Old Pension query re British & Mercantile

November2

We have found an old supperanuation scheme from the 1960's taken out with The North British & Mercantile Pension Co in amongst my father's papers. The NB&M were taken over and eventually end up with Aviva. Does this mean all the old NB&M pensions should be with Aviva?  I sent them a copy of the scheme certificate but they can't find anything.

Marcon

November2 said:

We have found an old supperanuation scheme from the 1960's taken out with The North British & Mercantile Pension Co in amongst my father's papers. The NB&M were taken over and eventually end up with Aviva. Does this mean all the old NB&M pensions should be with Aviva?  I sent them a copy of the scheme certificate but they can't find anything.

Given the date, it's entirely possible that your father never had what is known as a 'vested interest' in the pension scheme. Only those who left a scheme on or after 5 April 1975 had a right to a 'preserved benefit', and then only if they were aged at least 26 and had at least five years of pension scheme membership with the employer. There are a few exceptions to this depending on the rules of the scheme, but these aren't common.

Any idea when your father joined/left - is that information anywhere in the paperwork, or is there any sort of certificate of entitlement? If not, then he would have been given a refund of his own contributions, minus tax at the time he left, and that's all.

November2

 We have a certificate of membership for Staff Superannuation Fund and Life Assurance Scheme, dated 1964 under John Beales. Later the original factory he worked in closed and he was moved to another known as Marathon Knitwear.  The date of his pension he receives from Mercer is dated 1978 and is under the name of Marathon Knitwear Beales Hunter Group and was paid by Stadium and now Mercer. The North British and Mercantile became part of Commercial Union and eventually ends up at Aviva.  Is it possible the old one was somehow transferred into the 1978 pension even though there's no mention of it?  

Marcon

November2 said:

 We have a certificate of membership for Staff Superannuation Fund and Life Assurance Scheme, dated 1964 under John Beales. Later the original factory he worked in closed and he was moved to another known as Marathon Knitwear.  The date of his pension he receives from Mercer is dated 1978 and is under the name of Marathon Knitwear Beales Hunter Group and was paid by Stadium and now Mercer. The North British and Mercantile became part of Commercial Union and eventually ends up at Aviva.  Is it possible the old one was somehow transferred into the 1978 pension even though there's no mention of it?  

It's entirely possible. If so, the trust deed and rules for the scheme which pays your father's pension will make reference to the fact that it incorporates the earlier scheme (and it's quite normal not to have that spelled out to members). Ask Mercer if they could confirm.

November2

Thank you for your help. Unfortunately Mercer's communication so far is nil having contacted them via their online help form and physical letter.  Also tried to register an online account but even that proved impossible! 
I'll have another go at the registration, they don't make it easy or straightforward though.

November2

Just an update, tried writing to Mercer again and actually received a reply this time. Not sure if it helps though, wrote just one line 'the pension scheme held is dated from 1978'.  I asked if the old one could've been transferred but I'm guessing their answer means no.
John Beales (Hunter) and Marathon were the same company, which he worked for from the early 1960's through to the 1980's, here Mercer are saying his pension dates from 1978 so surely this earlier one covers 1964 - 1978. Any idea where else to try to track it down?  

November2

Still no joy.  Grateful if anyone has any further suggestions.

Marcon

November2 said:

Still no joy.  Grateful if anyone has any further suggestions.

You need to go back to Mercer and ask for a copy of the Trust Deed & Rules of the pension scheme from which he currently receives a pension (Marathon Knitwear Beales Hunter Group). The Trust Deed may date from 1978, but it could have 'absorbed' pensions from earlier schemes.

You might like to remind them that the Trust Deed & Rules is a disclosure document and you (or more accurately your father) is entitled to a copy on request. A 'reasonable charge' can be made if they provide a photocopy by post, but you're more likely to get a soft copy by email - and I wouldn't expect any charge to be made for that.