Equiniti Pension Declaration
 

I just received a letter from Equiniti today with a request for a declaration to be completed for address and contact details. Normally I don’t have a problem with such things; however, what annoyed me on this occasion was the warning, sorry ‘threat’ that if the declaration is not completed and submitted in 12 weeks, they would consider stopping pension payments, in which case payments would be held in trust until such time as they can confirm my ongoing entitlement.

My view is I served my time and the pension is the reward. It is not something to ever be subject to withhold, regardless if my actual address. The bank it is paid into has not changed, and likely never will as I live overseas. I know the letter was directed to Equniti by the MOD, so they are in this case just the messenger, which then actually makes it a little less acceptable in my view.

I am aware they need to ensure those in receipt of a pension are still alive and kicking as well as those who receive pension payments for their late spouses, but I could be anyone and my signature on a piece of paper and that of a 'witness' who really could be anyone does nothing to ensure any form of real validation I am who they think I am.

Am I just being hyper sensitive this morning, as I have not had second breakfast yet!

I'm in a very similar situation and also got one a few weeks back . I suggest that you just fill it out with an approved witness and return. I phoned then up the first time it happened as I had been away. The ensuing conversation was very friendly and nonthreatening, with good humour all round.

I have to complete a so-called 'honour statement' each year. No witlesses.
Paid from France, French law. No threats,

Same here for German state pension. Proof of life.

57mm is right. They are just checking you are still alive and they assume that if you don't respond about something as important as your pension within 12 weeks, you could well have died. It is a random thing - most people who live in UK will never see one.

Spanner, Yes, I have a similar feeling when this drops on my doormat. I suspect that it is the curt manner of the process that is objectionable. After all, no-one officially shows any interest in my continued existence, other than this. This could be so much more friendly. The data could be held on "Veterans contact file" and dressed-up much more pleasantly. They only seem to want me dead! ;)

OAP

Nothing heard here in Jersey ... 25 years after we both left the RAF. Are we 'overseas'? The Crown Dependancy can generate all sorts of odd issues, but I'll watch for this one.

Ops Normal for now, thank you!

I received the Equiniti request, as well as a similar one from Civil Service Pensions. Asking for the same details but with different qualifications for the witnesses.
One allowed the Bank to witness it, the other did not but required, amongst others, Officers of the Active, Reserve or Retired list but only if they had known you for at least a year.
My bank also required a similar form but without the need for witnesses.
It appears to be a Tax requirement for those of us who have to live overseas and are forced to drink copious quantities of the reasonably priced local vino. Very tough down here in the Bordeaux region, but,hell somebody has to do it.

Oh now you've got me started on Equiniti!:\
My mother died a year ago and the executor (my wife) spent eight months arguing with them about share owner ship etc etc.
As joint beneficiary with my brothers (one in Germany, one in France ) I opted to be the sole point of contact in the UK, to make it easier.
Cheques started arriving made out to "Mrs Cliver029 senior deceased" and beneficiaries, try banking that! so they asked that we all sign their transfer of authority form
over to me, form goes of to Germany then to France back to me, and off to Equiniti recorded delivery, chase it up nothing , they lost it! do it all again
this time ordinary post (i was told by someone in the know that recorded letters to them go elsewhere and get lost!!) I then get share certificates
again sent to my deceased mother......... and wait for it and my brothers. this is just a tiny tiny portion of the whole saga....I could go on and on:ugh:
Always quite friendly on the phone(if you could get through) but usless.
Cliver

Probably too late now for the guy above but

https://equiniti.com/uk/legal-notice/

Equiniti are regulated by the FCA. (it's in the link above as is their commitment to the Plain English campaign lol)

FCA principles for business, Principle 7 "Communications"

Quote:

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A firm must pay due regard to the information needs of its clients, and communicate information to them in a way which is clear, fair and not misleading.

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I 100% guarantee that a formal recorded letter to their customer complaints department (or head office if you can't find the address) stating that unless they buck up you will complain to the FCA, will get their attention.

Edit

Interestingly, after some searching, I could not find a clear, identifiable complaints procedure. I'm almost looking forward to them screwing up with me sometime now. Nothing like going all Victor Meldrew on their arses when you have the inside track!

PS

Just in case anybody is interested...a complaint to the FCA will lead to an admin charge of +£500 to the firm concerned...irrespective of the outcome of the complaint!! Regulated firms get a small handful of freebies per year. For a company the size of Equiniti you can pretty much guarantee they will all be used up by about the 5th of January :).

Thanks TOFO,

Before I saw your post this evening I had already sent the declaration back in the post - along with a formal letter of compliant. :-)