Appalling service from Clerical medical!

TUVOK

A update on my continuing struggle to get any type of service from Clerical Medical.

It is now approaching 6 months since I applied for a "chargeable event" payment from my Distribution bond held with Clerical Medical.
The service continues to be appalling, I have spoken since my last post 3 times to various staff, each time I am assured that some one will contact myself re the matter, no contact each time.
Another issue has arisen now in which when I applied the bond price was very high, thus less units needed to withdraw to make the required payment, the price has decreased by a good amount now and so a financial loss incurred as well.

Once again I can only reiterate that the service that I have received from Clerical Medical is the worst by far that I have received from any financial company that I have dealt with, and can strongly advise anyone not to contemplate doing any business in any way with this company.

dunstonh

Once again I can only reiterate that the service that I have received from Clerical Medical is the worst by far that I have received from any financial company that I have dealt with, and can strongly advise anyone not to contemplate doing any business in any way with this company.

As already mentioned, it is Scottish Widows that is handling the administration and the Clerical Medical brand is closed.  You cannot do new business with Clerical Medical as its all under the Scottish Widows brand.

TUVOK

Thank you for your reply but it is not new business, it was a request for a "chargeable event" payment, something that I have have requested for the last several years, normally completed inside 3 weeks with no problems at all.

dunstonh

TUVOK said:

Thank you for your reply but it is not new business, it was a request for a "chargeable event" payment, something that I have have requested for the last several years, normally completed inside 3 weeks with no problems at all.

I was referencing your comment "strongly advise anyone not to contemplate doing any business in any way with this company."

As Clerical Medical effectively no longer exists, and it is Scottish Widows that is handling your administration, if you feel people should avoid the company because of the poor service, then it is Scottish Widows that is the problem here.   Or if you want to dig deeper, it is actually Lloyds Bank that is at fault.   Both Clerical Medical and Scottish Widows used to be strong brands with good products.     Lloyds decided to merge all its sub-brands and legacy brands on the life & pensions side into SW but on a shoestring.   There hasn't been a decent product come out of SW in over 15 years.     It isn't the first time Lloyds managed to damage a insurer.  They used to own Abbey Life (once a  FTSE100 company) and Hill Samuel.

TUVOK

dunstonh said:

TUVOK said:

Thank you for your reply but it is not new business, it was a request for a "chargeable event" payment, something that I have have requested for the last several years, normally completed inside 3 weeks with no problems at all.

I was referencing your comment "strongly advise anyone not to contemplate doing any business in any way with this company."

As Clerical Medical effectively no longer exists, and it is Scottish Widows that is handling your administration, if you feel people should avoid the company because of the poor service, then it is Scottish Widows that is the problem here.   Or if you want to dig deeper, it is actually Lloyds Bank that is at fault.   Both Clerical Medical and Scottish Widows used to be strong brands with good products.     Lloyds decided to merge all its sub-brands and legacy brands on the life & pensions side into SW but on a shoestring.   There hasn't been a decent product come out of SW in over 15 years.     It isn't the first time Lloyds managed to damage a insurer.  They used to own Abbey Life (once a  FTSE100 company) and Hill Samuel.

I accept entirely you last comment as to whom actually now owns Clerical Medical, my point is that as far as I can see Clerical Medical still exists, i.e. an address, telephone numbers etc etc, legally it is owned by Scottish Widows and upwards Lloyds I accept.
My point is if you have Clerical Medical products be aware of this situation, i.e. you might need to cash in a policy etc etc, if mine and the thousands of other C/M customers as lately documented on a Daily Mail article about C/M, you are in trouble!

Joe9090

Hi Tuvok

You really need to complain to the Ombudsman.

Have you seen this https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers/how-to-complain? 

eskbanker

Joe9090 said:

Hi Tuvok

You really need to complain to the Ombudsman.

Have you seen this https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers/how-to-complain? 

OP said on 2 December that they'd referred their complaint to FOS:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78796564/#Comment_78796564

Joe9090

Hi Tuvok,

As eskbanker's link above can you tell us the latest position with your complaint to the Ombudsman?

TUVOK

Yes I can, received email late December 2021, due to Covid etc etc, at least 4 months before a call handler will contact me.
So it's a case of just twiddling my fingers, C/Medical are not interested in giving any service at all, no contact from them, I am not bothering to ring again, waste of my money and time as I've been told continually that I will be contacted, all lies!

So, I have to just wait for C/M to service my request in their own good time, as you can deduce I expect from this post, I've had enough.
When I have the time and energy I'll investigate what cashing in the bond completely means to my financial/HMRC state,

Thanks for all comments, if and when the payment is made to me or news from Ombudsman, I'll post details.

TUVOK

An update on Clerical Medical service.
I have received no contact from C/Medical since my last post, so decided to ring again.
I actually spoke to a C/Medical rep who I spoke to in late November(I've spoke to several others since!) again the same response, it would be high lighted and sent to the relevant department for action.
I then contacted the complaints department, my complaint is still open and being investigated, also told that payments are taking at least 100 working days.
C/Medical received my claim on the 6th August 2021, no phone call, text, email from them in that time!
All actions have come from me.
At this rate with the end of the tax year approaching, my requested monies will not be with me befoer I make another claim for the next tax year.
I totally despair!