Equitable Life with profits pension / takeover.

maxi56

pensionpawn said:

I called the Pension Ombudsman today and discussed my situation. They observed that I was being played off between the two companies and suggested that I lodge an official complaint and email / write to them to serve official notice of complaint, with the complaint reference number, and officially start the clock running towards a fine. This I did and received an automated reply from Utmost stating that they are very busy and will reply in the next 2-3 weeks! I also advised them both that I have instructed my SIPP manager to request a transfer of my pension and that I expect that requested to be immediately granted and that they send me a valuation of my policy as of the end of February.

Should you wish to do the same the number for the Pension Ombudsman is 0800 917 4487.

I am going to ring them on Monday, I wanted to move my money away from Utmost, it is holding up my retirement plans!
we are being held to ransom by SW and Utmost who appear to be playing games with our life’s.
thank you for this information 

maxi56

maxi56 said:

pensionpawn said:

I called the Pension Ombudsman today and discussed my situation. They observed that I was being played off between the two companies and suggested that I lodge an official complaint and email / write to them to serve official notice of complaint, with the complaint reference number, and officially start the clock running towards a fine. This I did and received an automated reply from Utmost stating that they are very busy and will reply in the next 2-3 weeks! I also advised them both that I have instructed my SIPP manager to request a transfer of my pension and that I expect that requested to be immediately granted and that they send me a valuation of my policy as of the end of February.

Should you wish to do the same the number for the Pension Ombudsman is 0800 917 4487.

I am going to ring them on Monday, I wanted to move my money away from Utmost, it is holding up my retirement plans!
we are being held to ransom by SW and Utmost who appear to be playing games with our life’s.
thank you for this information 

I have now lodged a complaint against Utmost and Scottish Widows with the pension ombudsman 

if we need to have a separate forum for the Orange EE Equitable life farce.  I would be happy to join in.

POPPYOSCAR

For those of you having problems I am really sorry for you.

I have always thought this has been badly managed from the start and that the number of people wanting to move out was being hugely underestimated as has been shown to be the case.

I hope things get sorted for you sooner rather than later.

Good Luck!

jsinc

For timescale info - parent's transfer out requested of Utmost and Aviva end Jan/start Feb. Funds transferred by Utmost last week and in new funds today. (Didn't involve a 3rd party administrator; sorry to read about those with ongoing issues)

maxi56

maxi56 said:

pensionpawn said:

I called the Pension Ombudsman today and discussed my situation. They observed that I was being played off between the two companies and suggested that I lodge an official complaint and email / write to them to serve official notice of complaint, with the complaint reference number, and officially start the clock running towards a fine. This I did and received an automated reply from Utmost stating that they are very busy and will reply in the next 2-3 weeks! I also advised them both that I have instructed my SIPP manager to request a transfer of my pension and that I expect that requested to be immediately granted and that they send me a valuation of my policy as of the end of February.

Should you wish to do the same the number for the Pension Ombudsman is 0800 917 4487.

I am going to ring them on Monday, I wanted to move my money away from Utmost, it is holding up my retirement plans!
we are being held to ransom by SW and Utmost who appear to be playing games with our life’s.
thank you for this information 

Can you let me know if you have had any feedback from the ombudsman.  I lodged my complaint on Tuesday.
Scottish Widows encouraged me to log my complaint with the ombudsman , I really don’t know who is at fault as they appear to be blaming Utmost.

maxi56

pensionpawn said:

I called the Pension Ombudsman today and discussed my situation. They observed that I was being played off between the two companies and suggested that I lodge an official complaint and email / write to them to serve official notice of complaint, with the complaint reference number, and officially start the clock running towards a fine. This I did and received an automated reply from Utmost stating that they are very busy and will reply in the next 2-3 weeks! I also advised them both that I have instructed my SIPP manager to request a transfer of my pension and that I expect that requested to be immediately granted and that they send me a valuation of my policy as of the end of February.

Should you wish to do the same the number for the Pension Ombudsman is 0800 917 

Can you let me know if you have had any feedback from the ombudsman.  I lodged my complaint on Tuesday.
Scottish Widows encouraged me to log my complaint with the ombudsman , I really don’t know who is at fault as they appear to be blaming Utmost.

maxi56

pensionpawn said:

I called the Pension Ombudsman today and discussed my situation. They observed that I was being played off between the two companies and suggested that I lodge an official complaint and email / write to them to serve official notice of complaint, with the complaint reference number, and officially start the clock running towards a fine. This I did and received an automated reply from Utmost stating that they are very busy and will reply in the next 2-3 weeks! I also advised them both that I have instructed my SIPP manager to request a transfer of my pension and that I expect that requested to be immediately granted and that they send me a valuation of my policy as of the end of February.

Should you wish to do the same the number for the Pension Ombudsman is 0800 917 4487.

Can you let me know if you have had any feedback from the ombudsman.  I lodged my complaint on Tuesday.
Scottish Widows encouraged me to log my complaint with the ombudsman , I really don’t know who is at fault as they appear to be blaming Utmost.

hpg57

I am in exactly in the same position, Utmost tells me my Company pension providers trustees do not allow them to give an individual any information as it is part of a group scheme. My company have been fobbing me off saying there will be a letter soon explaining everything. They have been saying that for 6 weeks now. I have just talked to the Pensions Ombudsman and they have suggested that I raise it as a complaint with Utmost and my company pensions trustees.  You can then lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman....probably wont do much but at least I will feel better😊 

Joey_Soap

My own situation, very similar to the one above, but there is a slight development. Mercers, despite being able to tell me nothing about the value or the options of my transferred group AVC, have now told me that they have requested a transfer out valuation for me. I suppose at least if I get that, I will then know what the value of the AVC pot now is. And I definately want my money away from Utmost at the earliest opportunity and paid into my existing SIPP.

pensionpawn

So, Utmosts's official response, via email, relating to my Sipp provider initiating a pension transfer request is no different i.e. "we do not communicate directly with clients and you must contact the trustees / administrators" (Scottish Widows) who as we all know will not contact Utmost due to a 'contractual issue'. I will call the Ombudsman tomorrow and will set up a separate thread for this issue where anyone who is in a similar situation can add their own experience, potentially leading to a 'class action' co-ordinated approach through the Pension Ombudsman and / or independent legal channels.