Refusing to give me my tax free lump sum

Aviva is refusing to give me my tax free lump sum of 25% I applied after reading my options, and despite being retired, they are refusing to give me this. The first reason was because I can’t use the internet (I can, I do all my banking and i... Read more

Aviva is refusing to give me my tax free lump sum of 25% I applied after reading my options, and despite being retired, they are refusing to give me this. The first reason was because I can’t use the internet (I can, I do all my banking and investments online). Then it changed to they don’t believe I understand what I am asking for! Unbelievable. I left a comment on Facebook, which got a pretend sympathetic response, but despite me messaging twice, at their request, there has been no response. Avoid this company like the plague. We are now preparing a file for the Ombudsman. What do we save to a pension fund for? Yes, for when we retire. I am retired, and they refuse point blank to give me my money.

Reviewed on 1st November 2020

MzG

Recommend Aviva

I have two pensions, one with Aviva and the other with Scottish Widows (Clerical Medical). By comparison over the 20 year investment, sharing of information, past and current customer service and commitment, Aviva, are flawless. They are recommended.

Reviewed on 28th September 2020

Mark Radin

Simple transfer and clear website

Transferred funds into this pension some time ago and it was a smooth transition. Their returns are usually pretty good and fund managers look after the pension pot well. Clear and precise information on the website for tracking my funds all in one... Read more

Transferred funds into this pension some time ago and it was a smooth transition. Their returns are usually pretty good and fund managers look after the pension pot well. Clear and precise information on the website for tracking my funds all in one place.

Reviewed on 15th September 2020

TheBster

Bad service, no communication

As the title says, avoid this company if you want a peace of mind. Also the Portal is horrible to use and developed by chimpanzee.

Reviewed on 31st July 2020

Woolsy

Aviva portray a professional consumer focused business but the consumer experience is completely to the contrary. image

I held a Pension with Aviva and my protracted nightmare began upon maturity, just when you need support. The misguidance commenced in 2013, with obstructions in concluding my pension option. This started the ongoing theme of misinformation to me... Read more

I held a Pension with Aviva and my protracted nightmare began upon maturity, just when you need support. The misguidance commenced in 2013, with obstructions in concluding my pension option. This started the ongoing theme of misinformation to me regarding managing my policy, providing continuing inaccurate guidance and deliberate obstructions for preventing the withdrawal of my pension as a lump sum within my statutory rights during 2019. Though they managed to send me through annuity forms to retain my funds in Aviva, offering an appalling return. When I finally secured acknowledgement, after numerous time consuming phone calls, I could remove my funds as a lump sum, Aviva obstructed this by sending out incorrect forms not relating to my policy.
During August and September 2019, I persevered with many hours of my time, conducting verbal and written dialog, with a conciliatory mind-set for resolving the barrage of obsceneness portrayed by Aviva. Aviva continued to obstruct my rights for withdrawing my funds.
I have now received my funds but Aviva continued to fail to recognise the full magnitude of the suffering, distress, inconvenience and personnel financial loss I endured through Aviva’s actions. Then they proceed to carry out an internal review on my submitted grievance, though regrettably they adopted a narrow perspective on their deliberations on both events and remuneration for addressing their non alinement to defined practices. They refused to acknowledge malpractices and accept liability. I'm currently forced to take action outside Aviva to bring this awful experience to a conclusion.
I could again see I’m not an isolated case. In 2019 Aviva received 11,025 pension complains, with 74.2% being justified
I'm sharing this experience to enlighten people dealing with Aviva, of their complete lack of professionalism and integrity they have for their customers
I sincerely hope sharing this experience will guide others to review their forward plans

Reviewed on 22nd July 2020

Phil Spicer

Easy to use and kept informed

Me and my Husband have been really impressed with the service we have received since we started using Aviva so much so we have recommended them to all our family and friends .

Reviewed on 28th April 2020

Hazel Abbott

good customer service and without any hassle

Easy to setup and easy to manage

Reviewed on 27th April 2020

xavier

Champions in red tape

Trying to get my pension transferred to another provider has been like pulling hen’s teeth. Started the process in early December and still ongoing. They are requesting rafts of information going back more than 16 years - seems to me just an excuse to ... Read more

Trying to get my pension transferred to another provider has been like pulling hen’s teeth. Started the process in early December and still ongoing. They are requesting rafts of information going back more than 16 years - seems to me just an excuse to keep my money.
Keep well clear of these arrogant people !

Reviewed on 17th February 2020

Owen Edwards

Unacceptable customer service

Pension transfer is a joke. Over three months constant emailing....you cant ring them. Im retiring and can't get my own money out the claws of this dreadful business. Companies. Keep you employees pensions away from these people!

Reviewed on 28th January 2020

Andrew

Pension fund

Easy to use website. Good experience.

Reviewed on 16th January 2020

Donna

Good company

Is a good company, always keeps me updated. I really like Aviva for all my insurances.

Reviewed on 16th January 2020

Laura Ursache

Rubbish Website & Awful Customer Service Response Times

My employer has just swapped to Aviva as my Pension Provider and I am already having a very bad experience. The Website is very hard to use when it comes to swapping from my existing investment option to different funds. I tried phoning up their... Read more

My employer has just swapped to Aviva as my Pension Provider and I am already having a very bad experience. The Website is very hard to use when it comes to swapping from my existing investment option to different funds. I tried phoning up their customer support and was put through to the wrong department. It has already taken 27 minutes (still waiting) to register a complaint. I haven't even managed to get through to someone that knows what they are doing yet!
My recommendation is to swap your money to a more professional organisation such as Hargreaves Landsdown, AJ Bell or Fidelity.

Reviewed on 27th September 2019

Mark Willis

Pension Statement Dropped Drastically

My husbands Friends Life Pension was making a steady increase each year. Aviva take over and suddenly in the December 2018 Statement. Big losses!! They are making back the money they paid to purchase Friends Life. All the usual excuses when we... Read more

My husbands Friends Life Pension was making a steady increase each year. Aviva take over and suddenly in the December 2018 Statement. Big losses!! They are making back the money they paid to purchase Friends Life. All the usual excuses when we phoned them - the stock market - Brexit. They cannot and will not give the charges in £monetary values but only as percentages. Rip Off. Do we transfer the pension out now it has made big losses. Will the losses be worse this year?? Four years before retirement and feeling helpless.

Reviewed on 7th March 2019

Mandy Bates

Lost 50% funding in one year.

My pension since 2001 has been doing well in funding growth, suddenly I logged in on my account 10.12.2018 and shockingly 50 % of investment has been gone. NO idea where, no idea what happened. At least some calculation on my online account or... Read more

My pension since 2001 has been doing well in funding growth, suddenly I logged in on my account 10.12.2018 and shockingly 50 % of investment has been gone. NO idea where, no idea what happened. At least some calculation on my online account or something would have been helpful. I regret that I didn't transfer my pension somewhere else. Its like Aviva has fed me for 13 years with giving me a joy of growth of investment and suddenly in 2 years since 2016 50% money gone. I will see if I can leave them asap.

Reviewed on 10th December 2018

IP

Show Nothing But Contempt for Customers

Aviva paid me money on 4 April 2018 which is in period 12 of the 2017 tax year. They incorrectly told HMRC the money was paid on 10 April 2018 which is period 1 of the 2018 tax year. This error by Aviva had cost me over £2000 in tax. Despite numerous ... Read more

Aviva paid me money on 4 April 2018 which is in period 12 of the 2017 tax year. They incorrectly told HMRC the money was paid on 10 April 2018 which is period 1 of the 2018 tax year. This error by Aviva had cost me over £2000 in tax. Despite numerous calls, emails and a letter to Andy Briggs their CEO no action has been taken to rectify their mistake. They show contempt for Thier customers. Avoid at all costs

Reviewed on 9th November 2018

allergic2aviva

Wanted to up my Pension each month

Made a request to raise the amount of my Pension each Month.. never instated. ? phonecalls are left on Hold.. for 20 plus minutes until someone answers then its the wrong department, then same again left hanging on.. Fraustation is the Word! ... Read more

Made a request to raise the amount of my Pension each Month.. never instated. ? phonecalls are left on Hold.. for 20 plus minutes until someone answers then its the wrong department, then same again left hanging on.. Fraustation is the Word! Incompetent, Slow, deaf.. what is it?

Reviewed on 2nd September 2018

Gina Dawn

Worse Customer Service than BT (and that's saying something!)

If you can ever get hold of anyone, it takes 40 minutes. You then find yourself being passed onto someone else. (And therefore back in the queue) Their complaints team are slow, defensive and obtuse. Nobody seems to know what they are doing and you... Read more

If you can ever get hold of anyone, it takes 40 minutes. You then find yourself being passed onto someone else. (And therefore back in the queue) Their complaints team are slow, defensive and obtuse. Nobody seems to know what they are doing and you will never get a straight answer to a simple question. Avoid like the plague.

Reviewed on 28th July 2018

Jonny

Terrible Company

Just a terrible company I'm ashamed there a British company

Reviewed on 2nd April 2018

Blodwinpig

DIABOLICAL

Awful customer service ,impossible to contact ,do not respond to emails. Do not consider. They are dreadful

Reviewed on 14th February 2018

Simon O'Shaughnessy

Getting money from pension

Everything has been fine until I tried to get money from my fund. Website is excellent and easy to understand but as soon as I wanted money out I was met with numerous obstacles. Finally the appropriate forms were sent and filled in immediately.... Read more

Everything has been fine until I tried to get money from my fund. Website is excellent and easy to understand but as soon as I wanted money out I was met with numerous obstacles. Finally the appropriate forms were sent and filled in immediately. Surprise, surprise, the date came but the required money was not paid into my account. The reason? They had not received my forms! After reading other reviews, it sounds as though the Post Office take delight in losing forms meant for Aviva as well as those sent by them! Soooooo annoying!

Reviewed on 1st February 2018

Anon