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Original poster

scam or forgotten fortune?

18 replies

thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat · 10/02/2006 22:38

I got a letter today which appears to be from the Pru (checked against website - right address etc). It says that they think they have a contract with me - an old life insurance policy and would I like to cash it now. It says it might have been taken out on my behalf my someone else. Now they ask me to either send them the policy document, or, if it is lost, sign a lost document declaration. They also want me to send proof of identity (birth cert, driving license, or - if I'm dead - my death certificate!)and to tell them what my address was in 1979! (I was 9 at the time??) According to the Data Protection Act they can;t give me any details about the policy until they have confirmed my identity. This is all really strange yes? I'm certainly not going to just fill in their forms and send off my birth certificate. I'll phone them next week but just wondered if anyone else has had anything like this.

OP posts:
sparklymieow · 10/02/2006 22:42

phone them on the number on their website not on the letter.

Kidstrack2 · 10/02/2006 22:45

Mmmmm would only send coppies of documents! The address thing sounds ok as you are no longer at that address! Could a grandparent/relative have opened something for you as a child that you knew nothing about?

colditz · 10/02/2006 22:47

I wouldn't send anything, you here too much about identity theft. I would just wait and ring the Prudential from the number on the Prudential website!

colditz · 10/02/2006 22:47

hear, sorry

Kidstrack2 · 10/02/2006 22:47

I think by the looks of it you have nothing to lose because if you have to sign anthing it will only be the Lost document Declaration, and by sending a copy of your birth certificate, they can't use it for much because its not an original!

waterfalls · 10/02/2006 22:50

Kidstrack2
if it is identity theft, a birth certificate can provide crucial infornation.

Redtartanlass · 10/02/2006 22:50

thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat - wow weird or what!!! I received a letter via Inland Revenue saying that a Pensions Company wee trying to find me and enclosing a letter to contact them, if I so wished. Apparently I've got a pension I'd forgotten all about

They found me by my NI number, but at 9 you wouldn't have had anything like that.

So absolutely no advice really!!!

waterfalls · 10/02/2006 22:51

What I meant to say is, it might be the info they want, not to use the birth certificate themselves.

Kidstrack2 · 10/02/2006 22:57

But nowadays theres not much you can do with a copy of a birth certificate without a valid passport and driving licence, they all go toghether nowadays with a household bill etc

Original poster
thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat · 10/02/2006 22:58

I spoke to my mum and she has no memory of anything. I mean why would you put a life insurance policy on a 9 year old? DD splattered under a car, never mind, here's some dosh?? Just doesn't hold true. I won;t do anything until I've spoken to someone - using website tel nos etc. But the return envolope does appear to be a genuine Pru address. Maybe it's for real. My dad was one to do strange things sometimes. If it is for real it's prbably worth about £20.

OP posts:
katymac · 10/02/2006 23:06

My Nan had one for me & my brother - she cashed them in (or they matured) when I was 16

I think they were to pay for a funeral if we died when we were little?

Original poster
thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat · 10/02/2006 23:14

it did suggest that it might have been intended to pay for a funeral

OP posts:
RedTartanLass · 11/03/2006 21:52

thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat - did you find out what it was about?

Original poster
thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat · 11/03/2006 21:53

hi, apparently it's legit. I need to send them some details which they can use to confirm my identity, then they#ll give me the info.

OP posts:
RedTartanLass · 11/03/2006 22:30

So you don't know if it's some large insurances that's come up then? Wink

BadHair · 11/03/2006 22:35

It sounds like it might be kosher. Dh's parents had a life insurance policy for him - the idea is that it will give a useful lump sum for the child when it matures (his parents kept the cash, though, which is typical).
Ring the number on the website, or pop into a branch if there's one near you, just to be on the safe side. See if you can take the docs to a branch rather than posting them off.
Ooh, looks like there's money coming your way!

Elf1981 · 11/03/2006 23:22

You can always see what monies you have owed to you in any form such as forgotten policies and bank accounts by checking with Unclaimed Assets Register \link{http://www.uar.co.uk/here}
It's part of Experian so very legitimate. It's £18 for a general search and all you need is your past addresses and names.

Elf1981 · 11/03/2006 23:23

Doh, sorry
\link{http://www.uar.co.uk/next.htm\Unclaimed Assets Register}

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