Ex husband blocking pension

Malthusian

Marcon said:

An EPP is a contract between the pension provider/administrator and the employer. It is perfectly normal for a provider to write repeatedly, sometimes with success - repetition often gets the desired result, although not always, as this case demonstrates.

Removing the husband as trustee isn't for the Pru to do (who would they put in his place?), as it is the employer's responsibility to appoint trustees and ensure they do what they should, unless this is a very strange variant on what is normal. I couldn't find a Pru EPP set of rules, but here's an EPP extract from another provider's contract:

The employer is the husband, and they aren't responding to contact. Repeatedly trying the same thing and expecting a different result may be normal, but it is lazy and not getting their customer anywhere.

Trying to get the employer's signature would initially have been the correct thing for Pru to do, but not after no response was given and they were made aware that it is not realistic to expect one. (If the OP hasn't told them the circumstances of the divorce, they should. It is also worth checking on Companies House whether the employer even exists anymore, if it was a registered company.)

The contract may be with the employer but it is for the benefit of the OP and they are Pru's customer here. Under Consumer Duty Pru have an obligation to help them sort the mess out and access their pension. That may well involve applying to the Pension Regulator to replace the trustees, or assigning the policy into the OP's name. Only Pru knows the exact answer, which is why the OP needs to ensure they get on with it. 

lawrenson

Hiya. Quick update to this.
Prudential were no use at all.
Eventually I resorted to a solicitor who requested my exhusband sign the form to allow me to get my pension. He ignored her letter. 
As a prelude to court, we then had him Served, and it was after this that he returned the necessary form signed by him.
The Prudential have it and should hopefully be paying out to me soon. 
I am out of pocket by 495 for the solicitor.  I considered taking my ex to small claims court for it, but I just don't want any further dealings with him.
I have no idea why he refused to sign in the first place. I never will. 

Thanks to those who helped me.

LHW99

That's (more or less) good news, thanks for updating the forum.

Cobbler_tone

lawrenson said:

I have no idea why he refused to sign in the first place. I never will. 

Good news. On this....I wouldn't waste energy wondering why he wouldn't and you'll soon forget another £495.

People do some strange, cruel and stupid things during/following a divorce...and there is rarely a rational reason for how they act, other than being not very nice people or trying to maintain/hang onto control.

I can imagine the relief of getting that signed document back and the added relief when you receive the first payment. All the best!