PLB Ross Electrical Contracting Company Ltd Pension Scheme (PO-7804)

Ombudsman’s Determination

Outcome

Mrs D’s complaint is upheld and to put matters right, the Trustee should complete and return the relevant payment instructions form to Abbey Life (the administrators of the Scheme), pay Mrs D a lump sum amounting to the backdated payments that should have been paid from her Normal Retirement Date (NRD) and a further £500 for the distress and inconvenience caused to her.

My reasons for reaching this decision are explained in more detail below.

Complaint summary

Mrs D complains that the Trustee, Mrs D’s ex-husband, wrongly refused to sign a transfer form (the Form) in respect of Scheme policy numbers 002229201 and 002225971, so that she could transfer the benefits available to her from the Scheme at her NRD in December 2014, to another pension provider.