Page 1 of WINDSOR LIFE ASSURANCE
General Forum
hi everyone,be warned about this company,trying to get my pension cashed since the 10 jan 2008,did their complaints procedure they are going to investigate,they tell me this could take between 4 to 8 weeks what does it take to obtain a pension pay out,maybe they are doing a northern rock????????? who knows,beware folks.
Commiserations! I have been trying to obtain a "trivial lump sum" pension payment from Windsor Life. I returned my application form to Tomorrow (previous company) in December, my birthday, 31st December passed, and I went on holiday assuming that the payment would appear in my bank. It still hasn`t! After lots of fruitless phone calls, over the last 2 months, speaking to sundry call centre staff, filling in more forms, I`m now told that they are not answering queries on the phone and will write to me when they get around to my forms. Initially, I was told that it would take 10 working days to sort things, then 15 working days, and now it has progressed to 20. I last week asked to speak to a manager, but was told that there was not one on duty, eventually, as I don`t give up easily, I did manage to speak to a supervisor, but was told the same thing. I threatened them with the FSA and the ombudsman, but they didn`t seem concerned. I`m just glad that I only paid in enough for a trivial payment, due to moving abroad. Still I had been looking forward to the £2,000 which should have been arriving. I saw a report saying that one poor chap had died before he received his annuity (he`d been waiting 3 months).
might i suggest you contact the Pensions Regulator and / or the FSA and lodge a complaint. I think they may even be able to fight your case with the company on ur behalf ion some circumstances
Chris
A.C.C. Member
LFC
YNWA
hi,just emailed the pension ombudsman with the relevant details and emailed the sun newspaper also with my tale of woe,if anyone wants to do the same,to expose this cowboy outfit just might work fingers crossed,peter
Have just had another futile phone call with Windsor Life, this time at least they seemed marginally more competent at answering complaints. However, all "Carol" was able to do was to put my comments into an e-mail to forward to the administration department. The problem with the call centre is that they have no access to information, and so can only try to placate people. I am about to try to fill in the complaint form on the Pension Ombudsman site.
Another frustrated Windsor Life policy holder here, my Draw Down policy was with GE Life, always got my (smallish) cheque within a couple of weeks of asking each year. Then all is transferred to Tomorrow, then to Windsor Life. Lots of nice glossy brochures, thanks so much for that. Anyway, I`m trying since 24th January to get this years payment, its now 18th April. Same response as the other posters here, overflow call teams with (apparently) no computers in front of them, promises to "send an email" to the payment team. Their script is a broken record, no phones, no way to transfer me to anyone at all.
I asked what would happen if the payment team manager`s house was on fire, maybe she would get a phone call? Why can`t I have the number? No chance, just a bored youth restating the company line over & over.
They say they will arrange a call back within 3 working days. I did actually get 1 phone call, but the individual told me they had not spoken to the person dealing with my case. So, I go back to 3 days wait again!
I`d appreciate any news on any success, or any other way to contact this shower if anyone would assist, I`ll do the same.
Arturo
I would look here with a view to getting them involved:
Financial Ombudsman
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You got us into this parking lot pal, you can get us out!
Thanks, I have now emailed the Financial Ombudsman & also contacted BBC Watchdog programme. I will post updates if & when.
I`m no finance expert, is it possible to transfer all my funds out of this outfit to someone substantial, like Prudential for example?
Arturo
hi everyone who has posted about windsor i finally recieved a reply they are investigating my complaint i.e no pension fore cast or how much i will recieve, i have a direct phone tel this belongs to sally hudson lund her dept investigate complaints lol tel.01952 525001 this will take you to her dept,update still no details of my pension since i asked for info in jan 2008 the ombudsman office passed my info to the pensions advisory office who are looking into my problem with windsor life,hope this tel number helps,good luck ,peter.