Long dormant log in details - Expiry?

Sea_Shell

What are your experiences of having your old log-ins, with various financial institutions either disabled, or removed, after a period of inactivity with them?

Recently, I had two opposite experiences.

Firstly with the Raisin savings platform, that I hadn't used since July 19, to which I was able to log in with my details no problem.

then Secure Trust, who, when I tried to log in, said my account had been "deactivated", and I'd need to ring.  I last used them in May 2020.   After speaking, with them, they advised that because I hadn't been active with them for over 6 months, my account had been removed from the system, and couldn't be "re-activated" so I would need to apply as a new customer.

I did ask if they were sure, as I'm sure in the past, with other providers, they recognise your email address for years after, and so you get flagged as an "existing" customer.   They assured me that this wouldn't happen.   I haven't tried to apply to test this theory.

Like many "rate chasers" here, over the years, I've had accounts with nearly all the high street banks, and some on-line ones, so after many switcharoos, I have many log-in details that haven't been used in over 2 years.    

So, who's still work after years?   Who de-activates you?   And who are the easiest to get back up and running with, if you have?

Notepad_Phil

Did you still have an account open with Secure Trust, even with just a minimal amount in, or had one of their accounts matured and you'd just moved everything out?

I don't know whether I've ever left it more than a year and a bit between going back into one of my accounts as I normally check back in round the end of April to ensure I know of any interest being added. However I have worried what might happen if my accounts had a zero balance, so I'll always endeavour to leave £1 in there, even if I have to open some kind of easy access account with them to do that.

Though actually, thinking about it, I do have an account with Secure Trust that I went into recently and I'm fairly sure I hadn't been into that account for six months, so I assume you must have had a zero balance.

Sea_Shell

Yep.  closed as matured, no activity.


Be interesting though, if people have had to "reactivate" logins for open accounts with zero balance, not "live" ones with a nominal balance.

Daliah

Why not just log into your dormant accounts, then you you know for certain whether your logins are still working.

Sea_Shell

Daliah said:

Why not just log into your dormant accounts, then you you know for certain whether your logins are still working.

Maybe that's a task for a rainy day.  Dig out all my login info and systematically try logging in to each!

Sea_Shell

1st account, NS&I.  Dormant since 2020, login still active.


I feel a new spreadsheet coming on!!😎