Is this a scam?

MsMoon

I have received a letter out of the blue from SANLAM INSURANCE - saying they have a policy in my name and giving an old address from years ago, the address is correct except for one typo. It says that I can check this on the find a pension service. I do not remember having a policy out with that company.

The letter does seems legitimate in that it looks professional & includes an SAE etc, and apart from that one typo and it does not ask for bank details or anything, it asks me to send back a signed form either by post (includes a SAE) or email. Any advice would be welcome.

Beddie

Sounds genuine to me, but you could always call them on Monday if you're not sure.

MsMoon

Thanks - I will try and remember over the weekend if I have ever had a policy with them. I am slightly wary about sending out my signature though.

molerat

SANLAM are a genuine insurer and policy books are bought and sold so it is quite possible something you took out with another insurer has ended up on their books.

eastcorkram

My partner had a similar letter from the same company a couple of months ago, and also a similar letter from Legal and general about six or seven months ago.

She refused to respond to them in any way , even though they did have a correct previous address from the 1980s, as she's absolutely adamant she has never dealt with either business. 

Personally I would have at least investigated it a bit. But she chose to ignore them .

33scott

I had an old policy with Merchant Investors, which was later bought up or re-badged to Sanlan.

squirrelpie

What does the letter offer you, and what do they want you to do, apart from sign something. Have you checked as they suggested?

MsMoon

I have checked on the gov.uk - but reading the letter again I think they meant just to check that there is such a thing as a search for lost policy holders, which there is - it doesn't let you check under your name etc.

The letter offers to "reunite" me with my policy. I think I will give them a call on the number stated in the letter next week, but I definitely won't be giving them any bank details etc if they ask for anything like that.

Albermarle

eastcorkram said:

My partner had a similar letter from the same company a couple of months ago, and also a similar letter from Legal and general about six or seven months ago.

She refused to respond to them in any way , even though they did have a correct previous address from the 1980s, as she's absolutely adamant she has never dealt with either business. 

Personally I would have at least investigated it a bit. But she chose to ignore them .

Maybe some persuasion is needed, as could be a some money waiting for her.

It is correct to be wary of scams, but financial companies often merge, get taken over , sold etc , like many other companies. So the fact she has not recognised the name is in itself not that relevant.

dunstonh

eastcorkram said:

My partner had a similar letter from the same company a couple of months ago, and also a similar letter from Legal and general about six or seven months ago.

She refused to respond to them in any way , even though they did have a correct previous address from the 1980s, as she's absolutely adamant she has never dealt with either business. 

Personally I would have at least investigated it a bit. But she chose to ignore them .

Give her another prompt and tell her to get the details.   Providers are required to trace people.  Sometimes they may not get the right person but every option they can close off as not being hers means they can spend time finding who it really belongs to.

On the other hand, Sanlam is the current name for a number of historic providers that they have control over.   So, she may not recognise their name but it was almost certainly a policy taken out under a legacy name.   And in most cases, the insurer does get the right person first time.   

Ignoring it is not a sensible thing to do.  Indeed, its possibly what caused her to lose track of it in the first place.

Marcon

eastcorkram said:

My partner had a similar letter from the same company a couple of months ago, and also a similar letter from Legal and general about six or seven months ago.

She refused to respond to them in any way , even though they did have a correct previous address from the 1980s, as she's absolutely adamant she has never dealt with either business. 

Personally I would have at least investigated it a bit. But she chose to ignore them .

So a sensible action (wariness) followed by a rather less sensible one (ignoring the letter). How does she expect to get her benefits at retirement?

MsMoon said:

I have received a letter out of the blue from SANLAM INSURANCE - saying they have a policy in my name and giving an old address from years ago, the address is correct except for one typo. It says that I can check this on the find a pension service. I do not remember having a policy out with that company.

The letter does seems legitimate in that it looks professional & includes an SAE etc, and apart from that one typo and it does not ask for bank details or anything, it asks me to send back a signed form either by post (includes a SAE) or email. Any advice would be welcome.

If there are concerns about a potential scam simply because you don't recognise the name of the firm contacting you, try a search via https://www.gretel.co.uk/ (free) and that should put your mind at rest if the answer comes back confirming Sanlam (a legitimate business, as confirmed earlier in this thread) is where your benefits are now.