Had a letter yesterday from the Pension Service asking me to confirm my address, and asking if I was married, had a civil partner and his name and insurance number. Seeing as I wouldn't have got the letter if my address had changed and wondering if they were going to cut my pension if I had a partner I rang them up. Glad that I did, because they said that a letter they had sent me had come back to them (couldn't tell me what the letter said, which is a bit odd as they sent it) and that it was their policy to put a stop on my pension until I had replied to the letter. We have been living at this address for 25 years, so was a bit confused. My pension should go into the bank today and I have already written cheques against it so was pleased that I rang. The man at the Pension Service said that I was the second one that day and he was confused as well. Well I suppose I had better check my bank statement later on but just thought this was very odd. Also he said I didn't have to give details of whom I was living with. I am just a bit confused as they have been paying the money promptly to the same bank for the last five years. If anyone else has had a similar letter it is best to ring them up as at first I was just going to ignore it as my details had not changed.
They have put a stop on my state pension as I got a letter which was returned from my address. (Only lived at the same address for 25 years and have the same telephone number, which apparently they can only ring 3 times and not leave a message, I was probably at the allotment). They don't know what the letter said (and they sent it to me)?? I have to wait until Thursday for any money as it takes 5 days to reinstate it. Lucky I can eat allotment food. I think they have a problem with fraud and they don't admit it. They have my telephone number and address (which had not changed for 25 years, and my bank details) but after hours on the phone don't understand what the problem is, and neither do they. It is a bank holiday so they have gone away (I can't as they have got my money). I said that they would not be too happy if their pay was 5 days late. I give up and will go and do some digging to calm down. They are going to ring me Tuesday with an explanation, if not I can ring them and get the answering phone service. HELP. Do you think I am being unreasonable. I am very honest and give them all the details they want, but I am a bit worried as because I am being targetting for some kind of fraud.
Did you give them your bank details over the phone?
I hope not.
Oh dear this must be very worrying for you.I do not think from what you say there is any fraud involved .
Be careful in all financial situations not to give out your pin number.No genuine person would ask for this.
Hope it sorts itself out soon. :)
Yes, of course they are the pensions department, date of birth, date of marriage, date of divorce (which I couldn't remember) amount that goes into the bank every month (except from this month) address everything. How can they write me a letter and not have a copy of it until Tuesday. I spoke to the manager, I expect it was a call centre. HELP, my bank account may be emptied. The only thing we every got back from from an item bought off Ebay perhaps they get the details from there. HELP again. It was recorded delivery and I was out and it was sent back to Ireland. I am really worried now. Do you think the post office, eBay and the pensions department are in touch. Still no money until next week, as I said I can cope with that, but if I was really, really old would be worried about no pension.
Spoke to the pensions department and they have no idea why my state pension was stopped. It was due last week and as we have had a bank holiday might be paid into my bank account this Friday. Takes five days to reinstate. I have lived at this address for 25 years, not changed bank account or telephone number and they do not know why it has been stopped. I said perhaps they thought I was dead, (but she said I sounded very vocal and p....ed off) and my partner was still claiming it. Must be some fraud going on somewhere as they said I wasn't the only person that had had it stopped. I blame other half for buying on Ebay with my details. After numerous telephone calls did get an apology but no explanation and still no money yet.
Go to the bank ASAP and ask for a statement update. Check any withdrawls. If anything doesn't look right report it to the bank right away so you won't be held liable for future wrong-doings. Cancel debit/credit cards if there are any wrong debits. If all seems OK I doubt there is anything 'going-on' as the fraudsters would have been in and out in hours, not days.