Got any money? You might have more than you think

[Rosendula]

Like many of you I receive Martin Lewis' newsletter (he's known as the 'Money Saving Expert' for those of you who are not familiar with the name). In a recent newsletter, he suggested we fill in a single form which is submitted online, and all the banks search their records for details of accounts you might have with them that you have lost. I filled in the form and have been getting a steady trickle of emails saying that this bank and that bank can't find any accounts in my name (including previous names, addresses, etc). Then suddenly, today, I have received an email saying one particular bank thinks it might have an account in my name. It's a bank I was with when I was a kid and my parents sent money to school for it to be paid in. Then, when they were really skint, I had to withdraw all but a few pound to 'lend' them. I can't remember if I eventually closed the account or not. A few years later, when I got my first job, I opened a current account with the same bank, but then opened one with another bank that my employer was with (could get my wages out quicker). I think I left £2 in the old account. So it could be either or both of those. Either way, I'll probably only have a couple of pounds (but I'm kind of hoping I might have paid in a few thousand and forgotten about it, lol).

If anyone else wants to try their luck, here's a link. You can search for accounts of deceased relatives, too.

[eccentric_emma]

Oh I did that a while back, its really easy. I definitely recommend it, only take a few minutes! No forgotten accounts for me though, I reckon my mum and dad closed my childhood one ages ago. I was sure I had one that had £11 in it!!!

[Millymollymandy]

I'm WAY too careful with my money to have forgotten about any old bank accounts!

[invisiblepiper]

I just made £123.00 at a car boot sale - selling stuff my brother was about to take to the skip!
He's a batchelor - buys things all the time - uses few - then ditches them.
Still can't believe what I sold!

[ocailleagh]

I was just about to do this then remembered that I owe a fair bit of money to one or two banks and they seem to have lost track of me for now, which is how I like it :-D

[Flo]

I just made £123.00 at a car boot sale - selling stuff my brother was about to take to the skip!
He's a batchelor - buys things all the time - uses few - then ditches them.
Still can't believe what I sold!

Far more rewarding than expecting to dig up a tenner in an old, forgotten bank account hey?

[starchild]

Thanks, I'll give it a go and see - maybe I'm a millionaire after all :D

[mrsflibble]

where's the form?
as a woman do i have to fill it in in my married name, maiden name and regarding a childhood name change too?


a few years ago i was clearing ym stuff out of my mum's house when i came across my post office bank book (NS&I). it said in 1984 i'd had a fiver put in there. I contacted them (in 2004) and yes the account was still there and yes there was money in it. £17!!! I'd made £12 out of the interest alone!

James and I spent it in just the right fashion. we went camping for 2 nights.