Reclaiming Opted Out Pension Scheme Cheque

99jamhar

Hi,

After a long time of not understanding my pension, my transfered pension and my state pension, I made it my mission to gain knowledge of it all and finally put an end to the mystery and see what everything was worth. Thats me sorted.

But when I asked the wife the whereabouts of her pension and what his worth to her she just shrugged her shoulders. Eventually I got out of her what happened and this is where I need some advice. Prior to attending University the company she worked for, for a few years, auto enrolled her into their pension scheme. Upon leaving, she decided to opt out and take the contirbutions with her. But the cheque she recieved matched her pay statement, which denoted her as a MR not a MISS. Shes just told me she attempted to cash this cheque only to be told it couldnt go through as it wasnt the right title written on the cheque, and then after speaking to Whitbreaed PLC (Mercer Pensions) they told her there was nothing they could do as she was registered as a MR.

If you can trace a lost pension by writing to the pension provider with your employment and historical details, then surely she should be able to write to the provider stating what happened and to retrieve her contributions?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.



James.

p00hsticks

How long ago was this ?
Why did she not follow it up further at the time ?

Silvertabby

Extremely unlikely, I'm afraid, as her pension records will show 'contributions refunded'. I know hindsight is a wonderful thing, but she should have asked for the cheque to be re-issued at the time - just asking them to make it out to 'J Smith' (ie, no Mr ) would have worked.

Why on earth didn't she query the incorrect details on her pay statement when she was first paid?

99jamhar

Thanks to both replies above.

As you said, "hindsight is a wonderful thing".

The answer to everyones questions is: lazyness.

Have a good night.

Brynsam

Silvertabby wrote: »

Extremely unlikely, I'm afraid, as her pension records will show 'contributions refunded'. I know hindsight is a wonderful thing, but she should have asked for the cheque to be re-issued at the time - just asking them to make it out to 'J Smith' (ie, no Mr ) would have worked.

The only glimmer of light is that if this was within the last six years or so, and she can be fairly precise about when the cheque was issued, the administrators may be able to trace that the cheque was never cleared. Far from guaranteed to succeed, but might be worth a go.

MallyGirl

I had to jump through quite a lot of hoops to get details on an old pension changed as the company had used the name I was known by (on the lines of Hatty instead of Harriet) instead of my proper name. The transfer wouldn't go through till I had sorted it. It had never occurred to me when I got the statements that it should have read differently.

westv

As far as I can remember, I have never had a cheque issued to me with Mr,Mrs or Miss written on it.

99jamhar

A follow up post:

I decided to try my luck and write a letter to the company. After using a lost pension template on the money saving expert website, the company in question have reissued a cheque with the correct details and the money re-couped. It took three weeks for a reply.

Problem solved.

MallyGirl

it never hurts to try - glad it worked out