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Pensions Ombudsman rejects complaint over scam transfer: due diligence assessed by contemporaneous guidance; no HMRC status check required absent red flags; maladministration without loss where transfer would have proceeded anyway

Published on: 16 January 2024

Published by a LexisNexis Pensions expert
Legal News
Table of contents
  • Original News
  • Summary
  • What were the facts?
  • What was the PO’s decision?
  • What is the impact of this determination?
Article summary

Original News Mr S (CAS-50392-S0T8) and Mr S (CAS-50391-H3V6)—30 August 2023

Summary

The PO dismissed a complaint concerning the pension transfer due diligence undertaken by two arrangements. For the first, the checks were appropriate, and, with no warning signs present, there was no obligation to confirm the scheme’s registration status directly with HMRC. For the second, the provider’s enquiries were insufficient—it omitted to caution about pension scams—yet the PO concluded the transfer would have gone ahead in any event. The decision underscores that expectations for pension transfer due diligence are assessed against the guidance applicable at the time only, in this case. Accordingly, the complaint failed, as determined by the PO.

What were the facts?

Mr S had pensions that were managed by three insurers:

  1. Legal and General (L&G)
  2. Scottish Widows (SW)
  3. Zurich...

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