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Aviva: Pension reviews

Name: Pension
Rating: 1.98 (160 reviews)

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1.92

Based on 160 reviews, last reviewed 6th Feb 2025

80% decrease in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

20% decrease in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

18%

70%

Latest highest rating:

5

Aviva provide a great SIPP. Aviva provide a great SIPP. Easy to access and use online with lots of information provided along with a safe place for all online correspondence. Reviewed on: 13th January 2025

Latest lowest rating:

1

My father cannot withdraw his pension My father has been trying to withdraw his pension for nearly 5 months and yet to receive anything. Has had to ring them multiple times to be told some... Read more Reviewed on: 6th February 2025

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About this product

Aviva offer a self-invested personal pension (SIPP).

There are five ways to invest in the Aviva SIPP. You can decide between the Universal Retirement Fund, a ready-made fund or choose an option from a fund shortlist provided by experts. You can also build your own portfolio or buy and sell shares and investments.

Aviva pension reviews share what it's like to have this pension. If you've used Aviva before, you can also leave your own review.

Aviva Pension reviews (160)

Review of the Aviva, Pension:

Horrible waste of time when it comes to deceased

Don't believe these reviews. If you have a relative that passed away in a different country just know you will be months back and forward. They don't remember to process your case until you email them then they ask for more information. You couldn't ask that before I emailed? and this happened numerous times. Hopefully this process will be over soon. If he was alive I would tell him to run. Other pension schemes he had just needed our mom documents (without JP) and her bank account. Their usual sentences "its with our trustees", "they need to verify documents", "oh we couldn't contact the JP" all of this weeks and months in between. Only because we knew our brother thought pensions were a scam I am helping my mom fight for HIS money THAT HE WORKED HARD FOR. Reviewed on: 7th November 2024

CLUELESS - avoid

Despite having friendly customer service people - they are CLUELESS. I had the misfortune to attempt to transfer two pensions away. Pension 1) they transferred the incorrect amount then lost the lot - much fruitless chasing followed...several zero responses. Huge amounts of stress. Pension 2) They tell you one thing over the phone, and 3 weeks later they email you and tell you they can't actually do what they've promised. They then supplied me incomplete information to do the alternative... I cannot wait until I have successfully transferred away from them. It appears the phone operators are not given access to the info they need to adequately communicate with the customers. This leads to a lot of misinformation and stress. AVOID if you possibly can. Reviewed on: 4th March 2021

Great dashboard

Very easy to move money around. Clear, simple and accessible, perfect for SIPPs! Reviewed on: 23rd February 2021

Slow patronising

Trying to take my 25 per cent tax free . May take up to 10 days to send forms by email. Compare to partner who cashed in Scottish Widows pension in less time. Talk to you as if your a helpless dolt. Go somewhere else. Reviewed on: 5th February 2021

AVIVA Refuses to Pay Pension

I have been a pension holder with Aviva for over 30 years. I am entitled to receive my pension money on turning 55, however, after completing numerous forms and calling AVIVA from Australia numerous times, I keep getting told to fill in more forms. I have advised AVIVA I want the lump sum paid to my UK bank account at age 55 in March 2021. Alas, although I provided this declaration complete with my UK bank account details, I learn more forms are required to be completed to receive a quote, then more forms to let them know how I should spend my pension. Come on AVIVA, if you want more interest off my money, then just say so. If you are considering AVIVA, look at the 1 STAR review.....Don't bother. Reviewed on: 2nd February 2021

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 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

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

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 place. Reviewed on: 15th September 2020

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

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 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

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

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