Who's at fault?

PoGee

This is in relation to an NHS pension. I started working late 1980s but didn't contribute to NHS pension. I had a private pension which was 'sold' and purchased some years of NHS pension. The date this was meant to take me to was Jan 1992. I have correspondence from NHS pensions quoting that date but they now say that the private pension company 'only gave a partial reimbursement ' and so the date as to NHS contributions for calculation purposes, will be July 1992 even though their data sheet (they sent me it) still shows me as having joined in Jan 1992.

Does this mean they'll calculate from the July 1992 date?

I'll Ilook for paperwork in relation to the private pension.

As I understand it, the private pension company gave the NHS money to take me to Jan 1992. So if, say, it was a partial payment, why wasn't this flagged up at the time?

I joined the NHS scheme in 1995 and the transfer happened in 1997.

As I've only just found out about it, can I complain to the ombudsman? On using the NHS online calculator, I'll receive (no computation) £1200 less in the lump sum and around £500 a year less in pension.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Silvertabby

How long did it take to process the transfer? I'm thinking that your original quote figures, equating to membership from January, had a fixed guarantee date. Then, if the transfer was delayed beyond this period, the calculation had to be re-run using less favourable factors.

But this is just guesswork. The only way you'll get a definite answer will be by asking NHS pensions.

Marcon

When were you sent the data sheet? Have you gone back to the scheme with a copy of this, querying why they are giving a date of July 1992 rather than January 1992?

What is shown on the benefit statements from the scheme? The Pensions Ombudsman normally expects a complaint to be made within 3 years of the event occurring, or (if later) when the member knew or 'should reasonably have known' about it.

You would need to go through the scheme's Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure before going to the PO: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2024-09/DRP1%20%28V11%29%20Online%20-%2009.2024.pdf

PoGee

Thanks for replies. Their estimate sheets never give a date - just the number of years. As I became part time late 1990s to raise children as a single parent ( changed from full time, then 2 days, then 3, then 4, then back to 3), I just assumed the total number of years they quoted I was in the scheme, was correct and to the Jan 1992 date.

They sent the data sheet last week, which shows the Jan 1992 date as the join/ start date.

PoGee

I think that sounds like what happened Silvertabby but surely someone should have told me?

To add to the confusion, they say they sent me a letter in 1997, which just said - we got money to take you to July 1992. It's just a sheet of paper without a heading. I didn't receive this letter but did get one in 2003 (headed paper), saying my start date was Jan 1992 - after I sent them a list of questions. I think the non headed letter was an internal one.

Regardless of that 1997 letter, the data sheet from last week still shows a start date if Jan 1992.

PoGee

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81869720#Comment_81869720

Yes, I did question what was going on - initially because the figures were not matching up. They then said - not matching because start date was July 1992, here's the letter we sent...

But that's the only place where the July 1992 date is noted- all official paperwork show it as Jan 1992.

I'll log the complaint once I go through my old paperwork tomorrow.

Silvertabby

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81869776#Comment_81869776

If that is indeed what happened, NHS pensions should have written to you to say that they had had to re-calculate the transfer, and to ask if you still wanted to go ahead with it.

PoGee

I hope I've got some paperwork at home as to when the private pension company requested the transfer. It doesn't make sense that I joined the NHS scheme in 1995 but the transfer took over a year to go through (1997). I definitely only found out about it within the last few months because I kept badgering them saying - why do I get higher figures? It was after about the 5th complaint that they told me.

They also say that I was part time between 1992 and 1995. The private pension was meant to buy back 4 full years not the 3.5 years. I think that's how they're trying to get around this issue by saying I was part time. My payroll office sent them an email saying I was definitely full time till late 1990s.

GrubbyGirl_2

You need to do a Subject Access Request and get everything they have. NHSBSA are hopeless. When I had a problem I did this and was able to prove they were wrong. They still didn't sort it out so I went to the Ombudsman who found in my favour and made them put it right and they awarded me £3k compensation on top.

Marcon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81870988#Comment_81870988

Just to do a bit of expectation mangement for anyone reading your post and possibly forming an unrealistic expectation of what sort of compensation the Pensions Ombudsman is likely to award for 'non-financial injustice' - see https://www.pensions-ombudsman.org.uk/sites/default/files/publication/files/Updated-Non-financial-injustice-September-2018-2_0.pdf

An award of £3,000 is exceptionally rare and awards are only made at that level for 'exceptional' cases - and although everyone probably feels their own situation is 'exceptional', be aware that the PO uses the term sparingly, as their factsheet confirms.

PoGee

Many thanks again for replies. I've done a bit more digging. It turns out that the private pension had wanted money to 'match NHS contributions you would have made'. A relative reminded me of this but still haven't found the paperwork.

If this is correct - I have payments from July 1992 to mid 1999 as full time.

I can't understand why, then, they have data from Jan 1992 as a start date and have me as part time from Jan 1992 to mid 1995 (when I joined the scheme formally).

Have they documented the date wrong? Should I push them to have it as full time from the July 1992 date to mid 1999 (when I became part time)?

PS I joined the private pension Jan 1992 so they (private pension) wanted the extra to be like for like with the NHS scheme.