Hargreaves Lansdown Vantage SIPP (PO-5763)

Complaint summary

Mrs Barnicoat complains that HLAM, the trustees of the SIPP, failed to exercise their discretionary power to award the death benefits available from the SIPP to her on a timely basis. She says that she has suffered significant financial loss and also considerable distress as a consequence of their delayed decision.

Summary of the Ombudsman’s Determination and reasons

The complaint should not be upheld because based on the information received by HLAM I consider that HLAM was justified in reaching their decision. In my view, the time taken by HLAM to decide that Mrs Barnicoat should receive the death benefits available from the SIPP, was consequently, not unreasonable.