How can Civil Service Pensions treat staff so badly

Chemist243

I am totally stressed from the day I had yesterday. I completed all paperwork asked of me to get my pension into payment at the end of November. I did this in mid October and even had a letter telling me they had all the info they needed. On 17/11 out of the blue came an e-mail telling me I had not completed an options form. I had done this before with the forms they sent me.
My stress levels were so great but staff there did not care. It seems they are not there to support just to cause stress.
I can do without this

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @Chemist243

How are you feeling today? I'm so sorry you are so stressed with this situation. 

Just so I can try to help, I'd just like to ask, did you send all the information through the post? When you say "the staff don't seem to care" did you ring them? or are you still corresponding through email?

Cartini

I work for the unCivil Service but have a partnership pension rather than a Classic or Alpha (or whatever it`s called now).  Civil Service Pensions are notorious for bad service, but there`s no point being distressed by them.

Twist it round and consider that resubmitting that form as causing them more work

Chemist243

I sent the information through e-mail/ portal and civil service pensions confirmed they had all they needed. 2 weeks before first payment due they then wanted another form.
My pension is mainly Nuvos with the one in Alpha ( about 2 years worth) being their new invention

Chemist243

I resubmitted the form but goodness knows what delay this will add 

Chemist243

They are not very helpful when called and cannot see that delays cause anxiety. Their timings are unacceptable.

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @Chemist243

I'm so sorry that they did that. Hopefully the resubmission will work but can understand it is definitely not what you needed at the moment. Keeping my fingers crossed that it goes quicker for you this time 🤞

How are you feeling today? 

Chemist243

Feeling bit better; thanks for your support. I simply loathe how civil service pensions treat people. To them I am an irritating number, not a person with bills to pay.

Hannah_Alumni

We're always here! Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better

Chemist243

Thank you

Cartini

Chemist243 said:

Feeling bit better; thanks for your support. I simply loathe how civil service pensions treat people. To them I am an irritating number, not a person with bills to pay.

Hi,

You have to remember that you aren`t the only person on their books; in March this year there were 510,080 Civil Servants.  They are probably snowed under and most likely don`t like answering the phone because of aggressive people giving them grief (I`m not implying that you are aggressive on the phone to them).

I`m not defending them, but at the end of the day they are human too.

Chemist243

The staff ought to have known info was missing(?) well beforehand. They had told me they had all they required and 3.5 weeks later asked for a further form. 

L_Volunteer

I hear your frustrations @Chemist243. Not least as they had already told you they had all they required and then you found out they didn't