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If
you have a complaint about your pension or need general advice,
where can you go?
There
are a number of organisations that can help individuals with pensions
issues.
The
BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
and can not guarantee the quality of service you will receive.
Pensions
Advisory Service (Opas):
A non-profit organisation which seeks to help any member of the
public who has a problem, complaint or dispute with their occupational
or private pension arrangement.
http://www.opas.org.uk/
Telephone: 0845 6012923
Association
of British Insurers (ABI):
The trade association for the UK's insurance industry, including
pension providers.
http://www.abi.org.uk/
Telephone: 020 7600 3333
Financial
Services Authority (FSA):
The City watchdog is the regulator of the UK's insurance and pensions
industry. It is also required by law to improve the level of financial
education in the UK.
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/
Telephone: 0845 6061234
Financial
Ombudsman Service:
The ombudsman helps settle individual disputes between consumers
and financial services companies.
http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/
Telephone: 0845 0801800
Pensionguide.gov.uk:
The government's pensions website, which offers information to individuals
about their pension options, and rules.
http://www.pensionguide.gov.uk/
Pensions
Ombudsman:
Investigates and decides complaints and disputes about the way that
pension schemes are run. Complaints about the sales and marketing
of pension schemes are dealt with by the Financial Ombudsman Service.
http://www.pensions-ombudsman.org.uk/
Telephone: 020 7834 9144
Occupational
Pensions Regulatory Authority (Opra):
It was set up by Parliament to help make sure that occupational
pension schemes are safe and well run. It can impose penalties where
there are breaches of the law, for example if trustees do not appoint
advisers or keep proper records.
http://www.opra.gov.uk/
Telephone: 01273 627600
The
Pensions Scheme Registry:
Helps people trace pension schemes they have lost touch with - for
example following a change of job, or when a former employer changes
name. It is run by the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority
(Opra)
http://www.opra.gov.uk/
Telephone: 01273 627600
Department
for Work and Pensions:
The government department responsible for benefits and services
for older people. Its website has information on availability and
rules. Enquiries about pensions are dealt with by the Pension Service
(see below).
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/
The
Pension Service:
This new government office for state pension entitlements will eventually
offer 26 local advice centres for pensioners. The service will work
out your retirement pension and offer advice on other pensioner
related services.
http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/
Inland
Revenue:
Oversees taxation of pensioner incomes. Its leaflet IR121 provides
information on income tax and pensioners. Its international services
division deals with queries from people who have spent part of their
working life abroad.
http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/
Telephone: 0845 6060265
Age
Concern:
A charity dealing with the needs of older people. Its website has
information and factsheets on benefits and services available to
pensioners.
http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/
Telephone: 0800 009966
Help
The Aged:
A charity working with and campaigning for older people. Its website
has information and factsheets on benefits and services available
to pensioners.
http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/
Telephone: 0808 8006565 or 0808 8087575 (Northern Ireland).
Financial
Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS):
A safety net for customers of financial services firms. It pays
compensation if an authorised firm is unable to pay claims against
it, usually because it has gone out of business. The scheme is funded
by the industry and covers deposits, insurance and investments.
http://www.fscs.org.uk/
Telephone: 020 7892 7300
Confederation
of Occupational Pensioners Associations (Copas):
Established in 1993 to represent the views of members of occupational
pensioners' associations.
http://www.copas.org.uk/
Plain
English Campaign:
Confused by pensions terminology? The Plain English Campaign has
produced a pensions glossary, which explains terminology from "annuities"
to "contracting out". It can be found within the "free
guides" section on its website.
http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/
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