I've seen countless films where people have safety deposit boxes located in bank vaults. Does anyone here know whether these actually exist, and if so, how easy/cheap it is to get one? Might need to store some stuff securely in the near future and will consider this as an option if it's possible.
They do exist, the cost depends on your bank i guess. A quick google finds this. Never used one myself though! edit: Don't be storing anything illegal though
We just have a big fireproof safe in the house for birth records, deeds and such. Too big to move without professional help. Just be sure to check the fire rating time. john
Your bank will look after your house deeds (and I assume anything else) at a price, though your mortgage lender may insist on keeping the deeds until the mortgage is up.
Just thinking about the physics of that, in a big fire wouldn't the papers inside spontaneously combust at a certain temperature regardless of the safe's fireproofing?
The safe would be thermally insulated, though in a sustained fire the internal temperature would eventually rise enough to burn the paper. That's why it's only rated for a given period of time.
Our US safes have to have a rating such and such degrees for so much time. Paper burns at 451F., so a 500 degree rating for 2 hours no paper burns. Not many brick and mortar banks left with safety deposit boxes anymore. Sad. I have memories of going to the bank with my parents as a wee lad. OK 45+ years ago. Hush. john
My parents have a safety deposit box were they store documents such as birth certificates and the likes, nothing worth any real money, but important none the less...
My parents used to use a safety deposit box for important paperwork (birth certificates, passports, etc.), but although it wasn't very expensive, it was inconvenient if you needed something from the box. I started using a fireproof safe a few years ago (waterproof and rated to keep the contents cool for an hour in a typical house fire), and a few months ago my parents decided my approach was better, and got rid of the deposit box.
Yeah I have a large fireproof safe in my closet and my parents have one in the basement. If the robber really wanted it they could just carry it away (they aren't bolted down) My dad said that you should never put a safe on the second floor or first floor if you have a basement because if there was a fire it would burn thought the floor and would fall and would most likely break open losing anything you had in the safe
Are birth certificates difficult to get in the US? I needed to get mine replaced before i got married and it was a ten minute walk to the register office and a 5 minute interview with the registrar where i confirmed my details and she printed a new one off, cost about £17 but still cheaper than a safe.
Well that and the fact you really should bolt any safe to a solid foundation such as concrete. I was thinking about safety deposit boxes the other day. With all the talk of bank security these days and the fact that only £15k is safe if the bank goes under, surely safety deposit boxes will start to become more popular. I should start up 2 businesses. The first goes "Hey gold is always a good investment, buy now before the prices go up!", the next goes "Just bought a load of gold and need somewhere safe eh?"
The banks in the US were guaranteed up to $100,000 but on Oct 8th it was raised to $250,000. Just saw a sign in my bank. Like anybody in the US has $250K anymore. john
