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Original poster

Bloody pension auto-enrollment

104 replies

ILoveMyMonkey · 01/02/2019 10:24

Arrrggghhhhhh

So because I work for the local authority (where I've worked for the last 11 years and have never opted in to the pension scheme because I simply can't afford it) they have taken it upon themselves to auto-enrol me leaving me £300 short in my wages this month. Despite being passed around the houses (pensions to payroll to general HR to specific he and back to payroll) noone will do anything to give my money back and I now have to wait for my next paycheck to get it back! So basically they've stolen everyone's money (who have opted out) stuck it in a high interest account and are earning off of it.

They just don't seem to realise care that I have bills to pay and a child to feed! And when I asked if they would refund the bank charges from unpaid bills I was told "well you can try and claim that back from the government" Hmm.

Bastards, why are they allowed to do this?? Surely if you've opted out once you've bloody opted out!!! I wouldn't mind but I changed schools in sept 2017 and was auto-enrolled then and ended up having to opt out 5 times before they finally sorted it out and I was short in my pay every month until they finally solved the problem - arrrggghhhhhh!!! And yet here I am just a few short months later going through the same bullshit!

I'm so annoyed, and fucked, and annoyed.

OP posts:
ILoveMarmiteToo · 01/02/2019 15:02

On a salary of £18k at 7.4% your monthly contributions would be £111 and the employer contribution would be 16.48% - £247 which you are currently missing out on. In September the employer contributions are increasing to 23.6% which equates to £425 that you will be missing out on.

Original poster
ILoveMyMonkey · 01/02/2019 15:02

is worth prioritising and what would you go without? Food? Mortgage? Shoes? Insurance? Car tax? 🤔.

OP posts:
Original poster
ILoveMyMonkey · 01/02/2019 15:04

ILoveMarmiteToo great but I'm not sure how many other ways I can say it I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY £111 A MONTH!!!!

Fuck me people really don't listen.

OP posts:
Ta1kinPeace · 01/02/2019 15:04

Your choice
but unless you plan to carry on working till you drop, you'll need something to live on later in life

Original poster
ILoveMyMonkey · 01/02/2019 15:07

but unless you plan to carry on working till you drop, you'll need something to live on later in life given there's not much I can currently do about it I'm certainly not going to worry about it.

OP posts:
MiraculousMarinette · 01/02/2019 15:14

@ILoveMyMonkey I completely understand your frustration. I have only just signed back up for pension contributions after being opted out for about a year.

Yes, it's all very wise, saying things like ^I am very well aware of the costs of DB pensions
but any savings product where your contribution is topped up three times over (risk free) by somebody else
and offers the long term benefits of the Public Sector pensions (Death in service benefits, widowers pension, Tier 1 pensions)
is worth prioritising^ but you are correct OP, not everyone understands what it is like to be very limited financially.

Most people on here are 99.9% perfect, or so it seems, are are ever so clever and everything. These are the same people who cannot comprehend that for other people, making savings in any form is a luxury they cannot afford.

Original poster
ILoveMyMonkey · 01/02/2019 15:17

@MiraculousMarinette thank you for your reply. I think you are right, there are a lot of Mary Poppins on here Grin.

OP posts:
Soph88 · 01/02/2019 15:17

I understand you @ILoveMyMonkey I can't afford to pay into a pension either and I think the opt out is a piss take. It's obvious why the government decided to do it that way, in the hopes people would just not opt out. Forgot the people that can't afford not to have the money even for 1 month.
And the government does decide when you can have the money!! Not till 55 at the min but that is going up to 57 and I bet it will keep going up!

Hefzi · 01/02/2019 15:22

Gosh, I can't afford to buy a home, but I still pay into my pension and always have. Every day's a school day on here - it never has occurred to me to opt out of my public sector pension so I could afford to buy...

Interesting.

Original poster
ILoveMyMonkey · 01/02/2019 15:24

@Soph88 totally agree with everything you've said. It's like being held to ransom and it's been such a faff trying to get it sorted out today! They certainly don't make it easy to get your money back or opt out, it's ridiculous.

OP posts:
Original poster
ILoveMyMonkey · 01/02/2019 15:27

Interesting as in genuinely or sarcastically?

OP posts:
cricketmum84 · 01/02/2019 15:27

I'm sorry but it is just the law. People can kick off as much as they want but employers HAVE to do this.

As long as you opt out within 30 days of being auto enrolled then you will get it back. Don't think that the previous opt out will cover you as it won't. It needs to be a new opt out instruction.

I'm sorry it's caused you hardship and I'm sorry it's frustrating but it's also frustrating for the payroll staff who have to take all the calls where people are shouting at them for taking pension contributions that they have no control over.

Ta1kinPeace · 01/02/2019 15:31

Monkey
I hope that when you spoke to your Payroll team you were less snippy than you are being at posters on this thread.
AE is as it is.
They are doing their job.
Count yourself lucky to have an employer pension to opt in or out of. Millions of us self employed get no employer contributions at all.

Original poster
ILoveMyMonkey · 01/02/2019 15:31

cricketmum84 I get that it's a government thing and I totally get that it's not the payroll staffs fault ( and I was probably one of those aresholes this morning) but they, unfortunately, are on the front line and the people I spoke to were extremely unhelpful passing me from one department to another and round again which doesn't help with the frustration.

Still now I know they do it every 3 years I can set a reminder and prepare for next time.
Sorry if you got shouted at today Flowers

OP posts:
Hefzi · 01/02/2019 15:33

No, genuinely interesting, OP! It had never occurred to me - now I am wondering... (24 years from retirement)

Original poster
ILoveMyMonkey · 01/02/2019 15:34

Ta1kinPeace I've only been snippy to you (and those like you) who can't comprehend that not everyone is loaded enough to prioritise a pension.

As for the self employed thing, if you want a fancy pension option then get a new job in a sector that provides that - it's not luck, it's a choice.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 01/02/2019 15:36

Yup, I work in Payroll and we have to re-enroll everyone every 3 years. Luckily for us there are only 30 employees (and most havent opted out) so i can just make a quick phone call when I see that someone is due to be auto enrolled just to warn them it is happening (and it usually gives them a day or so to do something about it if they wish)

Original poster
ILoveMyMonkey · 01/02/2019 15:36

Hefzi

No, genuinely interesting, OP! It had never occurred to me - now I am wondering... (24 years from retirement)
24 years is still plenty of time to get on the ladder, I couldn't imagine trying to find rent money post retirement (or worrying about where it will come from) but if your pension is enough to cover rent costs then it might not be a concern for you?

OP posts:
Original poster
ILoveMyMonkey · 01/02/2019 15:37

Comefromaway you sound lovely, I wish someone had pre-warned me.

OP posts:
Hefzi · 01/02/2019 15:38

No, it won't be - hence my interest! I'm 44 but only been in a pension for ten years, and ours was degraded considerably a few years ago.

You've inspired me to seek out an IFA!

m0therofdragons · 01/02/2019 15:41

Fascinates me where people prioritise. I have a smaller mortgage to ensure Dh and I can afford pension contributions. How are you planning to afford to live when you're older?

Original poster
ILoveMyMonkey · 01/02/2019 15:41

Hefzi

No, it won't be - hence my interest! I'm 44 but only been in a pension for ten years, and ours was degraded considerably a few years ago.

You've inspired me to seek out an IFA!
Ha ha 😂 it's not often I'm an inspiration! You certainly have nothing to lose by investigating your options. Good luck 👍

OP posts:
Hefzi · 01/02/2019 15:42

GrinFlowers

Original poster
ILoveMyMonkey · 01/02/2019 15:45

@m0therofdragons
I have already mentioned this further upthread but as you've asked...
...we have an expensive house in an expensive area that holds its prices so will sell up, downsize and move to a cheaper area. Depressingly we will get a decent inheritance. And finally to avoid boredom and murder of DH from spending every waking moment with each other will most probably do some easy on the brain and body work to earn a few extra pennies.

That or I could die before I reach retirement and then DH will be quids in with our life insurance and mortgage insurance payout!

OP posts:
GummyGoddess · 01/02/2019 15:47

Is it with the council or another company?

I work in a company that does ae and I understand that it's frustrating but the amount of people who call in screaming at the call centre that we've stolen their money is ridiculous. For a start we don't take it, their employer has to take and then send it to us. We are extremely efficient at returning the funds to the company though, the company must then return it to the employee.

The government are trying to do something good, the amount of pensioners in poverty is shocking. Unfortunately as with any huge scheme there will be issues for a minority of people, and if your employer is with a rubbish provider cough NEST cough then it's a pain in the arse for everyone.

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