State pension - going round in circles

[baconsarney]

Trying to initiate my state pension, have been online, undertaken verification.. then got the below.......

You have successfully verified your identity with a certified company, but Department for Work and Pensions are unable to match your details. You do not need to verify with another certified company.

To get your State Pension you need to call us to confirm some personal details. You will need your National Insurance number.

So.. as per the above, I've been calling to 'confirm some personal details' ... for days.... just put on hold... every time... started this nearly three weeks ago.....

Any suggestions chaps?

[Skyedriver]

Not sure what the "Certified Company" bit refers to but I'm 67 and don't recall any great problems
It's a ballache website but have you tried GOV.uk or whatever it is?
You'll need a log on reference IIRC

Sorry can't be more help, I'll try and rack my brains for how I did it.

[oilit]

have you inadvertently clicked on a company offering to do some work to help you and charge you for the privilege - may be worth checking the website you went to?

Sorry if it sounds like I am being patronising here - not intended to be ...I had a similar problem with a visa recently where it should have been free but I clicked the website which was actually a spoof and they tried to charge me... that's when I realised I had made a mistake....

[baconsarney]

Thanks guys....

Deffo on the .gov.uk website.............. planning on having another try this morning....

[SS2.]

I suspect it's a case of [correctly] registering with one of gov.uk's identity verifying partners - Post Office, Experian, SecureIdentity, etc - but a data disconnect exists between there and the DWP / pensions service.

It would appear there's little choice other than trying to get to speak with someone.

After going through similar over a recent tax issue with HMRC, I do sympathise.

[Sheepshanks]

I will need to do this soonish, so just had a quick look and it seems to want me to go through the Verify process even though I've already got a Gov.uk login.

I imagine they must be doing a thousand plus per day so you'd think it'd be pretty organised.

[Simpo Two]

I'm surprised it's not automatic. The Govt knows who you are, how old you are and your NI number, and has been receiving payments from you for 40+ years!

[mfmman]

Have you tried HMRC live chat? It’s a bit rubbish to get onto it, but good once on it

[55palfers]

Simpo Two said:

I'm surprised it's not automatic. The Govt knows who you are, how old you are and your NI number, and has been receiving payments from you for 40+ years!

Only problem is HMG knowing what bank you want the money paid to.

[Simpo Two]

55palfers said:

Only problem is HMG knowing what bank you want the money paid to.

That doesn't sound like an insuperable problem... when I had to sort out my mother's pension I just rang up the DWP and gave them the sort code and account number. Mind you that was 15 years ago before they had all these clever-clever systems.

[Beetnik]

55palfers said:

Simpo Two said:

I'm surprised it's not automatic. The Govt knows who you are, how old you are and your NI number, and has been receiving payments from you for 40+ years!

Only problem is HMG knowing what bank you want the money paid to.

...and you're not obliged to take it once you reach pensionable age. You can defer it and take a larger amount later.

[Sheepshanks]

55palfers said:

Only problem is HMG knowing what bank you want the money paid to.

They could send it somewhere random - make it like a treasure hunt for the old folks with nothing else to do.

[Welshbeef]

If calling is taking an age pen paper and letter to them always gets a response.

[baconsarney]

Welshbeef said:

If calling is taking an age pen paper and letter to them always gets a response.

Yep I downloaded the pension application form yesterday... Just need to track down my divorce certificate now ffs