Lost workplace pension

October16

To cut a long story short, I left TNT logistics back in 2004 for a job closer to home. I had a pension scheme with them which was run by Scottish widows. Fast forward to this year I will be 55 in November and wanted to see if I could take an early retirement and ask for the retirement pack. Scottish widows sent me a letter & policy number. When I rang they said they have me on file however looks like it was transferred out in 2003 and they have no knowledge where. I followed advice and got through to the gov.tracing service and it's given me the same address and policy number for Scottish widows. So a brick wall. Searched on Gretal and others pension bee etc. Given my NI number and have hit continuous brick walls, so frustrating. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

 Amanda x

DE_612183

not sure if this applies - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4735107

Mark_d

If your pension was transferred before you left TNT the I'd assume TNT transferred the entire scheme to new administrators.  This will have affected a large number of TNT employees so it is shocking that Scottish Widows have no information of where the scheme was transferred to.
It looks to me that Scottish Widows are making a mistake.  Perhaps the person you spoke to there didn't know where to look to find your particular scheme.  I think it's highly likely Scottish Widows still have your pension.  Maybe raise a formal complaint based on what they told you vs. the pension tracing service.  When you raise a complaint it gets things done properly.

October16

Thank you for your advice I have frequently emailed them and asked them if they have anyone who is allocated to find or can or the the authority to go into past archives. I keep getting the same reply from Scottish widows saying open encrypted message and follow, to which I do and it tells me I can't open file!... I will again email and put in a complaint because as you said to raise a complaint may raise some endearing concern. 

Marcon

Mark_d said:

If your pension was transferred before you left TNT the I'd assume TNT transferred the entire scheme to new administrators.  This will have affected a large number of TNT employees so it is shocking that Scottish Widows have no information of where the scheme was transferred to.
It looks to me that Scottish Widows are making a mistake.  Perhaps the person you spoke to there didn't know where to look to find your particular scheme.  I think it's highly likely Scottish Widows still have your pension.  Maybe raise a formal complaint based on what they told you vs. the pension tracing service.  When you raise a complaint it gets things done properly.

A transfer doesn't relate to a change of administrator; it relates to a transfer to a new pension provider.

DE_612183 said:

not sure if this applies - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4735107

Well spotted! OP, write to Chair of the Trustees, the TNT Group Pension Scheme, c/o Legal Dept, FedEx Express UK Transportation Ltd, Express House, Holly Lane, Atherstone, Warks, CV9 2RY with your name, DOB, NI number and current contact details + your address in 2003 if different. Explain what's happened and ask if they can assist in finding your pension. Even if you were never in one of the TNT schemes currently being wound up, the trustees should be able to point you in the right direction or refer you to someone in the company who can help.

October16

Thank you😊

DRS1

October16 said:

Thank you for your advice I have frequently emailed them and asked them if they have anyone who is allocated to find or can or the the authority to go into past archives. I keep getting the same reply from Scottish widows saying open encrypted message and follow, to which I do and it tells me I can't open file!... I will again email and put in a complaint because as you said to raise a complaint may raise some endearing concern. 

I recently got an emailed PDF from Scottish Widows with a message saying download Adobe Acrobat to open it.  I opened the pdf normally and could not see the message which it said was embedded.  I downloaded Adobe Acrobat and opened the pdf - same story.  It was only when I opened Adobe Acrobat and opened the pdf in that that I could see the messages which were embedded.  I don't know if this helps you at all.