MP URGES CONSUMERS TO FIND FORGOTTEN ACCOUNTS
Posted on Thursday, September 20 2007
Moray Scottish National Party MP Angus Robertson has today [Thursday] urged Moray constituents to consider whether they may have forgotten bank accounts. The Bank of Scotland has been leading a campaign to reunite bank customers with their lost bank accounts and have indicated that in Moray they have 99 dormant accounts with a combined value of £11,501. When you extend this to all the other financial institutions operating in Moray there are likely to be hundreds of accounts lying unclaimed totalling several tens of thousands of pounds. While many of the bank accounts may only have a few pounds in them there will be others with a reasonable sum that customers may be completely unaware of. A dormant account is a banking or savings account that has had no customer initiated transactions for 15 years or more. Accounts become dormant primarily because customers lose track of accounts over the years; as banks and building societies change ownership, passbooks are lost or relatives pass away. It is also possible to lose touch with customers if they stop using their accounts and change address without notifying the organisation. Currently unclaimed balances remain in the books of banks or building societies. Commenting the SNP's Angus Robertson said: " In the last couple of weeks we have seen the difficulties faced by Northern Rock and in these circumstances it is good to be able to highlight a better news stories in relation to the banking sector. " I commend the Bank of Scotland on their efforts to re-unite customers with lost accounts and I understand that they have already had thousands of applications. " There are many families and individuals who could be missing out on money that is theirs but which they are completely unaware of. " There is only so much that banks and building societies can do to track down lost customers and I would urge customers to think back to see if they may have a forgotten account. " The Bank of Scotland has set up a specific website to help customers at www.boslocateaccounts.co.uk and customers of any bank can get help in claiming from the British Bankers Association website at www.bba.org.uk and clicking on the 'Locate Your Lost Bank Account' link." Ends.
MP SUPPORTS CALLS TO HELP LIVESTOCK HAULAGE
Posted on Wednesday, September 19 2007
"It is simply essential to protect the welfare of animals and the agriculture and haulage sectors" - Angus Robertson MP Moray Scottish National Party MP Angus Robertson has sent an urgent letter to the Transport Minister calling for a temporary easing of drivers hours restrictions on livestock hauliers to allow them to deal with livestock welfare issues caused by the Foot and Mouth restrictions. Mr Robertson's actions support the call made by Moray MSP Richard Lochhead who has raised the issue with the Westminster Government in his capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Environment & Rural Affairs. Commenting Mr Robertson said: " The pressure on the agriculture and haulage sectors as a result of the Foot & Mouth outbreak is huge. " One of the biggest issues is the welfare of livestock that needs new grazing and this is hugely affected by the ability of hauliers to make the large number of movements required to deal with the situation under the existing rules on drivers hours. " These restrictions were temporarily eased during last Foot & Mouth outbreak in 2001 and the Minister needs to look urgently at doing so again." Ends.
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