Agent Million: M1 and M2

Agent Million

On the last day of each month two Premium Bonds employees set out on the road, their mission: to find the jackpot winners and tell them of their good fortune. The winning numbers are published on the first working day of the month but NS&I’s jackpot winners are told the day before so that their prize can be in their bank account first thing the next day.

The identity of the employees is kept under wraps for security reasons and they are known to the public only as Agent Million.  One Agent Million has been doing the job for five years, breaking the good news to almost 60 brand-new millionaires. 

When do you go to people’s houses?

“I try and judge by their age when to go, but generally I find the soaps in the early evening are a good time to catch people, especially in the winter.”

Do you go in disguise?

“No. If someone walked up my road dressed in a mac and a beret I think I’d be really suspicious of them! You dress according to where you’re going. In some areas, for example, you would feel really conspicuous walking down the road with a briefcase so I’ve carried the documentation in a carrier bag before now.”

What happens when you get there?

“I knock on the door and ask to speak to the winner. That can cause problems if the husband answers the door and I say I need to speak to the wife - he’ll say ‘Well what do you need her for’ which can be quite difficult. It can be worse if it’s the wife who answers the door and I say I need to speak to the husband!

“The hardest bit of the job I think is gaining people’s trust and getting in the house so you can actually discuss why you’re there because obviously you can’t really discuss it on the doorstep. Although that has happened once.”

How do people usually react?

“The typical reaction is ‘Are you sure, are you sure? Oh my goodness I can’t believe it.’ Then there are tears. Then they’ll turn round and say something like ‘We were only talking the other day about winning the Premium Bonds’.

“I’ve never had anyone say they were expecting it. One person did turn round once and say ‘Well it’s about time’ but he was joking.”

Do any of them swear?

“Quite a few, yes. If we ever did it live on TV we’d have to make sure there was a bleeper machine.”

What happens next?

“You have a cup of tea or coffee, then you tell them all over again because they’ve not taken any of it in.

“You tell them that we won’t just arrange for the money to be paid and leave them. We maintain contact with them and develop a relationship. They’re not going to tell many people so it’s nice for them to be able to talk to you in confidence about it, knowing that you’re not going to tell anyone.

“The main thing we try to say is don’t rush into anything, but we say it’s your money, if  you want to go out tomorrow and blow the lot that’s fine.”

Do they keep in touch?

“I had a text on New Year’s Day from somebody who was celebrating the new year abroad, somewhere exotic. I get Christmas cards, things like that. Most of them keep in touch for a few months and once they’ve come to terms with it they start to get on with their lives.”