General Portfolio

ukshaun

Hi, I am seeking some advice.

Around 1989 I joined a pension scheme with a company called General Portfolio. I recall visiting their offices located in Farnborough, Hampshire. I recall paying x amount of money, before deciding to opt out as I took on a job that offered its own pension scheme.

Since then and now, I have changed address on a number of occasions. Any paper work I had for General Portfolio has gone missing. Using the internet I have discovered General Portfolio has been taken over more than once, and is possibly currently in the hands of Windsor Life.

My question:

Have I lost any money I had invested with General Portfolio ?

Does Windsor Life have a record of my investment ?

Assuming it is worth it, what is the best approach to obtain policy numbers, given the only information I can provide is the address that was used when taking out the policy. My name. My National Insurance number. 

Many thanks. 

I wanted to avoid the route of using recovering companies.

ffacoffipawb

ukshaun said:

Hi, I am seeking some advice.

Around 1989 I joined a pension scheme with a company called General Portfolio. I recall visiting their offices located in Farnborough, Hampshire. I recall paying x amount of money, before deciding to opt out as I took on a job that offered its own pension scheme.

Since then and now, I have changed address on a number of occasions. Any paper work I had for General Portfolio has gone missing. Using the internet I have discovered General Portfolio has been taken over more than once, and is possibly currently in the hands of Windsor Life.

My question:

Have I lost any money I had invested with General Portfolio ?

Does Windsor Life have a record of my investment ?

Assuming it is worth it, what is the best approach to obtain policy numbers, given the only information I can provide is the address that was used when taking out the policy. My name. My National Insurance number. 

Many thanks. 

I wanted to avoid the route of using recovering companies.

Depending on the level of charges it is quite possible that there are no funds left. As far as charges are concerned, if Aviva is Tesco then General Portfolio was Arkwright's Corner Shop.

Contact Reassure in Telford. If there is any value left they should still have your details.

Dox

ukshaun said:

My question:

Have I lost any money I had invested with General Portfolio ?

Does Windsor Life have a record of my investment ?

Assuming it is worth it, what is the best approach to obtain policy numbers, given the only information I can provide is the address that was used when taking out the policy. My name. My National Insurance number. 

I wanted to avoid the route of using recovering companies.

You won't know if it is 'worth it' without making further enquiries. Does Windsor Life have a record? Ask them. Your NI number and name should be sufficient to enable them to trace any records, although adding in the address at the time you took out the policy, and your DOB, will always help.

Absolutely no need to use a recovering company. See https://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/pension-problems/making-a-complaint/common-concerns/lost-pensions for more info which may be helpful.

pensionpawn

I also opened a General Portfolio pension in the early 90's which went through a number of acquisitions (Reassure then Windsor Life). Mine has now been moved into a SIPP however don't dismiss it's potential value. Mine was just under £10k in 2004 and was just over £20k when moved last year. Not a brilliant performer (hence the move) however not a trivial amount either.