Bonaro
Hero Member
- Aug 9, 2004
- 977
- 2,213
- Detector(s) used
- Minelab Xterra 70, Minelab SD 2200d, 2.5", 3", 4"and several Keene 5" production dredges, Knelson Centrifuge, Gold screw automatic panner
- Primary Interest:
- Prospecting
I did some maintenance on my claim last weekend and met a guy looking for a secluded place to camp. I directed him to the camp site on my claim, asked him to not leave a mess and have a great time. That evening I had a heated voice mail from the claim owner north of mine. The neighboring claim owner had also met the camper who told him about meeting me earlier. His voice mail was a angry rant about how we have a huge problem because I lapsed my filing and he filed over my claim and now he owns both. <insert Yosemite Sam attitude>
A quick check (thanks to The Diggins) confirmed my suspicions. I called him and explained how my filings were actually current and he filed an unknown claim on worthless dirt on a steep ridge about a half mile from any water...oh yeah, it is also in the next section over...oopsie
. He even used the same name as my claim. He told me about how the lady at BLM assured him at length that my claim was lapsed and open and happily took his rent money. I said sorry, the BLM is not supposed to advise people in this way but his mistake was common because the claim process is not an intuitive or easy one. Even if invalid and their mistake, the BLM will take the money and he wont get it back...have a great day.
Two days later he emailed me, apologized for his mistake, told me I was right about the BLM and the claim, then thanked me for the helpful info I gave him.
As it sits he is friendly and appreciative and offered to buy my claim if I ever decide to sell.
Problem solved...no attorney or internet rant required
A quick check (thanks to The Diggins) confirmed my suspicions. I called him and explained how my filings were actually current and he filed an unknown claim on worthless dirt on a steep ridge about a half mile from any water...oh yeah, it is also in the next section over...oopsie
. He even used the same name as my claim. He told me about how the lady at BLM assured him at length that my claim was lapsed and open and happily took his rent money. I said sorry, the BLM is not supposed to advise people in this way but his mistake was common because the claim process is not an intuitive or easy one. Even if invalid and their mistake, the BLM will take the money and he wont get it back...have a great day.Two days later he emailed me, apologized for his mistake, told me I was right about the BLM and the claim, then thanked me for the helpful info I gave him.
As it sits he is friendly and appreciative and offered to buy my claim if I ever decide to sell.
Problem solved...no attorney or internet rant required
Last edited:
Upvote
0
