Mystery of the ancient passbook (and a red herring cheque for £91)

S.G. writes: I opened an account with the Leeds Permanent Building Society in 1986 and used it until 1988 when there was a balance left of £359. Since then I have moved three times and only recently came across the old Leeds passbook. I found the society had been taken over by the Halifax, so I went to a Halifax branch and was told staff could not trace an account in my name and any account would have been frozen as it had not been used for years. They said a letter explaining this would have been sent to my old address. I then received a letter showing a different account number and a balance of only £9, but this was followed by a cheque for £91. MOST banks and building societies scrapped passbooks many years ago in favour of printed statements and online access to accounts. It is not unusual for old passbooks to be found, but they are not firm proof that the account was never used after they were replaced.

What is unusual about your situation is that your passbook shows you had £359; Halifax confirmed in writing that it had found an account in your name containing £9. But you then received £91. So which figure is the right one?

I asked Halifax to doublecheck, and the answer is that your old Leeds account never even made it to the Halifax, which suggests it was closed before the merger in 1995.

What Halifax found in your name was a completely different account that you opened in 1975, holding £9. But officials feel you could have been given more help when you originally went to the branch, so by way of saying sorry they have sent you a further £50.

The £91 cheque is a red herring. Halifax staff made enquiries and it appears the money is a refund from your local water company.