What is the maximum a finder can charge?

It varies by state. Ten percent is the most common cap, Washington caps it at 5%, and a few states allow more. Each state page on this site lists that state's cap.

Does Hidden Payouts ever take a percentage?

No. It charges only the subscription and never touches your recovery.