Late husbands COD payment from Pension Provider

gmje

Pru still maintain because we weren't married at the time a joint life was not available .........what can i say to them now?

Marcon

gmje said:

Pru still maintain because we weren't married at the time a joint life was not available .........what can i say to them now?

There's a vast amount of technical jargon/references building up on this thread, which is likely to be doing your head in.

I suggest you make a formal complaint (same letter to Pru and Zurich, making it clear on the face of the letter that you are sending it to both companies and complaining about both of them), setting out in layman's language (don't try to quote piecemeal from this thread - it won't make any difference to this initial approach) what your concerns are; what you believe has been done incorrectly; where you feel your husband was given misleading information; and what you feel needs to be done to put matters right. Include copies of all relevant paperwork you can lay hands on, and then see what transpires.

The insurers have 8 weeks to give you a reply. If you aren't satisfied, you can then complain to an Ombudsman. If it's a complaint of maladministration (and I think that's the case, from what you've said), you can then make a formal complaint to the Pensions Ombudsman.  

Had it been poor financial advice, that would be one for the Financial Ombudsman's Service - but I don't think either insurer has actually given you 'financial advice'.

gmje

Thanks Marcon, essentially thats what I have done,But as I  said the Pru have resonded quite quickly to say .....

"If you were not married when we were asked to produce quotations a joint life annuity income would not have been an option. We are unable to provide a spouse’s income unless you were married at that time."

Marcon

gmje said:

Thanks Marcon, essentially thats what I have done,But as I  said the Pru have resonded quite quickly to say .....

"If you were not married when we were asked to produce quotations a joint life annuity income would not have been an option. We are unable to provide a spouse’s income unless you were married at that time."

If their product offer didn't include a survivor's pension for a non-married partner, and that was made clear at the time of purchase and your husband still went ahead with buying an annuity from them (as opposed to using the open market option and buying elsewhere), that could be a stumbling block. Much depends on what information you have confirming what was said/requested at the time and what your husband was told in return.

gmje

UPDATE this went to the ombudsman in 2024- they didn't pickup until Aug this year and its now ongoing.