National Insurance Contributions - Has anyone actually got through to speak with Future Pensions?

Nemue

Hello.  I realise this may have been raised already (by many!) but has anyone managed to speak with someone about purchasing missing gaps in their National Insurance?  I registered for a call back in March - received two "robotic sounding" phone calls during April and May asking for my DOB and National Insurance number - was terrified they were scam calls - then no indication if anyone would call me back.  I've gone on the site and it says that I can't purchase the gaps online and to ring Future Pensions office.  When I ring them there is no option applicable to this so tried holding to speak with someone about my Pension Forecast but was on hold forever so gave up.  Just wondered what everyone else's experience was? Albeit they are not urgent requirements but nevertheless I think 4 months waiting for a phone call back or to be able to get in touch with someone is ludicrous! There isn't even an email address that you can write to. 

molerat

There have been several on here reporting they have spoken to FPC.  Best bet is to phone dead on 8am to stand any chance of getting through.

Although DWP have been a bit lax their predicament was impossible because they could never train enough people to cover the explosion of contacts caused by a) people leaving everything to the last minute b) not checking on their pension entitlement until after they had already retired and c) FOMO time wasters calling up just in case.

Mee

I'm the same. I received a call & two text messages. I called  08007310175 after checking it, and was successful mid-morning. Had to speak to two bods & got the details I needed. My bank (like most) already has HMRC payee details set-up, but checked with DWP as to the right payee name.
I had details of the years I wanted to pay for full years to hand to check the amount with them. You have to agree on the amount -  I was instructed to pay the exact amount, i.e. not to round up the amount.
I paid for the years where I had the least amount to pay to make them full years.

Nemue

Thank you both for your comments above - much appreciated.  Will keep trying. 

PrimroseSmile

Is anyone still waiting to hear from pensions forecast? I’ve spoken to them 4 times and all they will say is that I will hear when my time comes! They won’t even confirm I’m on the system even though I registered on 7/3, 6 months ago. Don’t know what else I can do.  

Silvertabby

PrimroseSmile said:

Is anyone still waiting to hear from pensions forecast? I’ve spoken to them 4 times and all they will say is that I will hear when my time comes! They won’t even confirm I’m on the system even though I registered on 7/3, 6 months ago. Don’t know what else I can do.  

How old are you?  If you are still time away from SPA, I'm afraid you'll be towards the bottom of the list.

MexicanSam

My partner has just had a bit of an episode trying to pay past years. She received all the calls so far mentioned and we were beginning to think we had been lost in space as we didnt hear anything, then she got a call on a Wednesday saying someone will call soon to discuss, they called the next day and my partner was able to agree a figure to catch up on all past years, she was given a reference number and details how to pay. We paid just over £10k that same day.  

Yesterday she received a letter saying she wasnt entitled to buy back more than 6 years NI and they were using the  money we paid to fill in gaps for the past 6 years and "did we want the surplus to be refunded!!"

What a shambles, we followed their procedures to the word and they tell us what to pay, then when we do, they tell her She is not entitled to go beyond the standard 6 years. No wonder people get pushed to breaking point.

Has anyone else encountered this treatment? Was there a way to appeal the decision?

molerat

It seems that there is a mix up at HMRC over the actual regulations and the extension provision.  It would have been DWP that correctly gave the years to pay, HMRC gave the reference based on that and now the person applying the payment is using the actual regulations.  You need to contact HMRC to inform them that you are paying for years under the extension of the April 2025 cut off to the transitional rules.  This is something Martin Lewis needs to bring up with his contacts.