incorrect contributions into my company pension

[stigmundfreud]

I'll keep it to a minimum...

I used to work for a Company which deducted £300 per month from my salary. This was paid into a personal pension via a benefits company.

Prior to leaving I checked my pension contributions and they were a mess. Instead of £300 going into the pension, as had been deducted each month, the schedule showed lots of incorrect values.

I notified the pension company = not our fault we only record what is paid in
I notified the benefits company = not our fault we can only supply what we are told to by your payroll
I notified my ex company = they claimed it was either a fault at the pensions firm or the benefits company

This actually was originally reported in April 2005. After a lot of chasing by me it turns out to be a fault with my ex companies accounts - 2 years later and it is still nowhere near being sorted out. I have provided evidence of wage slips and bank balances which prove the deductions were made. I've provided evidence of what the contributions should have been (taking into account salary sacrifice).

So my questions are these:

1.) What is my best legal action to take?
2.) Am I entitled to any compensation? I am going to ensure that once settled any missed intrest is added on but am I entitled to pursue any other claim?
3.) After sending emails (which I have kept) should I now write a formal letter stating the issue to be resolved by a certain date (giving them say a months notice) or I'll be issuing a winding up notice? OK thats possibly tongue in cheek but it could get it sorted. I know people have done it for moneys owed for services provided, so its a similar thing.

I've been more than patient with them and now its getting beyond a joke. I want to fire a warning shot to wake them up. Also they recently admitted to me the issue exists with other employees - how can the employees be notified to check their pensions???

thanks

Michael

[johnmiller]

Was the pension provider picked by you or by your employer?

If them, they are responsible in all ways. If their contracted supplier messed up it's hardly your fault is it?

I have a client whose then employer had cocked up his pension contributions and was totally unconcerned and blase.

Once I pointed out that the relevant statutes allowed for him to be fined a maximum of £50,000 for each of the 14 payments he had cocked up he soon changed his tune!

You want the provider to make sure you get the relevant value at the unit prices that should have applied - so I guess not insignificant compensation should be due.

[stigmundfreud]

well I found an old email from the benefits company stating that there is a known problem with a few other employees pensions pointing the blame at my then employers. I've given up to be honest, spoken to the pensions ombudsman who are very interested in this and want me to send consolodated bank statements, wage slips, correspondance too

thanks for the post, I'm leaving it with the ombudsman but I want compensating for the (possibly miniscule) interest that has been missed