Good thread...

Back in 2001 or thereabouts, I researched and wrote an article called 'Bonding with Ernie' for Bloomberg Money magazine. Published as a two page spread, it was, as you might have guessed, about the history of Premium Bonds plus how the draw actually worked.

What I wanted to get over was how ERNIE stands for 'electronic random number indicator equipment' and is NOT a computer. It simply generates numbers at random which are passed on to a computer. The computer then checks if the number matches a current bond, plus the name and address of the bond holder. This continues until enough numbers for all the prizes have been generated.

Hence, when people say 'their bond numbers are not in the machine' they cannot be right. 'Ernie' just generates number with no knowledge of what they represent.

When I did the article, what I wanted to know from National Savings was if old bond numbers could ever end up being deleted from the computer Ernie passes the numbers to. They would not tell me because it was thought to be 'secure information'.

I didn't have any concerns about the latter but there does seem to be a tendency for very old bond numbers not to win as much as newer ones. However, that is probably because there are many more new numbers than very old ones.

I also asked why it appeared that bonds just bought seemed to be more successful in their early days. National Savings didn't have a view on this.

My wife and I have £67,000 worth of bonds, nearly all bought since the start of 2014. At first I thought we had cracked it because the £25's kept coming, often in lots of 3 or 4. The wife even got a £500 but over the past year prizes have dried up quite badly. I suppose luck is just balancing out.

When we bought the bonds, though, I cashed in a £3 one I had had since August 1962. It was bought for my second birthday and before cashing it in I checked for prizes. F*ck all in almost 52 years, hence I wanted to cash it in because it did not seem a lucky one!

A fascinating topic, though. When general interest rates eventually start to rise it will be really interesting to see if the amount of bonds in play start to decrease because holders start cashing in.

that's what you call sh1t lucky crags.

Just checked mine.....£8 worth......last checked in 2007 ......bought in 1971...

Nothing !

checking julys bonds and the two 1m winners are both from West Sussex and the bond numbers both start with the numbers 185.
Not so random after all.

Had £175 in June, then received a letter saying I had another £25 allocated to me as "the original winner is not eligible to receive the prize".

Never had £200 in a month before.

Just checked July's results and have £200 again (1x100, 1x50 and 2x25). I'm very happy with the way it's being run

The odds of a bond winning a prize in the monthly draw are now quoted as 30000/1

People should take a look at how many bonds they hold, and then figure out what their chances are each month

The new leader in the 'Longest Owned, Never Won' Premium Bond is DUNLAYING, with a truly fabulous £5 Bond purchased in 1957.

When you have a moment DUNLAYING, could you please see if the actual date of purchase is still visible anywhere?


AUNTY POST, has your 1956 Bond ever won anything, because if not your Bond is the new clubhouse leader, with almost 60 years of proud futility to show for itself. A fabulous non-effort indeed.   


I had £25 in June. Hoping for better in July.

Bought £200 worth in 1997. About 6 years ago the postie knocked on the door with a letter to sign for.

He told me it was a premium bond winner. Opened it up all excited to find a £25 win.

Talk about disappointed, only draw I've had.

I have had since late 1960's a £1 premium bond.  I have moved houses many times in the meantime.  So, probably untraceable to them.  I thought I would contact Ernie to see if in the last 50 years I might have won a prize.

The lady seemed glad to receive my call and I could tell there was a smile in her voice, but said she couldn't tell me anything over the phone.  I should write in.

I did and eagerly awaited news of my winnings, taking a little bit more interest than usual in the holidays section of the paper.

A couple of weeks later I got a letter saying I had won nothing.

Bitch.

Before making the celebratory arrangements and contacting the Guinness Book of Record, alun, may I suggest that there may be someone with a longer-dated premium bond actually outwit the dozen or so members of this forum.

clean, pure and wholesome....of, course...

(wonder if this post ends up alongside 'Anyone ever made a girl squirt' thread.

The oldest unclaimed prize, £25, is owed to a man from South Yorkshire who purchased the bond in November 1957.
could this be aunty post?

very interesting thread

I have about a thousand pounds worth..won about twenty times a mixture of ponies and niftys.

ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THE 17TH OF THE MONTH..THE DAY THE NOTIFICATIONS LAND THROUGH THE POSTBOX

The oldest unclaimed prize, £25, is owed to a man from South Yorkshire who purchased the bond in November 1957.
could this be aunty post?

Nope....the one I have is December '56!

Will post the photo when the mods wake up, after the weekend.

Well done Aunty Post, a stellar contribution to this thread.

Only another 40 years to go before this heroic bond reaches a century of zero returns. Now THAT will be a day with hanging around for.

The new leader in the clubhouse.

So 20th century... mine gets paid straight into the bank.

£500 (twice)

That's with £21K or so invested last I looked. Any winnings it automatically buys more bonds.

be interesting (geddit?) to see what happens to the prize fund with on one hand base rate of .1% and on the other gilt yields rising.

They are a good rock solid tax free investment and you just never know when a chunky win might come along.