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.
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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.
Telephone: 0845 6012923
Association of British Insurers (ABI):
The trade association for the UK's insurance industry, including pension providers.
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.
Telephone: 0845 6061234
Financial Ombudsman Service:
The ombudsman helps settle individual disputes between consumers and financial services companies.
Telephone: 0845 0801800
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.
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.
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)
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Telephone: 020 7892 7300
Confederation of Occupational Pensioners Associations (Copas):
Established in 1993 to represent the views of members of occupational pensioners' associations.
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.