If you have transferred your Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 Section (AFPS) into a Personal Pension arrangement, understanding mis-sold pension time limit to claim compensation is crucial.
This article will help you understand the mis-sold pension time limits and outline steps to take to claim compensation successfully.
You will also learn about the different scenarios, that could be deemed inappropriate, therefore lead to a pension being mis-sold, the role of regulatory bodies such as the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) and how, as mis-sold pension claim specialists, Money and Me Solicitors can help you navigate the process of claiming compensation.
“You may be eligible for compensation if you have worked in the armed forces and were mis-sold a pension transfer. Taking timely action to claim the compensation is important and should be done as soon as possible.“
The Different Mis-sold Pension Scenarios
Pension mis-selling is when members are given wrong, deceptive, or improper financial advice concerning their pension funds.
This leads to financial loss and less secure retirement.
Examples of pension mis-selling include:
– recommending high-risk investment choices to individuals with low-risk tolerance
– failing to inform clients about potential fees or charges
– encouraging members with an existing pension (generally of Defined Benefit/Final Salary schemes) to transfer these schemes into inferior or unsuitable pension schemes.
Mis-sold pensions can cause financial harm to unsuspecting individuals.
The most common scenarios leading to questionable advice include:
1- Individuals being requested to transfer their personal pensions into a SIPP, to invest in high-risk investments.
2- Personal pensions being transferred into a SSAS or QROPs, to invest in high risk investments.
3- Final Salary/Defined Benefit Pensions being transferred into any other pension arrangement, such as Personal Pensions, SIPP’s, SSAS’s or QROP’s alternatives.
Personal pensions are private pension schemes you can contribute to independently, separate from your workplace pension or state pension.
If your financial adviser has advised you to transfer your existing pension funds into a Self-Invested Personal Pension without adequately considering your financial situation, goals, and risk tolerance, a mis-selling scenario may have occurred.
SIPPs are personal pensions that offer individuals greater control over their investments, enabling them to choose from a broader range of options depending on the provider and their investment platform.
The most common investment opportunities available within a SIPP are stocks and shares, mutual funds, investment trusts or even investments in commercial properties.
However, since 2008, the popularity of SIPP’s increased dramatically, as distributors saw the opportunity to sell high risk, highly profitable, alternative investments, available within a SIPP to the masses. Most of these investments have failed, decimating the fund.
In this instance, if you have been advised to invest but have not received adequate information about the fees, risks, and potential returns associated with the investments, you might have fallen victim to pension mis-selling.
Final Salary Pension Transfers, also known as Defined Benefit pension transfers, entail moving pension funds from a guaranteed, employer-sponsored pension scheme to a personal pension or SIPP.
This transfer can also be considered a case of mis-selling if your financial advisor encouraged you to transfer your Final Salary pension without fully explaining the risks, potential loss of benefits or guarantees, and implications on your retirement guaranteed income.
Time limit on mis-sold pension compensation
Knowing the statute of limitations for mis-sold pension claims is crucial in determining whether you can claim compensation.
This is one of the many reasons why you should consider appointing specialist Law firms to assist you!
“Seeking the advice of experts like Money and Me Solicitors can help you understand the specific circumstances of your case and guide you through the process with confidence”
How Can Money and Me Solicitors Help You Claim Compensation for Mis-sold Pension?
At Money and Me Solicitors, we specialise in mis-sold pension claims.
We support you by ensuring your claim is filed within the appropriate timeframe, providing guidance, and informing you of your rights and options.
To better understand your situation, we first set up a complimentary consultation.
We assist in locating pertinent written correspondence, product information, such as promotional brochures, and any financial documents.
We then determine whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant a complaint/claim based on your scenario, the information presented by you, and what is available from third parties.
We then contact the company/individual that provided you with the questionable advice to resolve the complaint directly with them and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf. We may escalate the claim to the Financial Ombudsmen Service or take Legal action if the party responsible for the advice does not accept liability.
“We support you by ensuring your claim is filed within the appropriate timeframe, providing guidance, and informing you of your rights and options. “
If the company/individual is no longer trading, we submit your claim to the FSCS and manage the process with them through to completion.
Regardless of where your complaint/claim is directed, we will manage all communications, keep you updated throughout the process, and check that compensation fairly reflects your losses.
What is the average compensation for mis-sold pension?
Money and Me Solicitors’ ultimate goal is to place you back in the financial position you would have been in had you not acted on unsuitable advice.
The amount awarded can vary significantly and is based fundamentally on; the hypothetical value of your previous pension(s) compared to the value of the existing pension(s).
However, if the regulated company/individual is no longer trading, then claims against them would be submitted to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. (FSCS).
The current FSCS compensation limit is £85,000 per person per regulated, ‘defaulted’ firm, which has increased from the previous limits of £48,000 and £50,000.
The actual limit depends on when the company/individual was considered failed or ‘in default’ by the FSCS.
To Conclude
In conclusion, identifying the type of mis-sold pensions, understanding your mis-sold pension time limits, and seeking the support of mis-sold pension specialists can help you confidently navigate the claims process.
If you have received unsuitable advice to transfer out of your pension scheme, call us on 01925859625, email Info@moneyandmesolicitors.co.uk or request a callback.
Money and Me Solicitors’ Armed Forces Pension Transfer Claims
At Money and Me Solicitors, we have secured significant compensation for former British Armed Forces personnel suffering financial losses due to unsuitable advice to transfer out of the main Armed Forces (Defined Benefit) pension scheme.
Here below are just two case studies where Money and Me Solicitors’ have assisted Armed Forces Clients achieve a successful outcome:
Mr John W.’s Story
In August 1991, Mr John W. acted on what has now been proven to be unsuitable advice. He transferred his Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 Section (AFPS) into a Personal Pension arrangement with Windsor Life (now ReAssure). The Service Personnel & Veterans Agency confirmed that the amount transferred was £9,950.97.
By May 2022, this had grown to a value of £62,944.20.
Despite being a member of the AFPS for less than 12 years, MMC/MMS established that had Mr W remained in the AFPS, the equivalent ‘hypothetical value’ of that pension pot would have been £179,504.95.
This meant that he had suffered an actual loss of £116,560.75.
On 29th June 2022, ReAssure agreed to award Mr W. £116,560.75 in compensation for the losses he’d suffered.
Ms C. Richardson’s Story
In August 1991, Ms C. Richardson acted on what has now been proven to be unsuitable advice. She transferred her Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 Section (AFPS) into a Personal Pension arrangement with Scottish Life (a division of Royal London).
The Service Personnel & Veterans Agency confirmed that the amount transferred was £73,581.90.
By December 2022 (nearly 8 years on), this had grown to a value of £101,148.78, which C. Richardson felt was reasonable growth.
After viewing one of our Facebook ads, she decided to appoint Money and Me Solicitors (MMS) to carry out an investigation into the advice.
MMS established that had she remained in the AFPS, the equivalent ‘hypothetical value’ of that pension would have been £253,438.46.
With the addition of charges relating to her (new) personal pension, it was calculated that she had suffered an actual loss of £177,879.19.
On 29th November 2022, the FSCS awarded C. Richardson £85,000 in compensation for her losses. This was the maximum payment she was entitled to receive at the time under the FSCS rules.
