Finding it impossible to opt out of auto-enrolled pension

tikki999

Really appreciate that Darren. Many thanks.

workingalwaysworking

I had a similar problem with my work last year and it's taken me until last month to get it sorted and stop the deductions.
(I stopped it as I pay into a private pension) x

ReadingTim

Xbigman wrote: »

If you have made the decision not to then that is your choice and you should ignore those posters who can't accept your decision.

It's not a case of being unable to accept the OP's decision - it's a case of questioning whether the OP's decision was an informed one.

Which, based on their complete lack of explanation for why they want to do what they want to do, coupled with an apparent lack of awareness of auto-enrolment and pension admin (as per their initial post) and the benefits they're forfeiting by withdrawing; suggests it's not.

TELLIT01

ReadingTim wrote: »

It's not a case of being unable to accept the OP's decision - it's a case of questioning whether the OP's decision was an informed one.

Which, based on their complete lack of explanation for why they want to do what they want to do,

Why should the OP explain their reasons or justify what they want to do? They have asked a very specific question about process and that should be all they need to do.

Xbigman

My own employer, a large multinational company, has an AE offering where they pay in a bigger percentage of pay and the employee pays in a lower percentage. The trade off is its not on the entire salary. Those staff with low guaranteed hours will not pay in a penny for 40 weeks of the year but would pay in a bit in the busy periods. Once they have a few years service in they have a better contract with a better pension offer available that is worth taking, leaving a few hundreds of pounds in a dead pension. I don't know anyone who hasn't opted out.

I'm just illustrating that there can be reasons for opting out that someone might not want to go into in detail.


Darren

badmemory

Xbigman wrote: »

My own employer, a large multinational company, has an AE offering where they pay in a bigger percentage of pay and the employee pays in a lower percentage. The trade off is its not on the entire salary. Those staff with low guaranteed hours will not pay in a penny for 40 weeks of the year but would pay in a bit in the busy periods. Once they have a few years service in they have a better contract with a better pension offer available that is worth taking, leaving a few hundreds of pounds in a dead pension. I don't know anyone who hasn't opted out.

I'm just illustrating that there can be reasons for opting out that someone might not want to go into in detail.


Darren

To be honest for those on a low income this would seem a dream scenario. The weeks that they earn very little, they don't pay pension but the weeks when they earn more & won't notice the deduction, they pay in & so does the employer. Generous of those employees to save their employer so much money. What happened to a labourer is worthy of his hire, this quote should now include and his/her pension. Would be interested to know what percentage of these employees are women & what/who influenced them to opt out. If they are opting out en masse then someone has been behaving interestingly.

ReadingTim

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Why should the OP explain their reasons or justify what they want to do? They have asked a very specific question about process and that should be all they need to do.

Well, it would avoid all the posts suggesting it's not a very wise course of action for a start...

tikki999

Interesting development. FINALLY got through to someone at the pensions company who took the time to look into my enquiry.

So, she told me that I have NOT been auto-enrolled and that's why I can't opt out via the pensions company! I have to go back to my HR because I have been 'contractually enrolled'.

Have been reading up on the difference and have read that to be contractually enrolled 'the worker must give consent to join the scheme'

Curioser and curiouser...have just looked at my contract where it states I can opt out of the scheme and 'if you do not meet the auto-enrolment eligibility criteria, you will have the option to join the scheme by completing an opt-in form'

Feel like I have fallen down the rabbit hole...Any thoughts???

tikki999

Latest update: I am absolutely FUMING!

My HR have just told me that I should have opted out within 30 days of starting work (mid August), even though the letter I received from pensions provider is dated 4 October, otherwise I will not have what's been taken to date refunded and October's pay has already been processed so I've lost that bit of cash as well.

I told HR that there is NO mention of this 30 day opt out in my contract. Apparently, it's there as clear as day on the firm's intranet. My role does not allow me reams of time to go surfing on the intranet. So that's how they cover themselves 'we told you so' The information is there if you look for it. I'm sorry but when it comes to my money it needs to be explicitly stated up front so I can make a choice.

Undervalued

tikki999 wrote: »

Latest update: I am absolutely FUMING!

My HR have just told me that I should have opted out within 30 days of starting work (mid August), even though the letter I received from pensions provider is dated 4 October, otherwise I will not have what's been taken to date refunded and October's pay has already been processed so I've lost that bit of cash as well.

I told HR that there is NO mention of this 30 day opt out in my contract. Apparently, it's there as clear as day on the firm's intranet. My role does not allow me reams of time to go surfing on the intranet. So that's how they cover themselves 'we told you so' The information is there if you look for it. I'm sorry but when it comes to my money it needs to be explicitly stated up front so I can make a choice.

I have a good deal of sympathy for your position but technically they are probably right. Not everything will be in your "contract" (which is of course far more than just a sheet of paper with the word contract on it). Much will be in an employee "handbook" and other documents which my well be in electronic form.

Your reasons for opting out are irrelevant, despite some of the comments on here. Yes, in the majority of circumstances it may seem a strange or unwise decision but we do not know your particular circumstances, nor is it any of our business.