Potential 'lost' pension
Discussion
Hi all, some advice on an issue which is driving me nuts!
I think I have a very old workplace pension which may (or, indeed, may not!) have a good few thousand quid in it, however, I'm having zero help or assistance from the company responsible for administrating the scheme.
Back story; I worked for a large corporate who, several years ago, were bought by a worldwide corporate. I've looked everywhere for paperwork relating to my old pension and come up with nothing (I've moved quite a few times since I worked for the company).
I used the government's online tracing tool and found the name and address of the pension administrator (which is actually the company who bought my old employer) and rang them - getting passed back and forth between two different divisions of the company several times before finally finding the person I thought would be able to help - and she confirmed she would be able to tell me whether or not I do indeed have any 'paid-up' pension with the scheme.
Since then, I've heard nothing from her, despite repeated emails and non-returned phone calls. Every time I call the company, they just keep referring me back to the same person. I called the pension's watchdog and they tell me that I first need to confirm whether or not I definitely DO have a pension to be able to raise any kind of complaint about it - so a dead end there.
The person responsible for dealing with the issue is clearly not interested in helping me whatsoever - she's something to do with HR (which I find a bit odd) - and is never at her desk when I call.
All I want to know is whether I have an old workplace pension with the scheme or not - a pretty simple question to answer, right?
What can I do to get clarification on this? I've thought about emailing the Head of HR, who I assume would be this person's boss - and I don't needlessly want to get this woman 'in trouble', but I'm getting nowhere and if there are several thousand quid sitting in a closed scheme that I could put to better work in a different vehicle, then I need to know.
I think I have a very old workplace pension which may (or, indeed, may not!) have a good few thousand quid in it, however, I'm having zero help or assistance from the company responsible for administrating the scheme.
Back story; I worked for a large corporate who, several years ago, were bought by a worldwide corporate. I've looked everywhere for paperwork relating to my old pension and come up with nothing (I've moved quite a few times since I worked for the company).
I used the government's online tracing tool and found the name and address of the pension administrator (which is actually the company who bought my old employer) and rang them - getting passed back and forth between two different divisions of the company several times before finally finding the person I thought would be able to help - and she confirmed she would be able to tell me whether or not I do indeed have any 'paid-up' pension with the scheme.
Since then, I've heard nothing from her, despite repeated emails and non-returned phone calls. Every time I call the company, they just keep referring me back to the same person. I called the pension's watchdog and they tell me that I first need to confirm whether or not I definitely DO have a pension to be able to raise any kind of complaint about it - so a dead end there.
The person responsible for dealing with the issue is clearly not interested in helping me whatsoever - she's something to do with HR (which I find a bit odd) - and is never at her desk when I call.
All I want to know is whether I have an old workplace pension with the scheme or not - a pretty simple question to answer, right?
What can I do to get clarification on this? I've thought about emailing the Head of HR, who I assume would be this person's boss - and I don't needlessly want to get this woman 'in trouble', but I'm getting nowhere and if there are several thousand quid sitting in a closed scheme that I could put to better work in a different vehicle, then I need to know.
Things are not on your side if you have nothing at all indicating that you do indeed have a pension with this company.
You said you called the pensions watchdog....who are they? Which organisation precisely did you call? I reckon it could have been some form of commercial outfit, which is not good.
You best course of action is:
1. Make one final call to the company.
2. If they take no action, don't respond etc, send them a letter making a formal complaint. You will need to set out full details of why you are complaining.
3. If you are not content with their response, contact the office of the Pensions Ombudsman and ask them for assistance. Go via https://www.pensions-ombudsman.org.uk for information. Note that the Pensions Ombudsman will not investigate matters unless you have already raised a formal complaint and you are not satisfied with the outcome: they will not take any action without you having done so already.
Right now, it's your word against your ex employer's, so you have nothing to support your claim, which is not good so don't get high expectations of a successful outcome. Find a document, letter, anything , and you'll be in a much better situation.
R.
You said you called the pensions watchdog....who are they? Which organisation precisely did you call? I reckon it could have been some form of commercial outfit, which is not good.
You best course of action is:
1. Make one final call to the company.
2. If they take no action, don't respond etc, send them a letter making a formal complaint. You will need to set out full details of why you are complaining.
3. If you are not content with their response, contact the office of the Pensions Ombudsman and ask them for assistance. Go via https://www.pensions-ombudsman.org.uk for information. Note that the Pensions Ombudsman will not investigate matters unless you have already raised a formal complaint and you are not satisfied with the outcome: they will not take any action without you having done so already.
Right now, it's your word against your ex employer's, so you have nothing to support your claim, which is not good so don't get high expectations of a successful outcome. Find a document, letter, anything , and you'll be in a much better situation.
R.
Fallon said:
Back story; I worked for a large corporate who, several years ago, were bought by a worldwide corporate. I've looked everywhere for paperwork relating to my old pension and come up with nothing (I've moved quite a few times since I worked for the company).
Have you any old payslips or P60s? They could show pension contributions.768 said:
loafer123 said:
Would a Freedom of Information request, asking for all files relating to employment be an alternative strategy?
I can't think that a private pension through a private company is covered by the FOIA?https://coodes.co.uk/blog/employees-personnel-file...
I know this is going to sound old school but why on earth did you ring them? There is hardly going to be someone there sitting waiting for your call with all the relevant documentation on hand to answer your query. Besides which from a phone call they won't know who they are speaking to so would be foolish to release any info anyway, maybe that is why the person won't take your calls.
What you need to do is write a letter addressed to the Scheme Administrator outlining your query and providing your NI number and any details you may have about your employment, a copy of an old payslip would be handy. You will then need to wait about 4 weeks when you should get a reply. It is only at that point that you can then start complaining.
What you need to do is write a letter addressed to the Scheme Administrator outlining your query and providing your NI number and any details you may have about your employment, a copy of an old payslip would be handy. You will then need to wait about 4 weeks when you should get a reply. It is only at that point that you can then start complaining.
Ean218 said:
I know this is going to sound old school but why on earth did you ring them? There is hardly going to be someone there sitting waiting for your call with all the relevant documentation on hand to answer your query. Besides which from a phone call they won't know who they are speaking to so would be foolish to release any info anyway, maybe that is why the person won't take your calls.
What you need to do is write a letter addressed to the Scheme Administrator outlining your query and providing your NI number and any details you may have about your employment, a copy of an old payslip would be handy. You will then need to wait about 4 weeks when you should get a reply. It is only at that point that you can then start complaining.
True, though you might expect that the 'pension administrator' might have had the brains to tell him that, rather than hiding in a cupboard. But then, HR people are not noted for initiative.What you need to do is write a letter addressed to the Scheme Administrator outlining your query and providing your NI number and any details you may have about your employment, a copy of an old payslip would be handy. You will then need to wait about 4 weeks when you should get a reply. It is only at that point that you can then start complaining.
Not an immediate solution, but I've lived overseas continuously for the last 25 years, and on and off before that, but 3 years ago and about 6 months before my 65 birthday I had several letters from the pension dept in Newcastle informing me that a pension fund had asked for my current address and giving me contact information, I found 3 pensions that way, two were very small and I cashed them one was a decent amount. My address was up to date..ate as I knew I had paid in enough to get a basic UK pension from the state.
In all 3 cases the original company had ceased trading and the funds had been transferred but thy found me.
Same thing has just happened with a small pension I have in Norway, just before my 67th birthday, they contacted my ex wife at the last address they had, she forwarded the letter, and I'm currently sorting out how to claim it.
In all 3 cases the original company had ceased trading and the funds had been transferred but thy found me.
Same thing has just happened with a small pension I have in Norway, just before my 67th birthday, they contacted my ex wife at the last address they had, she forwarded the letter, and I'm currently sorting out how to claim it.
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