AIBU?
Old bank statements - clearing out
DasPepe · 30/03/2021 08:38
I have moved a lot as a child and adult, including countries. We are not currently in the UK but considering going back. I’m trying to clear things away, regardless where we move we cannot be shifting bank statements going back to 1997. I cannot let go of them, I somehow think I might need them. I have a fear of giving / getting rid of things only to need them just after or spending money to buy new ones. I’m posting in AIBU because I need some firm sense talked into me but I also want to make sure it’s the right thing to do.
Thank you
Am I being unreasonable?
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Skigal86 · 30/03/2021 08:41
1997?!! That’s amateur levels compared to my mother! 😂 I fully anticipate inheriting bank statements and payslips that are older than I am! If you genuinely think you might need to refer back to them (no idea why you would) could you photograph them and upload to OneDrive or similar?
ShanghaiDiva · 30/03/2021 08:47
I moved back to the uk last year after 25 years overseas. I kept the last two years of bank statements, 7 years of tax returns and various summary sheets relating to savings accounts (in case I was asked for evidence of where funds came from) and ditched the rest.
Mumblechum0 · 30/03/2021 08:50
Surely if you ever needed a statement you just just search and download it from your banking app?
The only reason I think anyone would ever need to check mine would be after my death, when my Executors need to do the tax form. They’ll need to tell HMRC of any potentially exempt transfers in the 7 years before I die but won’t need those to be paper copies
relaxingforme · 30/03/2021 08:56
Shred, carrying around a pile of useless pieces of paper including the moving costs and weight!
It feels good to de clutter
You could scan and save a few important statements saved to a file online.
I have had no bank statement for years it is also a fantastic way to save paper and you can search back for any transactions.
Now I wonder what to do with my school reports! Back in 1980...Maybe the scanning myself!
sunflowersandbuttercups · 30/03/2021 09:24
@DasPepe
I guess I hoped that it would ‘count’ for something having an account that long. But it doesn’t - does it?
No.
But even if it did, the bank knows when you became a customer so there's absolutely no need to keep paper records.
I haven't received a paper bank statement in at least ten years. Everything is online nowadays.
rebeccachoc · 30/03/2021 09:29
I've recently had to try and prove an address from 5 years ago which was hard as I purged all paperwork older than 2 years recently. As you say you have moved around a lot especially different countries, I would suggest keeping the first and last bank statement from each address to prove your period of time there just in case you ever want to go back to a certain country.
Serin · 30/03/2021 09:34
I keep nothing but interestingly found an old P45 recently and saw that a previous employer had paid 2 years worth of NI contributions into the wrong national insurance number. Never noticed at the time, was probably busy partying in my 20s.. Doubt there's much that can be done now it was 1993!!
I would just shred your bank statements OP.
ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 30/03/2021 09:46
Check what is available on line. Usually the suggestion is that you need to be able to go back 6 years in case of a tax audit (6 years is the limitation period for most contractual matters too in England and Wales).
If you need proof of address then you can keep a couple of examples.
I would also check the statements to see if you have any old accounts that need closing.
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