Sorting out old Premium Bonds

chubsta

OH has got an online NS&I account with £20,000 worth of PBs - all good there. Also have found £7 worth of old paper ones bought by her parents back in the early 70s which have just been lying around, they are on various bits of paper and in her maiden name.
In an ideal world there would have been an easy online way to add these to her account but it does not seem so - tried phoning them but only got options to go online and the online system is not very helpful. As they are not in her current name or address it is seeming almost impossible to do anything with them.
Any ideas as to how this can be achieved - have been going around in circles on the website and not really finding what is needed?
You may think 'that is a lot of hassle for £7!' but it is her £7, something that her parents actually had to save up for all those years ago, and whilst £7 may not be a lot these days it is still £7 we would rather have in our pockets!

oldernonethewiser

I wrote to them.  I had my Premium Bond number and they were able to confirm them and when I created an online account there they were.

I had a lot more than your OH.

Mine were worth £13!

Swipe

Definitely not worth the time and agro of dealing with a complete bunch of NS&I clowns for £7. You have been warned, ignore at your peril. Check out their trustpilot reviews: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/nsandi.com

poppystar

Well it could be worth it - those bonds may have won something over the years and NS&I not been able to locate the owner. There could be a prize amount waiting for her! 

Swipe

poppystar said:

Well it could be worth it - those bonds may have won something over the years and NS&I not been able to locate the owner. There could be a prize amount waiting for her! 

On £7? The chances of a mere £25 would be extremely remote. I held £100 for 30 years and won not one single prize.

silvercar

I wrote to them with photocopies of the bonds. 

poppystar

Swipe said:

poppystar said:

Well it could be worth it - those bonds may have won something over the years and NS&I not been able to locate the owner. There could be a prize amount waiting for her! 

On £7? The chances of a mere £25 would be extremely remote. I held £100 for 30 years and won not one single prize.

Over twenty bonds of £25 value were on the high value winners list last month and one £10 bond won £10000 - so I’d still make the effort!  Less likely to win overall on a small total holding agreed but each £1 bond has the same chance of winning as any other, whether bought ages ago individually or in a larger block. 

Swipe

I have a few of my late mothers I found in an old purse but I really can't be bothered with NS&I rubbish customer service, plus I am maxed out on PBs. Will probably cost more in stamps sending in their inane forms.

Frogletina

Swipe said:

I have a few of my late mothers I found in an old purse but I really can't be bothered with NS&I rubbish customer service, plus I am maxed out on PBs. Will probably cost more in stamps sending in their inane forms.

As an executor, I claimed online for 2 £1 premium bonds. I didn't have to sent the bonds in, I was just sent a cheque for £2 and was told to destroy the bonds myself.

Frogletina

Swipe said:

poppystar said:

Well it could be worth it - those bonds may have won something over the years and NS&I not been able to locate the owner. There could be a prize amount waiting for her! 

On £7? The chances of a mere £25 would be extremely remote. I held £100 for 30 years and won not one single prize.

I was lucky then

My first £100 of bonds won £50 within the first year, I bought another £200 and they won £50 too. Nothing after that for years though until I upped the amount gradually to the maximum

hamski

silvercar 

silvercar said:

I wrote to them with photocopies of the bonds. 

Can you tell me the outcome after doing this , I have some of my late mothers pb’s and would like to check them. I did ring them a while back but they wanted copy of will , probate ,death certificate etc. Didn’t think it was worth the hassle but might be if I can find out there winners😊