Georgeson: Lost share certificate and historic dividends

me_myself

I recently received a letter from a company called Georgeson, informing me that I had unclaimed assets from many years ago in the form of ~£1000 in shares and about the same in historic dividends.  They are offering to reunite me with both, but at the cost of 14.4% of each.  This seems a lot, and so I am wondering whether there is a cheaper way to do this?  The letter does say that I can apply directly to Computershare Investor Services PLC, but when I follow the instructions on that site I just get redirected back to Georgesons.

eskbanker

That sounds scammy, but do you have any recollection of actually owning such shares?

ColdIron

How much did you pay for these shares originally? Why haven't you been receiving your dividends? Did you inform anyone when you lost your certificate?

MeteredOut

me_myself said:

I recently received a letter from a company called Georgeson, informing me that I had unclaimed assets from many years ago in the form of ~£1000 in shares and about the same in historic dividends.  They are offering to reunite me with both, but at the cost of 14.4% of each.  This seems a lot, and so I am wondering whether there is a cheaper way to do this?  The letter does say that I can apply directly to Computershare Investor Services PLC, but when I follow the instructions on that site I just get redirected back to Georgesons.

Can you explain what you're doing with Computershare (which are a well known share registrar) to have them refer you back to Georgeson?

"Georgeson, part of the Computershare group, is a leading asset reunification business. Georgeson can help you to trace and re-engage your stakeholders to reunite them with their forgotten or unclaimed assets. Georgeson has reunited 1.5 million people around the world with £1 billion worth of unclaimed entitlements."

https://www.computershare.com/uk/business/other/asset-reunification

I suspect Computershare used to help shareholders track down misplaced holdings, but then acquired a company that did that for a fee, and now redirect people there.

Do you have recollection of any shares that this might relate to, or any historic paperwork that has a shareholder reference number on it?

me_myself

I think they were staff shares from a company I worked for about 25 years ago.  I thought I had cashed them all in, but it seems not, so I haven't kept any paperwork.  I've also moved house several times since then, so 
I was attempting to change my address on Computershare using the form at:  content-assets.computershare.com/eh96rkuu9740/4b4BKUjsW8oiinEac9xJpv/4e56c8aa5cea0fee32cacd91082f9698/Gilts_Change_of_Address_Form_0525.pdf 
However, I noticed the address on the form was the same as Georgeson's, and it also requires the stockholder reference number - which I don't have.

me_myself

Actually, the address is slightly different - same building, same road, slightly different postcode - I'm assuming that is because it is a different dept.

MeteredOut

I'd phone Computershare and say you still have shares but have lost your shareholder reference number and you need that to register with them, so what do they need from you in order form them to provide that.

They'll still have your old address (at the time of getting those shares), so be prepared to give that, plus other details. You'll likely have to send some stuff in the post.

They may still refer you to Georgeson, or they may simply not be able to find those shares, but worth it to save 14+%.

DRS1

Write to the Company Secretary of the company you used to work for and ask them.

wmb194

me_myself said:

I recently received a letter from a company called Georgeson, informing me that I had unclaimed assets from many years ago in the form of ~£1000 in shares and about the same in historic dividends.  They are offering to reunite me with both, but at the cost of 14.4% of each.  This seems a lot, and so I am wondering whether there is a cheaper way to do this?  The letter does say that I can apply directly to Computershare Investor Services PLC, but when I follow the instructions on that site I just get redirected back to Georgesons.

Just call Computershare. Share registrars have their own tracing agents - Computershare's is Georgeson - and they'll try to charge you fee that you can avoid by just contacting the registrar directly.

If you do nothing there's a good chance your shares and dividends will be forfeited back to the company so I'd definitely call.

me_myself

The address provided with the phone number is the same building again, but rang them anyway.  They let me change my address over the phone and are sending info for redoing the dividends.  There's a 20% fee for the dividends, but no charge for re-issuing the shares certificate, so at least I'll save some money!
Thanks for the advice everyone.