Complaint Summary

Mrs Bone has complained that the actual transfer value of her pension plan is lower than the value Friends Life originally quoted.

Summary of the Ombudsman’s Determination and reasons

The complaint is upheld against Friends Life because they were contractually obliged to Mrs Bone to honour the incorrect valuation.

Complaint summary

Mrs Fewings has complained that Capita Hartshead, the former scheme administrator, provided incorrect information resulting in the overpayment of her pension benefits, which she is now required to repay.

Summary of the Ombudsman’s determination and reasons

The complaint should be upheld against MyCSP, the new scheme administrator, because Mrs Fewings relied on the overpayment in good faith and changed her position to the extent that it would not be equitable to require her to repay the money.

Complaint Summary

Mrs Roberts has complained that Teachers’ Pensions caused delays and provided incorrect information with regard to her application for Additional Service after Retirement (ASAR) benefits, which resulted in a rejection of her application. She asks that she now be given a backdated award.

Complaint Summary

Mr Jeeva’s complaint is that the Trustee’s decision not to award him retirement benefits on the grounds of ill health was flawed.

Summary of the Ombudsman’s determination and reasons

The complaint should be upheld against the Trustee because they failed to apply the Rules correctly in their consideration of the likelihood of Mr Jeeva’s condition being permanent. Furthermore, whilst untried treatment options were identified they failed to properly consider whether Mr Jeeva’s ill-health was likely to improve if those options were undertaken.

Complaint Summary

Mr Long complains that he has suffered a financial loss as a consequence of delays on the part of Fidelity and Towers Watson in effecting a transfer of the pension rights available to him from the BPSS Pension Scheme into the SIPP.

Complaint Summary

Mrs Cole says that she was nominated to receive a pension by her late partner. There is no record of the nomination so the pension has been refused.

Short reasons

Following an oral hearing, the complaint is upheld on the basis that it is more likely than not that the form was completed and sent. Mrs Cole should receive a pension, therefore.

Subject

Mr Jackson has complained that an earnings cap has been applied to his final pensionable pay, thereby reducing the benefits he received. He asserts that he relied to his detriment on incorrect benefit statements which did not apply the cap.

Complaint summary

The complaint brought by the Applicants against Phoenix Life Limited is that they have incorrectly paid out the death benefit that was payable under the Scheme to the wrong party.

Complaint summary

Mr Cunningham has complained that his application for the early payment of his deferred benefits on the grounds of ill health has not been considered properly.

Summary of the Ombudsman’s determination and reasons

The complaint should be upheld against LPF and SPPA because they failed to consider Mr Cunningham’s application for early payment of his deferred benefits in a proper manner.

Complaint summary

Mr Cowan’s complaint against Teachers’ Pensions and the Council is about the errors that were made in the calculation of his pension benefits. He has also complained about the way his enquiries were handled by Teachers’ Pensions.