Help/advice needed Freinds Provident Endowment claim

skyeurope

I called Freinds Provident last year after receiveing my yearly statment, they asked if I wanted to make a claim and I said sure, they proceeded to open a claim and send me a claim form, after several weeks they contacted me by phone and asked a couple of questions one that stuck out was if I had died would I of wanted my parents to have my house I replied yes, but only so they could sell it and keep the profit after paying off the mortage,there was no need for the house to be paid off for them. I was told I would be sent some figures in the mail and looked forward to this, this was around june 2005 in January 2006 I received a letter dated 28 November 2005 which stated they had tried to contact me and if I did not reply by 31 December 2005 the files would be closed. I called them and sent back the letter explaining it did not arrive till Jan 2006 and I still wish to contiue with the claim. The person in charge of my files was off but the lady said all the information was there and figures and not sure why I had not been sent them. I called 2 weeks later to talk to the person delaing with my case and he said a few people were in front off me but he would get onto mine as soon as possible.
Today I recived this letter

Thank you for your letter in response to my letter dated 28 November 2005. I would remind you that in that letter, I confirmed that if no reply had been received that by 31 December 2005 we would close our files.

We fell that you have had sufficient opportunity to provide the requested information, and I regret that as we received your reply after 31 Decmber 2005 our file is closed and you have lost your right to compensation. My origional letter, dated 24 April 2005, confirmed that you had 6 months from that date (ie until 24 October 2005) to refer your case to the finaccial Ombusman Service (FOS). Therefore, it appears that you have also lost your right to approach the FOS

Does anyone have any advise as to how I respond or reply to this?
Any help or information would be appreciated.

maryotuam

I hope someone more knowledgeable than me will be able to help you but one point that struck me is this. They have no proof that you received the letter before January as it wasn't recorded delivery. Also they should have a record of your ringing them and attempting to sort out the problem. I personally wouldn't let this lie as it all sounds a bit fishy to me.

EdInvestor

The number of reports about unacceptable behaviour by Friends Provident is very high.It's about time this firm was reported to the FSA for obstruction.

In the meantime I would refer your complaint now to the Ombudsman, explaining all these FP delaying tactics in your letter.

https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

canny_yorkshireman_2

I know this is not what you want to hear but friends provident have the biggest rejection rate of all the top providers and tatics like this is possibly how they achieve this it is not how a major player should act and needs reporting I also have a policy with them and guess what I was rejected also but was pre 1988 so only had redress from the broker who ceased trading hope you get more joy with the ombudsman

defender_of_the_weak

Pleae remember to everyone on this board. Friends Provident received a massive fine in 2004 for the way itrejected complaints and yet the regulator lets them bully connsumers like this every day. Pretty soon they will be able to time bar every single complaint and in any other form or walk of life, this would be national news.

Time barring, as based on the original premise contained within the Limitations Act requires a quantification of loss to set the clock running and this has never happened with endowments, but in a convenien fudge between the ABI and FSA companies are allowed to do this to consumers.

Definetly take your case to FOS