Verifying Old Sun Life of Canada Policy – FCA Warning Confusion

DandelionBlue

Hi all,

I’m one of the executors for a recently deceased relative and before he passed he told us about two life insurance policies listed as “Sun Life of Canada” with policy numbers and an 0845 contact number.

When I searched the number online, the first result was an FCA page warning about an “unauthorised firm” using similar details (clone firm warning).

The phone number itself doesn’t appear to be listed on the warning page, but the similar names have made me cautious.

There also appear to have been multiple mergers and name changes over the years (Sun Life UK business → Phoenix Life, Standard Life), which makes it difficult to know which entity is the legitimate current administrator.

I haven’t given any personal or banking details to anyone and haven’t made any payments.

My questions:How do I safely confirm whether an old Sun Life of Canada (UK) policy is genuine and who now administers it?Is it normal for legacy life insurers to show as “no longer authorised” on the FCA register due to mergers?Would the safest route be to contact Phoenix Life directly via the official website and ask them to confirm policy numbers?

Just trying to proceed cautiously and make sure I’m not contacting a clone / scam firm.

Thanks in advance.

gmje

Does this help

Phoenix Group is the ultimate owner of Phoenix Life, having acquired it and subsequent entities like Abbey Life and Standard Life Assurance. In late 2023, Phoenix Life Limited also took over the policies of Phoenix Life Assurance Limited (PLAL). As of late 2024, Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (UK) Limited was also rebranded to Phoenix Life CA Limited.