When the government is handing back money, you’d think everyone would be rushing to get their hands on some.
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Yet, with time running out, thousands of Wollongong residents appear to have forgotten to claim their green slip refunds.
According to the state government, 94,568 green slip refunds across the Wollongong area are yet to be claimed.
That equates to $3.37 million just sitting there waiting to be claimed.
And just two postcodes each account for more than half a million dollars of that total.
Residents living in the 2500 postcode seem to be the least interested in getting their cash from the government.
In that postcode there are 11,678 green slip policies still entitled to get some money back, making for a total of $573,708.11.
Residents in Dapto and Horsley are almost as bad at claiming their refund.
There are 10,264 unclaimed policies in the 2530 postcode, amounting to $503,537.49.
The Corrimal area rounds out the top three with a total of $296,990.87 in unclaimed refunds just sitting there in the accounts of the government’s insurance regulator.
Wollongong is not alone – across the state there is still around $200 million worth of green slip refunds yet to be claimed.
And people only have a few months left to get their money back.
“There is still millions of dollars left to be claimed,” Finance Minister Victor Dominello said.
“Eligible motorists have until September 30 to pocket their refund through Service NSW which is simple and easy.”
The refunds can be claimed online through the Service NSW website 24 hours a day – with the exception of June 9 when the site cannot be accessed between 8am and noon.
READ MORE: Green slip refunds – how much will you get
People can also claim their refund over the phone by calling 1300 287 733, or in person at a Service NSW centre.
The refunds have come about because green slip prices were reduced for most classes of vehicles on December 1, 2017.
Those who purchased or renewed a green slip before that time are being refunded the difference in prices.
Motorcycle owners are not eligible for a refund as their green slip prices have not dropped.
The closer to December 1 a policy was purchased the greater the refund a motorist will receive.
An administration fee of $7.87 is charged on every refund and there is a $10 minimum refund figure.
If the refund is less than $10 either before or after the fee is applied then the motorist will receive nothing.
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
