Complaint summary

Mr Morton’s complaint against Alliance and Curtis Banks is that he has suffered a financial loss as a result of their failings with regard to the transfer of funds.

 Summary of the Ombudsman’s determination and reasons

The complaint should not be upheld against Alliance because they were not involved in the sale of the Marlborough holding or the purchasing of iShares.

The complaint should be upheld against Curtis Banks because there were delays on their part in the sale of the Marlborough holding and the purchase of iShares.

Complaint summary

Mr Houghton and his wife, Dr Houghton, complain that Fidelity, the transferring scheme manager, and EBS, the receiving scheme administrator, arranged the transfer of the fund value without authority of their own accord and as cash, not in specie as intended.

Summary of the Ombudsman’s determination and reasons

The complaint should be upheld against EBS because they sent a letter that Fidelity reasonably understood as a request for a cash transfer.

Complaint summary

Mr X has complained that the Council have not properly considered his eligibility for ill health retirement.

Summary of the Ombudsman’s determination and reasons

The complaint should be upheld against the Council because they failed to consider Mr X’s eligibility for benefits under Regulation 20 in a proper manner; in particular, they failed to make a decision under Regulation 20(1).

Complaint summary

In essence, Mrs Greene’s complaint is that she has been refused ill health retirement from the date her employment with the Council ended.

Summary of the Ombudsman’s determination and reasons

The complaint should be upheld because the Council failed to obtain the information they needed to reach a properly informed decision.

The complaint is not upheld against SYPA.

Subject

Ms Williams’ complaint about NHS Pensions, the managers of the Scheme, is that they should re-instate her Special Class status (SCS) under the Scheme which she says was removed in 2004. She adds that she has believed over the last 36 years that she qualified for SCS and planned accordingly.

The Pensions Ombudsman’s determination and short reasons

I find in Ms Williams’ favour. The nature of her work means that she does in fact qualify for SCS.

Complaint summary

Mr Vithlani complains that Scottish Widows do not accept that he is the beneficial owner of the Policy.

Summary of the Ombudsman’s determination and reasons

I find in Mr Vithlani’s favour because the evidence is that he and the person to whom the policy relates are the same.

Complaint summary

Miss Marshall has complained that Barnsley have refused her request to allow the late transfer of the pension benefits from previous employments.

Summary of the Ombudsman’s determination and reasons

The complaint should be upheld because Barnsley did not take proper account of all relevant factors in deciding whether to extend the period for transfer.

Subject

Mr Jones has complained that Ealing have failed to fulfil their obligations under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) legislation and associated statutory provisions with regards to his pension; namely, the , the Code of Practice on Workforce Matters in Local Authority Service Contracts and the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice.

The Pensions Ombudsman’s determination and short reasons

Complaint Summary

Mr Pratt has complained that his application for the early payment of his preserved benefits on the grounds of ill health has been declined.

Summary of the Ombudsman’s determination and reasons

The complaint should be upheld against Veterans UK because they failed to consider Mr Pratt’s claim in a proper manner.

Complaint Summary

Mrs Lomax complains that TP, the administrators of the Scheme, are seeking to recover outstanding unpaid employee pension contributions from her (inclusive of interest). Mrs Lomax argues that she should not be required to pay the outstanding unpaid employee pension contributions or the interest that has accrued as a consequence of her failure to pay them to date. Mrs Lomax also complains that she has suffered distress and inconvenience as a consequence of TP’s maladministration.