To think they are just after my personal details.

[JesusSufferingFuck22]

I have had a few letters from a company called Phoenix Life about a policy I may or may not have.
Yesterday I got one in a brown envelope from the DWP Bulk Letter Forwarding Service.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/pensions-and-insurance-tracing-and-letter-forwarding-service

I'm about 98% sure that I don't have a policy with them or the companies that have transferred their policies to them.
I should just ignore it shouldn't I?
Has anyone else had any correspondence from Phoenix Life?

@HereComesTheSum

Good on you! Hope you're a millionaire.

It could be that they found a tiny error they made years and years ago and now you have been awarded compensation.

@Georgeskitchen

Dont ignore it. Just ring or email them. I was traced through DWP a few years ago regarding the opting out of serps and possible mis-selling pension policies, early 90s. It won't be a scam

I have a vague recollection or serps when I was 18. I wasn't paying attention what it was all about though and have wondered about it over the years. I've also paid into a couple of pensions through employment. I've been self employed for a long time and currently don't work due to health. I'm not sure what it'll achieve phoning them but it'd be nice to maybe get a few quid I wasn't expecting

This exact thing happened to my dad. It was legit. He thought it was a scam so phoned the company up from their actual website not the letter and sorted it.

This happened to me recently, I was very suspicious and very nearly threw the paperwork away. It was Royal London who contacted me and asked for several forms of ID. I rang up and asked a few questions and - short version, received £4K from a 17 year old work pension that hadn’t been properly transferred to a new provider. I am absolutely methodical about my finances and was convinced I’d not missed anything.

Definitely check it out.

It wasn't Scottish Widows they took over - it was Scottish Mutual. (And others).

So what happens if you pay into a pension then leave that job?

Pension stays invested. Assume you moved and not had an up date.

I do think they need to reword their letters as almost everyone assumes they are a scam.

They also have Standard Life now. Phoenix are a pretty big player so I wouldn't have any concerns about contacting them

Phoenix Have taken over a number of insurance companies over the years.

For them to be using the DWP letter forwarding service they have to be legitimate. They have used a dwp service which allows them to contact former members of pension schemes Who have moved house. You should definitely get in contact

@ItsJustTheOneSwanActually

Weren't they Scottish Widows a thousand years ago?

Phoenix Life took over Scottish Mutual and Scottish Provident, and Abbey Life (amongst others).

Many years ago I opted out of SERPS, and my policy has ended up with Phoenix Life. I’ll get a small lump sum and a pension of a few hundred pounds a year, nothing life changing but better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick

Phoned them today. It was to do with SERPS with I signed up for when I was about 18! 5 years until I can cash it in😊

@Sooverthemill

I do think they need to reword their letters as almost everyone assumes they are a scam.

Yeah, there must be loads of people not claiming. If I hadn't asked on here I wouldn't have phoned them.

You don't sign up to SERPS, that's wha everyone is entitled to, are you sure that's what they said?

Back in the late 80s / 90s you could opt out of SERPS, so additional NI contributions got paid into a private pension.

@JesusSufferingFuck22 My DH has been trying unsuccessfully to get them to talk to him after they contacted him. They keep saying they can't verify him, which doesn't really make any sense given they have his address which they claim to have got from public records. It seems like a scam to us!

I got a statement from them a while ago. It seems legitimate. I won’t be a wealthy pensioner (if I last that long) as the amount is less than £200 per year.
IMO I think them contacting people was to encourage them to start contributing to this tiny pension pot

I got a statement from them a while ago. It seems legitimate. I won’t be a wealthy pensioner (if I last that long) as the amount is less than £200 per year.
IMO I think them contacting people was to encourage them to start contributing to this tiny pension pot

I got a statement from them a while ago. It seems legitimate. I won’t be a wealthy pensioner (if I last that long) as the amount is less than £200 per year.
IMO I think them contacting people was to encourage them to start contributing to this tiny pension pot

I got a statement from them a while ago. It seems legitimate. I won’t be a wealthy pensioner (if I last that long) as the amount is less than £200 per year.
IMO I think them contacting people was to encourage them to start contributing to this tiny pension pot

I work in the industry. First check that the number is a genuine number for them. If it is, do phone them. They will not be “trying to get your data” as under GDPR they have to have a reason for asking you for any personal information.

hope you’re coming into some money!

Can I ask what the outcome was? We have a letter same too