Experts aren’t asking you to hire a detective. The solution is hilariously simple: download the official NS&I app or log into their website. It takes about 90 seconds. You’ll be able to see every prize you’ve ever won, even the ones you missed while binge-watching a show.
Here’s the kicker: NS&I has a “prize checker” tool that literally just asks for your bond holder number. No password, no riddles. It’s like walking into a pub and the barman says, “Here’s your free drink, you forgot about it.”
But wait—there’s a catch. If you’ve moved house and never told them, your prizes might be sent to a ghost address. That’s why you need to update your contact details immediately. Otherwise, you’re basically mailing your own money to a stranger.
The Million-Pound Hoarder
Let me tell you about the worst kind of FOMO: The Premium Bond winner who won £1 million in 2019 and only claimed it after eighteen months. The money had been earning zero interest (because it’s untaxed but unclaimed) while they were worrying about paying for a new car.
Imagine the conversation: “Honey, I’m sorry, we can’t afford that holiday.” Meanwhile, your bonds are secretly whispering, “Actually, you can afford a private jet.” It’s like having a superpower you forgot you had.
£103m in Premium Bonds are unclaimed – how to check if you’re a winner
But here’s the real surprise: the odds of winning are actually better than you think. For every £1 bond, you have a 1 in 21,000 chance of winning a prize each month. That’s better than being struck by lightning, which is roughly 1 in 15,300. So you’re basically a walking lightning rod for cash, but you’re not looking.
