Am I Owed Money? How to Check for Unclaimed Dividends and Shares.

It is estimated that over £3 billion in unclaimed shares and dividends is sitting in UK accounts waiting to be claimed. The most common reason? You moved house and forgot to tell the Registrar.

If you think you might be one of the thousands of “missing” shareholders, here is exactly what you need to check and what information you must provide to get your money back.

The “Gone Away” Signal When you move house and don’t update your address, the company continues to send letters. Eventually, one bounces back. To prevent fraud, the Registrar puts a “Gone Away” marker on your account.

  • Result: They stop sending cheques. They stop sending annual reports. Your asset effectively goes to sleep.

Checklist: What You Need to Start a Claim You cannot simply call Equiniti or Computershare and say, “Do you have money for John Smith?” They need proof of identity. Before you contact them, gather these three things:

1. Any Old Share Certificates

  • Why: This proves you owned the shares at some point.
  • Look for: An 11-digit “Shareholder Reference Number” (SRN) or “Investor Code” (IVC). It is usually in the top corner of the certificate.

2. A List of Your Previous Addresses

  • Why: The Registrar will have your old address on file, not your current one.
  • The Check: When you call, they will ask: “What address is this holding registered to?” If you only give your current address, they will say “Not found.” You must provide your previous postcodes.

3. Dividend Tax Vouchers or Bank Statements

  • Why: Even if you lost the certificate, a bank statement showing a credit from “EQ Dividend” or “Link Market Svcs” is proof that an account exists.

How to Claim

Request Reissue: Ask for all outstanding dividend cheques to be reissued to you.

Identify the Registrar: Use Divica to find out which registrar manages the company today (e.g., Vodafone is Computershare).

Contact Them: Call their shareholder helpline.

The Security Question: Tell them your name and your previous address.

Update Your Details: Ask them to remove the “Gone Away” marker and update your address.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. While we strive to keep our content accurate and up-to-date, registrar procedures and UK law can change. You should always verify specific requirements directly with the relevant registrar (e.g., Equiniti, Computershare, MUFG) or consult a qualified legal or financial professional before taking action regarding an estate or shareholding.