Finding out about pension in previous job

JReacher

Don't know if anyone can help me with this, well actually it is my work colleague that needs help.

My colleague worked for a firm of Solicitors a few years ago and paid into their pension scheme. He worked for them for about 2 years and then left. He forgot all about the pension until the other day. He looked up his old firm and they still exist. He has tried to contact them about the scheme, but they just fobbed him off saying they had no employment records after 20 years ago. Can he find out whether he has any monies outstanding? Is there someone he can go to?

Grateful if anyone has any advice

EdInvestor

JReacher wrote: »

My colleague worked for a firm of Solicitors a few years ago

How many?Key factor.

...and paid into their pension scheme.

Was this an occupational scheme?

He worked for them for about 2 years and then left.

If it was less than 2 years he would have been entitled to his contributions back and some firms then insisted these were taken.Did this happen?

He has tried to contact them about the scheme, but they just fobbed him off saying they had no employment records after 20 years ago.

If he had taken his money out, this is probably true, the number of years is not really relevant.If he has no records himself, it's more likely he did take the money out.

Can he find out whether he has any monies outstanding? Is there someone he can go to?

There is a pension tracing service at DirectGov.

dunstonh

but they just fobbed him off saying they had no employment records after 20 years ago

Was it a few years ago or more than 20 years ago?

JReacher

dunstonh wrote: »

Was it a few years ago or more than 20 years ago?

He worked for them 30 Years Ago

It was not an occupational Pension

He wasthere just short of two years

Thank you both for replying

EdInvestor

JReacher wrote: »

He worked for them 30 Years Ago

It was not an occupational Pension

He wasthere just short of two years

Thank you both for replying

Hmm, a bit puzzling, was it perhaps a retirement annuity contract (RAC) or some kind of 'executive' pension?Modern private pensions didn't exist 30 years ago.

If it was a RAC, then it would have been with an outside insurance company and your colleague should have his own records.

JReacher

EdInvestor wrote: »

Hmm, a bit puzzling, was it perhaps a retirement annuity contract (RAC) or some kind of 'executive' pension?Modern private pensions didn't exist 30 years ago.

If it was a RAC, then it would have been with an outside insurance company and your colleague should have his own records.

I will ask him, thanks