Pension advice for dead fathers pension

Banjo1970

Hi,

I hope some one can assist with this as I am very confused.

My father died over 6 years ago and was a widower. I was executor of his estate and thought I had dealt with everything, that was until this morning.

A letter arrived from a company stating that my father had a pension and that they had traced my details from his death certificate. They have asked me to contact them but ubfortunately it's Saturday and they are closed. They want information about the executor, which of course was me.

I had no idea he had a pension, he never told me about it and there were no records in any paperwork or bank statements etc. I am his only surviving relative.

My concern is that I know he had a girlfriend after my mum died, who took advantage of him and was half his age - could she have been claiming his pension? Should I not of been informed of this at the time of his death? Why has the pension company decided to contact me after all of this time?

Any info would be really helpful as its open a few old wounds and it's really bothering me.

Thank you

tanith

Was your father claiming his pension before he died? It may be that they have contacted you because he hadn't claimed his pension which is how they came to be investigating . It could be that he named you as recipient of his pension after his death , this is what my ex did , when he died my eldest daughter was nominated to receive a % of his pension for several years. I guess you'll get answers to your questions when they reopen on Monday.

McKneff

But please be careful, there are so many pension scamming companies about.

What was the name of the company please.

Banjo1970

Thank, I can only assume that he was claiming it because he was financially very poor, but as I said there was no records of it into his bank account so think it must have been going into his girl friends account. Guess I'll find out on Monday as said, just this has really come out of the blue.

Thank you again .

Banjo1970

The name of the company is Guardian Financial.

Shimrod

It could be a pension your father was not drawing when he died. It could be he had either forgotten about it, chosen not to commence receiving an income from it, or he was not yet old enough to commence the pension when he died.

As people move home, pension trustees or administrators lose contact with pension beneficiaries. As a result, from time to time they may use a 'track and trace' service to regain contact with people. I suspect this is what has happened in your case - the track and trace has revealed that your father has died, so they have then tracked you down as the sole surviving relative.

If this is the case, depending on the type of pension and the pension rules, you may receive some money, but that is not guaranteeed.

Banjo1970

Thank you all again. I'll call them on Monday and see what's what.

xylophone

http://www.guardianfs.co.uk/lost-customers/index.html

Banjo1970

I have just re-read the letter and it does state that they were paying my father his pension, so he had started to claim it. If this is the case my worries are probably true and that his girlfriend, who is also reportly happily married has been receiving it as there was nothing on my dads bank statements or any trace of it elsewhere.

mrschaucer

In which case the pension company will hold her to account for the repayment of all the money she's illegally had following the death, if this is what she's done. Good job you've got lots of details on her and are more than willing to provide it all to the pension co ...

Banjo1970

Yes, I have every intention of letting them know on Monday. Thank you all again and I'll post an update on Monday.