B. G. writes: I had a savings account with Eastbourne Mutual Building Society. In 1977 I went to work overseas and have been abroad most of the time since. Now I am back in the UK, but all efforts to trace the society have been unsuccessful.
H.M.replies: Your savings have made quite a journey.
The Eastbourne Mutual Building Society merged with Sussex County Building Society in 1990 and was renamed the Southdown Building Society.
In 1992, Southdown was taken over by Leeds Permanent, which in turn merged with Halifax Building Society in 1995.
Halifax then converted to a bank in June 1997 and is now part of Lloyds Banking Group.
The Building Societies Association's website (bsa.org.uk) includes a search facility to help you locate savings accounts and mortgages from defunct building societies.
The free mylostaccount.org.uk can also help to trace missing bank and building society accounts.
Or you can call the BSA on 020 7520 5900 to obtain a lost building society account form. For lost bank accounts, call the British Bankers' Association on 020 7216 8800.
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R. C. writes: We are saving for our only grandchildren, who live in New Zealand. We pay into a Halifax account, which allows savings on behalf of non-residents, but with interest rates so low should we be trying something different?
A. E. replies: Currently the interest rates in New Zealand are higher than in the UK so another option may be to open an account there.
HSBC offers an account based in New Zealand with online access. However, charges mean that such accounts may only make sense if you save substantial sums.
Alternatively, you could consider investing your money in a -based unit trust on behalf of your grandchildren.
While the value can go down as well as up, it would offer the potential for better returns than are currently available on cash.
When each grandchild is 18, you could then transfer the money into their own name.
Come clean over speeding pointsP. T. writes: I have had a couple of speeding convictions, but the final three points recently dropped off my driving licence. Now my licence is 'clean', do these offences have to be mentioned to an insurer?G. T. replies: An insurer or broker would usually ask about 'unspent' convictions. A minor conviction - without a disqualification from driving or imprisonment - can normally be cleared off your licence after four years.
The points must be disclosed for three years though the rehabilitation period for any fine is five years. This can be a complex situation and it's best to tell all to your insurer.
If you have a personal finance query, write to: Ask the Experts, Room 301, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email experts@mailonsunday.co.uk. No original documents please.