Premium Bonds alert as NS&I clarifies important restriction on passwords

A frustrated customer asked if there was an issue with the system.

By Nicholas Dawson, Finance Reporter based in London, covering personal finance with a focus on the state pension and retirement planning.

A woman checks her bills

An NS&I customer was having an issue with their password (Image: Getty)

NS&I has issued a response after a customer had an issue with their password for logging in online.

The saver got in touch with the Premium Bonds provider over X to ask: "I am trying to open an account online which involves choosing a password.

"However whichever password I choose it will not be accepted even though it's within the 12 to 20 characters, one upper one lower case etc. Is it me or is there a problem your end?"

NS&I customers have the option to manage their accounts by registering for the online and phone service.

Once you have opened an account online or over the phone, you become registered.

NS&I said in response to the password query: "Please make sure that when creating a password, if you're using symbols, to only use the symbols below: ! # $ * + , . / : ? @ [ ] ^ _ ` { | } ~.

"If you have checked this and are still having issues, please let us know the error message you're getting when trying to enter the password."

Another customer recently got in touch with a question about their password. They queried: "Just received my letter with my NS&I number (I have just registered for the online and phone service), but I need to set up my password for the account. How do I go about doing this?"

A couple check their finances

An NS&I customer was having an issue with their password (Image: Getty)

The provider replied to inform the customer they would soon receive another letter. The group explained: "You will also receive your temporary password in the post, this won't be far behind your NS&I number.

"Once you have received your temporary password, you will be able to log in online and create your own password."

Each £1 Premium Bond goes into a monthly prize draw with an equal chance of winning a prize, rather than getting an interest rate as with a conventional savings account.

Prizes in the draw range from the smallest £25 winning up to one of the jackpot prizes for £1million.

Other large prizes in the monthly event include several prizes for £100,000 and £50,000.

The prize fund rate is currently 4.4 percent with the odds of winning at 21,000 to one for each £1 Bond.

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