How to track out-of-serps pension

One day (don't hold your breath) the proposed government pensions portal may come to your aid with all industry schemes accessible in one place. (Cynically it will likely be years if ever before all schemes are on it). If you have time to wait it will save some effort - maybe - if it doesn't get canned.

In the mean time you can perhaps try and jog your memory as to "when" it happened by looking at your State pension contribution record NI years on the government site. If you are turning attention to pension planning this will be a sensible thing to get around to at some point anyway. It won't tell you where the private pension was held. Topic in itself about "offsets" - there are threads on it as it has changed enough over the years to be baffling upon first contact. The website is precise to the legislation rather than helpful.

Pension tracing is indeed a thing but obviously harder the less information there is - names, years, employer names, scheme names, pension company/fund names, roll numbers, nino used etc. Can't be much help on best approach beyond google tips as (luckily) I haven't had to do it. Hopefully someone with positive and direct experience will chime in.

A lot of people (me included) were nudged in the 80s/90s to "contract out" often for PAYE in the context of an occupational (employer) scheme but for some I guess a personal pension or other rare breed family/small business pensions trust arrangements.