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Aviva: Pension reviews

Name: Pension
Rating: 1.87 (187 reviews)

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1.87

Based on 187 reviews, last reviewed 24th Mar 2026

No new 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

100% increase in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

17%

68%

Latest highest rating:

4

old fashioned processes Good company but some old fashioned processes (need to download and print off forms and then send them in the post). Very limited functionality on the... Read more Reviewed on: 7th September 2025

Latest lowest rating:

1

Mindlessly bureaucratic and frustrating Have an individual stakeholder plan which I was aware needed to be resolved before I hit 75 - it’s been with Aviva for decades. Long delays to speak... Read more Reviewed on: 24th March 2026

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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.

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Aviva Pension reviews (187)

They try ti keep my money

Be careful when you ask to transfer your pension to another provider they refuse asking for many document like DOB certificate and etc... You need to call them many time by phone and still invent excuses to not transfer your money!!! Stay away!!! Reviewed on: 31st May 2021

Abysmal customer service

Have just started to communicate with Aviva to access my pension. Have called free phone numbers but it can take many attempts to actually join a queue. More often than not you are told to ring back later. Once actually in the queue the long wait begins. Just short of an hour today. Once through, the staff are reasonable although I did not receive the letter I was supposed to have been sent after my first call. I was then told that release of money once I have returned appropriate information will be up to twenty days! There is clearly a lack of resource and archaic systems within this company. Am very disappointed. Reviewed on: 4th May 2021

Absolute rubbish

I’ve been paying money in for 30 years and last year they took more money away from me than I paid in. Would not recommend a pension with Aviva Reviewed on: 27th April 2021

Dire customer service. Truly desperate

Weeks go by before they reply to emails. Even then they're following a script and haven't got a clue. Honestly put your money elsewhere. I'm stuck with this lot as my employer insists on them but if you have the choice, anywhere is better than here. Reviewed on: 20th April 2021

Shocking service when requesting pension lump sum payment

I have been trying since last September to take my pension as a lump sum. They sent me the same initial pack 3 times, I had various phone calls which produced nothing, finally I was told I had to have a long detailed conversation with an Aviva agent before I could be sent the necessary form to take my pension - and then when I eventually received the form and returned it in January, the money did not arrive. I am still chasing weekly and am just told each time that they will escalate it - I think they need to check the meaning of the word escalate. I had taken lump sums before Aviva took over Friends Provident, who were so much more efficient. If you are requiring your pension lump sum by a certain date, you will be in trouble if you invest with this company. The Ombudsman needs to take action and get this useless company to sort themselves out pronto. Reviewed on: 7th April 2021

Worse than HMRC

Have been trying for days to get hold of someone on the freephone numbers given- as I’ve been messaged to say I can’t use their online system for details on my pension. Have tried for several HOURS each to get through when they say the wait is 20 minutes and then you wait over 30 minutes and are then cut off on each occasion. Absolutely the worst insurance company I deal with and I deal with a few because of various pensions I have. They are an absolute disgrace and I’m very close to complaining to the Ombudsman but I doubt whether they would get an answer either. Avoid at all costs - I’ll be transferring my money as soon as I can get through so may take some time Reviewed on: 6th April 2021

Useless

Useless, tried to transfer a previous company pension into an existing company pension with Aviva. Kept asking for the same information and giving me instructions to transfer on line which didn’t tie up with anything. And then when I queried it we would go round in the same circle again. Avoid, useless. Reviewed on: 31st March 2021

Refused to pay my lumpsum payment

I am sure this is a company run by the most dishonest people. They made it impossible to claim the money that is rightfully yours. They promised from forms that never arrived, direct you to unmanned phones, complain never get any way, never return calls. Dont think of joining this company you will only lose your money with no redress. The worst company I ever deal with, corporate criminals Reviewed on: 9th March 2021

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

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