how do I trace my late wife's help to buy ISA ?

Ollie01

I still havent found the HTB isa even though I have tried all the banks/building societies I can find a record of in my late wife's documents. Any idea's on what I can try next ? I have even tried the taxman but as it's not taxable they have no record of it either 

xylophone

it wasn't Nationwide but a smaller building society 

https://www.buildingsociety.com/current.shtml

eskbanker

Ollie01 said:

I have even tried the taxman but as it's not taxable they have no record of it either 

ISA managers are required to submit annual returns to HMRC in order that compliance with ISA rules is monitored:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/returns-of-information-for-isa-managers

Ollie01

I have waited until April has come and gone just in case I recieved some paperwork about the HTB ISA but nothing has turned up so I'm at a lost what to try next . Any idea's ?

eskbanker

I still believe that her current account provider ought to be able to assist if there were monthly HTB ISA contributions (of up to £200) being made, but you also referred to a "total lump sum" on the previous page and I still don't understand what that related to?

As above, HMRC will have records too, but it may just be a case of finding out the right person/department to speak to....

Angelica123

Ollie01 said:

I have waited until April has come and gone just in case I recieved some paperwork about the HTB ISA but nothing has turned up so I'm at a lost what to try next . Any idea's ?

Are you sure the product was a HTB? You mention earlier something about a lump sum - you have never been able to put a big lump sum into a HTB ISA. Could it have been a LISA (if that lump sum was under 4k)?  

Kim_13

There weren't that many providers offering HTB ISAs if I recall correctly, so you could try each one in turn.

Having had a Google, these providers offered them:

Nationwide
NatWest
Virgin Money
HSBC
Santander
Halifax
Lloyds
Bank of Scotland
Barclays
Ulster Bank
Yorkshire Bank
Yorkshire Building Society
Aldermore
Clydesdale Bank
Newcastle Building Society

There doesn't seem to be a comprehensive list as they are no longer available to new customers, so perhaps others can add any that I haven't been able to find.

Did your wife possibly close the ISA? As she would have ceased to be eligible for it if she bought part of a property or inherited a share in one.

It was possible to pay an extra £1,000 into the HTB in month one, so this could be the lump sum referred to. 

Ollie01

Thanks for all the help and advice it has now been all sorted 

PRAISETHESUN

Ollie01 said:

Thanks for all the help and advice it has now been all sorted 

Out of interest, and for the benefit of other people in the future who find themselves in a similar situation, can you share a bit more as to how it was resolved?

Ollie01

PRAISETHESUN said:

Ollie01 said:

Thanks for all the help and advice it has now been all sorted 

Out of interest, and for the benefit of other people in the future who find themselves in a similar situation, can you share a bit more as to how it was resolved?

yes sure  @PRAISETHESUN . My late wife had various accounts and savings . When the solicitor contacted all the banks etc to sort out the estate each bank etc  sent all the monies together ( for example bank 1 sent the monies from the current acc . the savings acc and the ISA in one lump sum with no breakdown of what amount was in each ) . As I said in my original post I knew my wife had a HTB ISA but didn't know who with . I thought I had contacted all the banks etc at the time of my wife's passing but I didn't realise they would lump all the monies together from each bank and just give my solicitor the lump sum from each one and he didn't know what the breakdown of funds were .

The long and short of it is this 
If you have various bank accounts or ISA's or National Saving Bonds then make sure you leave a record of what they are and who they are with as my late wife did that apart from the HTB ISA which she had put down as HTB and the total amount which led to the confusion or get the solicitor dealing with the estate to ask the banks etc for a breakdown of what acc the monies have come from so you know if any are outstanding .

I hope this helps any others who may come across this situation in the future