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Aviva: Pension reviews

Name: Pension
Rating: 2.03 (167 reviews)

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1.97

Based on 167 reviews, last reviewed 26th Apr 2025

50% increase in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

No new 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

19%

69%

Latest highest rating:

5

Managing my pension pot very well Managing my pension pot very well with regular updates and advice as to whether I have enough invested in order to retire. Reviewed on: 18th April 2025

Latest lowest rating:

1

Are Aviva literally the worst provider? Since being opted into AVIVA pensions I've barely ever been able to access my pot and each time I have it's required a lengthy phone call despite havi... Read more Reviewed on: 26th April 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 (167)

Review of the Aviva, Pension:

Loosing value

I had a pension pot with Friends Life which was transferred to Aviva. At first it seemed to be doing well with Aviva, with a fund value of £20827 in 2018, £21707 in 2019, then £23534 in 2020. But, since then, it's fallen to £22786 in April 2021, and now it's down to £18014. That's a loss of over 23% since 2020 (or 13.5% since 2018). Of course, values can fluctuate, but this downward trend is very worrying. Reviewed on: 28th January 2022

Delays, but sorted out in the end.

I had a Friend Provident pension which was taken over by Aviva. I decided to buy the annuity from Aviva to get the benefit of the guarantee. Every step of the process was slow and at one stage it took 3 weeks (and 2 more phone calls) to get a prepaid envelope (which should have been included in my pack in the first place). Even getting a quote took 8 weeks. After the forms had been filled in there was an inexplicable delay (5 weeks) until I got my first payment. Which was then 2 weeks after my scheduled retirement date. However, I am now completely satisfied with the outcome and staff have always been polite and friendly. Reviewed on: 13th December 2024

The total lack of Customer Service.

The total lack of Customer Service makes it hard to leave anything but a negative review. You have to wait for over an hour on the phone to speak to people, they don't answer emails and they appear to be totally incompetent. Nothing about them has been any good in my experience. I'm surprised they're still in business. Reviewed on: 10th December 2024

My husband has had a terrible experience with this o...

My husband has had a terrible experience with this outfit who are completely incompetent and unprofessional. Its taken over six months for him to get his tax free pension, he has spent hours on the phone, they kept promising to call back and it never happened, he had misinformation and had to repeatedly send through the same information, completely incompetent and then after he formally complained and rhey said they would look into it, finally came back and said it was due to third party advice!!! Really??? Taking no ownership for a completely incompetent service!! Reviewed on: 10th November 2024

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

Good experience good Customer service on the telephone.

Good experience good Customer service on the telephone. Competent customer service rep. Reviewed on: 1st November 2024

helpful staff

answered all my questions and helped my decision Reviewed on: 15th October 2024

45 min on hold and still waiting to whitdraw 500 pou...

45 min on hold and still waiting to whitdraw 500 pounds Reviewed on: 1st October 2024

Consistently incompetent

Wrongly invested my pension. Continually sent wrong documents. Compensation cheques never arrived. My pension was woth the Pru, who were excellent. Aviva took them over and have been consistently incompetent. Use at your own risk Reviewed on: 23rd September 2024

Brilliant all round.

Brilliant customer service. Reasonable charges. Excellent website and app with many functions. Reviewed on: 4th September 2024

Completely hopeless at giving you your money

I have been trying to withdraw a tax free lump sum for 3 months, it is supposed to take 7 days to get a quote and then 5 days to get the cash. I still don't even have a quote. The contact centre are very friendly and try to be helpful but the payments team seem completely incompetent and unhelpful. It is stunning that they cant seem to talk to each other. Reviewed on: 3rd September 2024

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