How long before accounts die?

Lokolo

Long story but bear with me.

I am Mr X. My mum at the time of opening the account for Mrs Y (different surname through remarriage), this account was for me in mine and her name (I was 5 or something), so you get those kids passbooks with mums name and childs name etc.

7 years later. Mrs Y is taken off so its left with Mr Y (even though I am a Mr X).

I can't close the account because I have no ID of Mr Y. And can't answer the stupid ridiculous security questions (where and when - month and year, was this account opened). I withdrew all the money, left with £0. Cut up everything and left it at that.

My mum is now Mrs Z (lol?)

Another 6-7 years passes I am still getting statements and today I got a new card, which of course I am just going to cut up and burn.

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When will they close the account? (it has nothing in!)

Extant

Each institution varies on how long they require for an account to go dormant, and might then vary it dependent on the type of account.

cash-magnet

I still have many accounts, some with pennies in them, just sitting at Nationwide doing nothing as they are all joint accounts from 20 years ago and in all honesty I couldn't tell you if the 2nd signature person is even still alive or in this country. When I contacted Nationwide to just close them all down they refused saying they need both signatures. I argued this might never be possible and to just give the total cash, less than £10, to a charity of their choice. So it looks like they will be looking after about 9 accounts till they cease trading or I die and stop having to be bothered with the problem any more. Either way it's going to be a long long time for them.