Unable to Contact Future Pension Centre

TennisFan

Has anyone else had problems getting in contact with the Future Pension Centre?  I've tried calling them 2 or 3 times a day for the last 3 days, staying queued for an average of 20 mins each time before giving up.  Would I be better contacting them via their online contact form?
I simply want to check that my plan to plug the shortfall on 5 years of NI contributions makes sense.
I've done all the recommended on line research - printed off my state pension forecast and National Insurance record, to arrive at the conclusion that I need to top up 5 years in order to be eligible for the full £175.20 per week state pension in April this year, however for such an important decision I would like to double check my logic with the Future Pension Centre. 
I appreciate that Covid has caused staffing problems, but their online queuing doesn't tell you where you are in the queue or how long you need to hang on for ... it's very frustrating ! 

squirrelpie

It's well worth double-checking as you say, so do persist.

You might have to wait longer than twenty minutes on the phone. We always put our phone on speaker so we can do something else while waiting instead of just holding the phone. Haven't tried to online contact but I would suggest the same advice - find something else to do whilst waiting.

eskbanker

TennisFan said:

I simply want to check that my plan to plug the shortfall on 5 years of NI contributions makes sense.
I've done all the recommended on line research - printed off my state pension forecast and National Insurance record, to arrive at the conclusion that I need to top up 5 years in order to be eligible for the full £175.20 per week state pension in April this year, however for such an important decision I would like to double check my logic with the Future Pension Centre.

While you're right to contact the FPC, many have also checked their logic via the MSE forum hive mind, so feel free to post your workings for a triple check!

mark55man

You can also write to them.  My SIL got a response in under a month, which should give you enough time to seal the deal.

Thrugelmir

TennisFan said:

I appreciate that Covid has caused staffing problems, but their online queuing doesn't tell you where you are in the queue or how long you need to hang on for ... it's very frustrating ! 

Probably because many of the staff that are working are doing so remotely from home. 

tacpot12

I gave up trying to call them during the pandemic back in September and wrote to them on 6th October and still haven't had a reply. I was expecting it would take them until the Summer (2021) to catch up with their backlog.  

TennisFan

eskbanker said:

TennisFan said:

I simply want to check that my plan to plug the shortfall on 5 years of NI contributions makes sense.
I've done all the recommended on line research - printed off my state pension forecast and National Insurance record, to arrive at the conclusion that I need to top up 5 years in order to be eligible for the full £175.20 per week state pension in April this year, however for such an important decision I would like to double check my logic with the Future Pension Centre.

While you're right to contact the FPC, many have also checked their logic via the MSE forum hive mind, so feel free to post your workings for a triple check!

Thanks - that's a good idea ! I'll start a seperate thread for it. 

LittleWing294

An update as at April 21, I didn't have to hold for long to talk to the Future Pension Centre (maybe 5 or 10 minutes). I spoke to a very helpful lady who explained all the things that have been puzzling me. It's definitely worth persisting to talk to them.

LouisaJaney

What bliss to be able to put in a waiting queue! Today, February 2023, I have so far rung them 5 times over three days and, each time , having gone through the "press 1" etc routine, I then get cut off immediately

Steve_666_

Rang them 15 mins ago (twice), got thru to point where it switches me, and then I get the engaged beeps...

alfonso

LouisaJaney said:

What bliss to be able to put in a waiting queue! Today, February 2023, I have so far rung them 5 times over three days and, each time , having gone through the "press 1" etc routine, I then get cut off immediately

Ive rang 19 times today and 21 yesterday and all get through the select number options then an engaged tone.

Must be another way of verifying the numbers we have and generating a payment route?

In my case I have 35 years full up to early retirement in 2010, then 11 paid nothing due to retirement which will rise to 15 until SP kicks in, but just need number for which of these I need to pay in order to get the full SP