Steps to help you track down your stimulus money

We’ve told you a lot of stories about people trying to find out how to get their stimulus money. But this is the first time we’ve heard about someone having to get in the car and drive for hours to track down the check.

Three hours there and three hours back: That’s how much time Enid Padilla spent driving to Orlando to get her stimulus check.

“It’s been a nightmare,” said Padilla, who lives in Lehigh Acres.

Padilla claims the IRS sent her money to a nearly 10-year-old address despite having her current address and bank information.

“I file every year,” Padilla said. “I never have a problem. When I file, I got my income tax with no problem. So that’s why it was so bizarre.

The person who lives at her old address reached out to Padilla via Facebook to let her know the stimulus check arrived.

“If she would’ve sent that check back, God only knows when I would get it,” Padilla said.

While she was able to track her money down, people such as Ronnie Tongue in North Fort Myers say they still can’t.

“The payment was scheduled for Wednesday, May 6,” Tongue said. “And Wednesday, May 6 came and went, and there’s no deposit.”

Others say Get My Payment — IRS tracking tool — just gives them error messages. While the U.S. Treasury didn’t respond to us, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott’s office says to send your stimulus concerns directly to them.

But, before you send a note, check that your questions aren’t already answered on the IRS FAQs, which is updated every week or so.

MORE: 

• IRS – Get My Payment 
• Info at Sen. Scott’s office 
• Economic Impact Payment Information Center