Employer not paying pension deductions into pension account - GP surgery

[NHSstaff]

I work for a gp surgery, in an admin role. I’ve been in this role for 15 years. Until March this year the surgery was under the NHS, it is has since been taken over by a private company.

Since the take over by a private company all staff have tuped to the new company’s payroll, our pension deductions have been taken out of our salary as usual, but the new company have not been paying this to a pension provider - we keep being told that this is ‘being set up’.

They now have 8 months worth of pension deductions and myself and the rest of the staff at the surgery are feeling concerned about how long this set up is taking, also it means that the money is not in our pension account earning interest.

The managers of the new company are not giving us any answers, our union rep isn’t being very helpful either.

I'm looking for advice - is it legal for the new company to hold the money for this long without paying it into our pension?

www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/employers/new-employers/im-an-employer-who-has-to-provide-a-pension/choose-a-pension-scheme/understanding-your-costs/making-contributions-to-your-pension-scheme-

Totally outside the law.
You can report to The Pension Regulator and they will look into it.
Don't delay.

You can also take a complaint to the Pensions Ombudsman. You will be expected to exhaust the pension company’s internal dispute resolution procedure first but it sounds like you don’t even know what the pension company is to do that! I suggest contacting the ombudsman’s office for advice.

www.pensions-ombudsman.org.uk/can-i-complain

Your employer has until the 22nd day of the month following the deduction to pay the deducted amount into your pension.

If they haven't, ask your employer why they haven't been paid in and when they will be paid in. Do this in writing so you have a copy.

Once your payments are 90 days late you can report them to the regulator.

https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/contact-us/scheme-members-who-to-contact/report-concerns-about-your-workplace-pension

Thanks all, the new employer are difficult to contact - they’re based in London and our GP surgery is in Wales, our local management team have been trying to contact them on behalf of all the staff, but they either simply don’t reply or they’re very vague.

I’ve shared The Pension Regulator details with my colleagues, we’re going to make a complaint.