Old Bankruptcy and Demands today from creditors?

StevesHQ

Back in the late eighties and into the early ninetees, I was a small gardening business and in partership with a friend. While we had the business going, we both had the same small pension going with the then 'Midland Bank'.  We went bankrupt 24 years ago and everything was dealt with. Now, 24 years later the Royal London (who I had the pension with) tell me they have a request to hand over the pension policy to 'Gowling@ - a law firm that does lots of Inland Revenue work.  This 'Gowling' are sending me pre-filled sheets of paper and highlighting where to sign and to send back so the entire pension (£17000.00) can be taken by the insolvency office to pay a 23k debt to the Inland Revenue.  To complicate matters further, I am now at pension age but my old business partner who has the same policy for himself does not reach pension age for another 2 years!  So, I hand over all my 17k for a 23k debt, then when its his turn then what?  Is all this even legal? Can you really wave goodbye to your private pension from 24 years ago? So hard trying to get some advice on this. I have tried solicitors, business lawyers and the Citizen Advice were no help at all - I write in desperation to see if its correct that I have to submit all my old pension in its entirety to the Insolvency Offic through the 'Gowling' law firm.   Any help on this one greatly appreciated as MSE has been a godsend on so many other things in my life - for which i am eternally grateful,  Thanks very much in advance,

Sincerely,
(Removed by Forum Team)

luvchocolate

The rules on taking pensions changed a while ago. 

One of our experienced posters will know the answer to this. 

Sure will be along shortly 

fatbelly

I am sorry that Citizens Advice were useless.

One of their number runs the Debt Camel site and has this summary of the pension rules in bankruptcy which have changed over time

https://debtcamel.co.uk/pension-safe-bankrupt/

You will see that it is important to check whether the date of bankruptcy was pre- or post-29 May 2000.

You will also need to know whether you were formally discharged

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