Millions of pounds worth of premium bond prizes gone unclaimed
March 19, 2009
In the current economic and financial crisis it would be natural to think that most people would be desperate to get their hands on any cash that they were entitled to. However, according to a recent report millions of pounds worth of premium bond prizes has been left unclaimed by just over half a million winners.
Officials from National Savings and Investment have said that around £30 million worth of premium bond prizes have not yet been claimed, and the money belongs to around 550,000 winners who have failed to claim their loot. They are now urging consumers to check whether they may be one of the lucky people that has a cash prize waiting for them.
The prizes range from £25 upwards, and one of the prizes is for a whopping £100,000. Cheques are sent to the winners of the prizes, but because many people move home and fail to inform NS&I the cheque is not received by the recipient and simply goes unclaimed. However, people can check whether they are one of the winners via the NS&I website or by writing in.
One of the unclaimed prizes dates back over fifty years and is for £25. However, some of the larger prizes that have gone unclaimed are more recent, and often have been won by people with just a small amount of premiums bonds such as £50, £25, and in one case just £1.
Written by Peter · Filed Under News Insurance
My wife and I bought some Premium Bonds on behalf of our daughter, Margaret Jane O\Donnell, at various times between , possibly 1970 and 1978, but unfortunately the listing we had has gone astray during three address cahanges until now. The address at the time of these purchases was 3A. Herndon Road. Wandsworth, London. S.W.18, and I believe that there were fourteen bonds in total. To my recollection there had not been any prizes won during that time, and as stated we lost track of these over time, also our daughter is now married, her surname now being Ferncombe. I am wondering whther there is any possibility of tracing the Bonds purchased in her name, and of claiming any prize/s which may have accumulated. Many thanks