WTF IS THIS ENTITLED MESSAGE FROM FRIEND!!!

[Iamthequeenoftheworld]

I get a text message from old friend from work who lives abroad I talk briefly to like once a year or once every 2 years, we were never close at all, more like Facebook friends

“hey, I gave your number to these people from Ukraine. Can you please explain uk pensions to them. What they are and how they work, how they can get them etc. They will call you tomorrow”

i dont helping people, at first thought it was just a question or two and when I heard Ukraine I thought some vulnerable refugees.

I didn’t think and just agreed.

my husband and son and daughter are now telling me off. Going wtf is this entitled

what do you think, is my husband right?

I don’t mind helping, but it’s the way she told me is the problem

1. why would wealthy/well off/ people need some random woman’s financial/pension advice

when they call - say hello and listen to what they want and then repeat this phrase - why do you want some random woman’s financial/pension advice? Im very confused

I would send this or something similar.

YANBU - there isn't much right about that message!

First of all just giving someone your phone number without asking first. Who the hell does that? It doesn't get any better from there. I wouldn't keep in contact with this ex colleague at all now.

Just message back and say on reflection I’m not able to help. Going forward please do not pass my number on without asking me first. Best wishes.

@Iamthequeenoftheworld These two would be a good place for them to start OP:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/pensions/starting-a-pension/choosing-a-personal-pension/
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/pensions/types-of-pension/workplace-pensions/
They wouldn't be eligible for a UK state pension unless they've made at least 10 years' worth of NI contributions, so unless they're young enough to move here and do that (assuming they can get an appropriate visa to live and work here) there's no point in even looking at the state pension.
BTW, your "friend" is a CF!

"Dear friend, Please don't ever give my number to strangers without asking me first. I'm sure they can find the information they need on the internet. Yours @Iamthequeenoftheworld"

Lots of these types of threads in recent weeks.

All follow the same pattern, some random foreigner asking an OP for information about British benefits. 😂

Trying to generate a sense of outrage at the foreigners coming here to steal our <fill in the blank>

It's just like in the months leading up to the referendum, people are so susceptible to attempts to influence and stir up hate against people who are not native white Brits for several generations.

I know this because as a Brit who was born and raised abroad I have an accent and we are back to the point when speaking with an accent gets you that recoiling "look" from certain types.

Sigh.

Dumb and idiotic xenophobia. And dumb, dumb people who get influenced by soundbites. It would be funny if it weren't' so ugly.

Oh god no, why did you agree? That's so rude of her offering your time and effort so SHE can feel good about you helping them.

Are you a pension adviser? If not you need to say sorry I'm not qualified to advise, suggest they contact gov website. If you are then surely you can't give advice outside your workplace as you won't be covered by professional indemnity insurance.

Im a solicitor and used to get cheeky requests all the time. I didn't mind sharing the odd bit of knowledge but some of the things I was asked to do amounted to 3-4 hours of research/ drafting that would have cost them hundreds of pounds had they been a retained client. Then, astonishingly, people started referring people I didn't even know for favours. One was an ex workmates mum who was a dental nurse. I jokingly asked if she could polish my teeth for free at the weekend in return and she looked horrified. Another friend told me she was telling her parents to name me as executor in their wills as i could do the work for free. I'm not even a probate lawyer and said NO. After that I just said no to everyone. I'll do certified copies and passport forms for friends and family but that's it.

Sorry. I digressed.

Well they'd have to pay at least 10 years worth of NI contributions to be eligible for any UK state pension at all and it wouldn't even be close to a full state pension.

I would never give a friends number to anyone - business or pleasure - without asking first. That's bad form.

I can reassure you , no need to explain anything to Ukrainians, they are far ahead of the game of Many Brits bread and born here. All Ukrainians I know keep a job very well, all have been to uni, have their heads screwed on and are eligible for all the benefits this country gives. Don't waste your time getting angry or answering the phone, these guys are beyond capable - have seen them working, have seen them on a zoom or video call to get their UC between jobs, the kids went to secondary and are now in uni. These guys are capable

Are you a financial advisor. If not then I would back out as giving unsolicited pension advice isnt great. Alternatively send her some links to the uk pensions site.

Fortunately, almost 100% of pp's replying on this thread are doing so along the lines of OP's friend being a CF without making any comment about the people wanting advice, so if OP was hoping to enrage MN about foreigners, she's singularly failed. (Mind you, we're only on page 3 of comments - maybe the xenophobes are eating dinner and will join the thread later. 😂 )

Are you a pensions advisor? I don’t know anything much about uk pensions for myself never mind a Ukrainian person. ChatGPT might be of more use to them unless this is your area of expertise!

Exactly, OP, unless you are an actual independent financial advisor with a speciality in pensions, you should't be giving any sort of pensions advice - its such a complicated area with fong term consequences.

I work in HR and it's been drummed in to us never to give advice (not even just to join one), only the standard web links to the pension provider and government websites.

Plus she should not have given your number out to a stranger without your permission.

Because you’ll do it for free.

but also, had one fb friend once who never commed with me but came with a link and dropped the message: my colleague is doing marketing research, open the link and fill the form. I laughed on the emoji, replied: yes, right now! and obviously never did anything

What did you reply to your friend?

This is what I was going to type. How do you know it’s your friend asking, could your friend of been hacked? Personally I just wouldn’t answer the call and if asked by friend just say you came to the realisation it could be a scam.

May I suggest you seem illogically bothered by this and even a whole title in capitals. I suggest you calm down , go back to your normal life, send two or three fingers around the place and don't worry - Ukrainians will advise you next time you got a chance to meet any.

This is not a true friend. Block her number and unfriend her.

UPDATE:

OMG!!!!!

i dm these people telling them im not comfortable doing this and sent them links

THEY ARE CONFUSED BECAUSE MY FRIEND CHARGED THEM FOR IT! They thought they had an appointment with me???? For consultation??? They thought they were paying for a professional pension advice service????

wtf????!!

You need to message her and ask her what she's playing at and tell her to return their money

Yep, takes two to tango doesn’t it. She can offer all she wants just say no. I do have some sympathy as a people pleaser (reformed) but the phrase better to feel guilt than resentment applies here. Fact she is too lazy herself to get full details says a lot.

didn't know which vote to say that I am team husband and no friend hands out your number willy nilly.

For "friend" I would substitute "Scammer"!

Well at least now you are entitled to go completely fucking nuts at her! Although I suspect that her "clients" will already have done that.