Barclays Shares - unusual letter

Quasar

I have about a few hundred quid worth of Barclays shares, with dividends paid direct into my bank account (not with Barclays).

Two days ago I received a letter by ProSearch, saying they had been instructed by Barclays to trace me as a cheque sent to me in 2013 regarding optional shares I didn't take on, had not been cashed. The bank want to send another one but they need to know if I'm still at the same address and/or, presumably, alive.

The enclosed form asks very sensitive details: signature, date of birth, phone number and email address. A boon for anyone intent on identity theft.

I googled ProSearch and it appears legitimatehttp://www.prosearchassets.com
I contacted them via their website and the next day I got a call back explaining again what was said in the letter.

Now, I'm not bothered about the cheque (£43), or even the shares, but I don't want my details to end up with a bogus company.

Anyone had a similar experience? Or just any advice?

Thanks. Q:)

colsten

Ask Barclays, or whoever holds your Barclays shares, whether they have instructed ProSearch?

xylophone

You might be interested in this
http://www.shareview.co.uk/4/Info/Portfolio/santanderhelp/en/home/shareholders/Pages/ProSearch.aspx

Have you tried a telephone call to the Registrar (Equiniti)?

http://www.home.barclays/barclays-investor-relations/shareholder-information/frequently-asked-questions.html

You could donate the £43 to charity........

Quasar

colsten wrote: »

Ask Barclays whether they have instructed ProSearch?

I have thought of that option, but before doing this and possibly remain on hold for hours, I decided to ask here if anyone else had the same experience at some point - or know about ProSearch and if they are genuine.

Quasar

xylophone wrote: »

You might be interested in this
http://www.shareview.co.uk/4/Info/Portfolio/santanderhelp/en/home/shareholders/Pages/ProSearch.aspx

Have you tried a telephone call to the Registrar (Equiniti)?

http://www.home.barclays/barclays-investor-relations/shareholder-information/frequently-asked-questions.html

You could donate the £43 to charity........

As I have said above, my first call was this board. As for the £43, the point is not whether I keep it or give it to charity (I might to that, actually), but the forwarding of personal information which is what I would have to do, to dispose of the money anyway.

PeacefulWaters

It's all genuine.

Quasar

Thanks for all your replies. I will be sending the paperwork tomorrow.

SammenForLivet2

Quasar wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies. I will be sending the paperwork tomorrow.

Be aware that it may be cheaper for you to go directly to the registrar, and Prosearch will take a cut of the fees. But, it's likely that you'll still have to pay a good chunk of the 43GBP in fees to Equanti for a Cheque Reissue.

Quasar

macfamilyent wrote: »

Be aware that it may be cheaper for you to go directly to the registrar, and Prosearch will take a cut of the fees. But, it's likely that you'll still have to pay a good chunk of the 43GBP in fees to Equanti for a Cheque Reissue.

Thanks but I'm not worried about the amount I may or may not get. My worry was giving out my details to a dodgy outfit. Even the shares aren't that important in the grand scheme of things, although they are worth about £600 at the moment. If I had not had the reassurances from some of the previous posts, I would have ignored the letter completely.

terrystreet

Prosearch is a scam they charge fees way above those of you deal with the shares direct see posts on here and BBC programme about this. You have been warned, in a recent example they charges over 30% of share value!!

badger09

terrystreet wrote: »

Prosearch is a scam they charge fees way above those of you deal with the shares direct see posts on here and BBC programme about this. You have been warned, in a recent example they charges over 30% of share value!!

The post you are replying to is almost a year old. I suspect OP has drawn his own conclusions a long time ago:cool: