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Come on, there must be someone else, not just me. What a fantastic racket they are.
I don't care if they a more futile bet than trying to find a decent person who will inform on a terrorist in Molenbeek, Brussels.
I bet there are some FANTASTIC tales just waiting to be told of Chit Chatters ERNIE heroism and derring-do.
I've got one that was bought in the Summer of 1964 and hasn't won a penny yet in 52 years (well over 600 draws). Can any of our readers beat that?
Let the ERNIE mayhem begin.
I don't care if they a more futile bet than trying to find a decent person who will inform on a terrorist in Molenbeek, Brussels.
I bet there are some FANTASTIC tales just waiting to be told of Chit Chatters ERNIE heroism and derring-do.
I've got one that was bought in the Summer of 1964 and hasn't won a penny yet in 52 years (well over 600 draws). Can any of our readers beat that?
Let the ERNIE mayhem begin.
Show More
i have some over the last 6 months i have "won" £25 £25 £50 £25 £25 £0 the actual interest rate has worked out far better than that with the banks and it is tax free
People say they are no good For me they are brilliant
People say they are no good For me they are brilliant
Damn you Alun. I have one bought in 1968 and I thought I was home for all money there.
I've got a fair few. I won £100(4x£25) in the march draw but nothing in the April draw.
I would say that I am relatively happy with my winnings over the years but am still
awaiting a bigger prize.
I would say that I am relatively happy with my winnings over the years but am still
awaiting a bigger prize.
£500 is my best result to date. Still waiting the big one.
i bought a fair few about 18 months ago.
started of promising with 4 £25 wins in the first 6 months,
then zilch for the next year, so outed them - this is a similar story to what
some say about new bonds purchased.
started of promising with 4 £25 wins in the first 6 months,
then zilch for the next year, so outed them - this is a similar story to what
some say about new bonds purchased.
My mum found one from 1966 ...i went on line ....not a penny won 
There must be someone with a losing bond older than mine (1964). Probably one somewhere that's been passed down several generations and still won nowt.
My grandmother bought me and my sister a £1 bond each when they first came out. Used to treasure it years ago but don't know what's happened to it now. Back then you could get bladdered for £1 and still have change for fish and chips.
I was invested to the max of £15k for a few years.
I "won" about £100.
I "won" about £100.
Like the National Lottery, zero interest rates, etc.
It's a sign of the times.
Gold (24k) is what to invest in nowadays.
http://www.scotgoldresources.com.au/
It's a sign of the times.
Gold (24k) is what to invest in nowadays.
http://www.scotgoldresources.com.au/
I win £25-£50 per month, got about £30k worth. Can't be bothered with putting it in a bank as it is a full time job trying to not get conned by them, the minute you don't look they magically put you on some sh1thouse rate. and of course with PBs there is always that small chance....
rob, I put all mine into a Stocks & Shares ISA yesterday and today.
SGZ
SXX
KEKI
ARS (really!)
SGZ
SXX
KEKI
ARS (really!)
When I done my financial planning certificate Premium Bonds were an essential part of it. They may not return a lot but they are tax free winnings and they do have a fluctuating average that usually beats inflation.
In the old days? Sure.
Premium Bonds don't even suck balls these days.
Two price changes in ,what ? 3 months?
Get the fcuk out the cab mate!
Premium Bonds don't even suck balls these days.
Two price changes in ,what ? 3 months?
Get the fcuk out the cab mate!
Chill out trilby - My old man has over £10k in PB's and he's consistently beating inflation
For anyone holding gold or equities, the shoeshine boy moment appears to have arrived.
They have just slashed the prize cut again and odds get worse. Instead of 5 monthly prizes of £100,000, there will now be only 2. And in future just 5 a month will get £50,000 - it was 12 before !
GET IN THERE.
Two £25 prizes arrived today. That money is going STRAIGHT to Panama.
A timely thread.
Anyone else get lucky today?
Two £25 prizes arrived today. That money is going STRAIGHT to Panama.
A timely thread.
Anyone else get lucky today?
my late step uncle was very lucky on the bonds and he never gambled on anything else. He started in the late 50's with £100 worth and every time he had a win he just purchased more bonds with the winnings, when he died in 97 he had £10k worth.
Two ponies here too.
God bless you, Mr Osborne, imo.
God bless you, Mr Osborne, imo.
What is there not to like? Looked at ISA with Santander yesterday, 1%, waste of time
I brought a grand's worth about 18 months ago. I forgot I'd even had them until reading this thread. Never had fook all back from them but I suppose they're soon swallowed up with all the millions of bonds out there.
I've got 15 £1 & £2 Premium Bonds which used to get brought for me by my Nan when she had any spare cash. 29 OC 62 is the date stamp on my oldest, brought shortly after I was born.
I had the address changed a couple of years back as my sister had done this and had some unclaimed winnings. FA for me though.
I had the address changed a couple of years back as my sister had done this and had some unclaimed winnings. FA for me though.
I've got £50 worth bought in the early 70s.
Never ever won anything.
Never ever won anything.
i have been involved in 5 draws so far and have had 4 x £25
my late step uncle was very lucky on the bonds and he never gambled on anything else. He started in the late 50's with £100 worth and every time he had a win he just purchased more bonds with the winnings, when he died in 97 he had £10k worth.
How is that lucky?
He invested £100 in late 1950s and in 40 years never got to spend £1 of it.
(£100 in 1957 is equivalent to about £2,234.70)
How is that lucky?
He invested £100 in late 1950s and in 40 years never got to spend £1 of it.
(£100 in 1957 is equivalent to about £2,234.70)
How has Chit Chat's ERNIE Club been getting on this month? Two £25 prizes here, so a case of having to bide one's time again before the big one inevitably lands.
Remember - we are also trying to find the Bond that has been in-play the longest without wining a prize. Current CC leader is Badworth's bond dated 29th October 1962, almost 54 years of failure. That's nearly as long ago as the last time Wales beat the All Blacks at rugby.
Remember - we are also trying to find the Bond that has been in-play the longest without wining a prize. Current CC leader is Badworth's bond dated 29th October 1962, almost 54 years of failure. That's nearly as long ago as the last time Wales beat the All Blacks at rugby.
i have 14k worth and i win virtually every month but only ever £25, gonna cash them in soon probs after the june draw
Oldest premium bond?
My grandmother bought my sister and I just a couple of bonds when we were children.
I'm not sure when bonds first appeared on the scene (will google later), but they were fairly new at the time.
I reckon I was under 10 at the time, so could be late 50's (I'm 67 now)
All I remember about them was they began with AK......
My grandmother bought my sister and I just a couple of bonds when we were children.
I'm not sure when bonds first appeared on the scene (will google later), but they were fairly new at the time.
I reckon I was under 10 at the time, so could be late 50's (I'm 67 now)
All I remember about them was they began with AK......
Boncs started in 1956... Harold MacMillan was prime minister!
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.
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.
Never had much invested in these but got £50 cheque in post a short time after buying £100 worth, very nice... that was about 20 years ago though and not a sniff since.
So we've defined a Premium Bonc as something on which you spend as little as possible, have one bit of joy several decades ago and not a sniff since.
Marriage in other words.
Marriage in other words.
Just checked mine.....£8 worth......last checked in 2007 ......bought in 1971...
Nothing !
Nothing !
Congratulations!
You've won £50 in June 2016's draw
My gratitude once more to our big-hearted Chancellor of the Exchequer.
You've won £50 in June 2016's draw
My gratitude once more to our big-hearted Chancellor of the Exchequer.
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.
Not so random after all.
I have one here, bought 11-12-56, that was my wifes, and she had to save hard to get it......
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
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
I was gifted £5 worth in 1957 and have never had a draw yet.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cheers Aunty Post.
WE HAVE A NEW LEADER.
Aunty Post's bond, dated 11/12/56, still without a win.
Put 11/12/2016 in your diary folks, a date when this country will surely hold some sort of solemn event in Westminster Abbey to commemorate 60 years of no returns. A magnificent 720 prize draws untroubled by this shyest of Premium Bonds. I'll insist that a Caribbean Steel Drum band is hired to lend some much-needed dignity and gravitas to the occasion.
How much is the Bond worth BTW?
WE HAVE A NEW LEADER.
Aunty Post's bond, dated 11/12/56, still without a win.
Put 11/12/2016 in your diary folks, a date when this country will surely hold some sort of solemn event in Westminster Abbey to commemorate 60 years of no returns. A magnificent 720 prize draws untroubled by this shyest of Premium Bonds. I'll insist that a Caribbean Steel Drum band is hired to lend some much-needed dignity and gravitas to the occasion.
How much is the Bond worth BTW?
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.
This is purely a Chit Chat endeavour Jack. We surely don't want the outside world tarnishing anything as clean, pure and wholesome as the Chit Chat Premium Bonds Club do we?
clean, pure and wholesome....of, course...
(wonder if this post ends up alongside 'Anyone ever made a girl squirt' thread.
(wonder if this post ends up alongside 'Anyone ever made a girl squirt' thread.
Maybe that will be achieved if a Chit Chatter wins the million pound prize for him and his female partner?
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?
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
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
Huggy why don't you just check on-line? I get my notifications by email - one is due on about Tuesday next week. Exciting times.
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.
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.
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.
Premium Bond update :
In all the years I've been doing the Premium Bonds, today marks a HISTORIC day. This is the first time EVER that I've received ALL my monthly prize cheques in ONE envelope. Three of them snugly fitted inside an envelope twice the size of the traditional ones, and printed on bigger sized stationery.
Did you all get your multiple wins in ONE envelope as well? Been waiting for this comparatively simple change to be implemented for donkeys years.
Going back to my opening post, my single £1 bond purchased for me in the Summer of '64 still remains a non-winner, roughly 56 years on.
In all the years I've been doing the Premium Bonds, today marks a HISTORIC day. This is the first time EVER that I've received ALL my monthly prize cheques in ONE envelope. Three of them snugly fitted inside an envelope twice the size of the traditional ones, and printed on bigger sized stationery.
Did you all get your multiple wins in ONE envelope as well? Been waiting for this comparatively simple change to be implemented for donkeys years.
Going back to my opening post, my single £1 bond purchased for me in the Summer of '64 still remains a non-winner, roughly 56 years on.
Out of curiosity alun, what is your biggest win to date? I hit £1,000 a year ago, give or take, but usually £25-£125 and occasionally nothing at all.
Mar 19, 2020 -- 9:14AM, Aspro wrote:
Out of curiosity alun, what is your biggest win to date? I hit £1,000 a year ago, give or take, but usually £25-£125 and occasionally nothing at all.
I have had them since roughly 2004. The biggest win I have had was £500, think I also had a couple of £100 also. Still have them and usually get £25 every couple of months.
That's with £21K or so invested last I looked. Any winnings it automatically buys more bonds.
Just checking it. I have £21,275. I won £25 three times last year and three more this year (two in March).
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.
Only had mine for a few years. First year I got £525 (10 months) and in the past 12 months I've returned £1,600, but that includes the £1k win I had. Investment is £42.4k
They are a good rock solid tax free investment and you just never know when a chunky win might come along.
I'm not so sure. See the other thread I created that alun brought up this morning. In all my 50 odd years I don't know anyone who has won a very big prize (100k or 1m) and I don't know anyone who knows anyone who has won the biggie either. Considering I worked for Prudential for 15 years and then an IFA for another 15 years, you would think I would know or have heard of at least one person... but no, nobody at all... does make you wonder.
Probably because it's not like say, the lottery. Premium bonds are fairly tiny amounts compared to the multi millions of a huge lottery win. I have met one person (while I was on a Cunard cruise) that won the Euromillions £1m raffle number as part of a small syndicate in his work.
Not saying how many I got, in October '16, but have only blanked seven times....
Wins between minimum £25 and two of £125....
Far and away more than any rates, from any financial institution, and the knowledge that your money is safe,
and can be back in your bank account in three working days....
Actually blanked last month, so come on the next one!
Wins between minimum £25 and two of £125....
Far and away more than any rates, from any financial institution, and the knowledge that your money is safe,
and can be back in your bank account in three working days....
Actually blanked last month, so come on the next one!
Mar 19, 2020 -- 3:27PM, Lady Faye Verrit wrote:
Not saying how many I got, in October '16, but have only blanked seven times....Wins between minimum £25 and two of £125....Far and away more than any rates, from any financial institution, and the knowledge that your money is safe,and can be back in your bank account in three working days....Actually blanked last month, so come on the next one!
Lady, you have roughly £20K invested.
Just a bit more than that, but my profits are, for some reason, way over what they suggest as typical!
Just done a consolidation from October '16 on £28,500 and profits are £1,875 reinvested....
Not that bad, when it isn't tied up, and I actually have three wins of £125, which has to be good!
Not that bad, when it isn't tied up, and I actually have three wins of £125, which has to be good!
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