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Standard Life reviews

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Rated Poor 2.41/5

Standard Life reviews

Unverified business

Review summary

People rate this company as Poor based on 76 product reviews

Average score of 2.41/5
5 star
26%
4 star
11%
3 star
5%
2 star
9%
1 star
49%
Reviews for Standard Life have trended negatively over the past 90 days

Latest positive rating

5/5

I love Standard Life.

I love Standard Life. Their app is so easy to use. Any queries I’ve had have been dealt with quickly. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending them!

{"display":"Pam W","full_name":"Pam W","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
Pensions
Pam W 14th September 2024

Latest negative rating

2/5

What on earth has happened to Standard Life

Chris Canham Write a review Reviews 3.6 949 total 5-star 43% 4-star 5% 3-star 3% 2-star 5% 1-star 44% Sort: Chris Canham 61 reviews Rated... Chris Canham Write a review Reviews 3.6 949 total 5-star 43% 4-star 5% 3-star 3% 2-star 5% 1-star 44% Sort: Chris Canham 61 reviews Rated 2 out of 5 stars Updated 5 hours ago Chaos continues - What has happened to Standard Life ?? Ive always had a high regard for Standard Life ( their people are nice and website and paperwork are great ) and it pains me to do this poor review but communicating with them over the past few years has become unbelievably clunky and drawn out ...... Having just turned 68, yesterday i called them to simply try and find out what potential lifetime annuity rate i would get with them from the large 38 year old plan i have with them ( to which i would also have combined 2 Aviva plans ) but after lots of long waits and almost 3 hours getting passed between numerous people and having to repeat myself numerous times and eventually telling me they could not answer my question and eventually getting bounced to HUB Financial Services who want to arrange another call with me in almost 2 weeks time earliest etc ....... and i still cant get an answer to this very simple question ....... Its quite ridiculous and life is too short when your 68 for this messing about especially compared to dealing with people like Annuity Line ....... What has happened to SL ? ...... A few years back you could call them and sort such things in 20 minutes but now it feels like a bureaucratic government department ....... I would have loved to give SL 4 or 5 stars but after yesterdays experience i feel that 2 is all i can offer. 25/10/25 Update - Well HUB Financial did call me a couple of weeks later as promised ( yesterday ) but only to tell me that " they have issues and it will be another 2 weeks before we can talk " so i told them not to bother ...... what on earth are we Standard Life investors and share holders supposed to do to get simple information from them ?? Its pretty disgusting !! Read more Read less

{"display":"Christopher Canham","full_name":"Christopher Canham","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
Pensions
Christopher Canham 25th October 2024

About Standard Life

Standard Life is a long term savings and investment business, with headquarters in Edinburgh. They help customers get a pension plan, prepare for retirement, and understand the ways they can take their pension money in retirement.

Are you looking for the perfect place to fulfil your savings and investment needs? Our Standard Life reviews can help you decide if they're the right option for you.

If you’re considering one of many services Standard Life has to offer, check out our reviews first. Find out how satisfied customers have been so far. Learn more about the benefits of being a Standard Life member. Read about real experiences with the customer service team. All of this and more can be found in our Standard Life reviews.

Smart Money People is the place for Standard Life reviews. Read and write reviews to help increase trust and transparency in Financial Services.

Standard Life at a glance

Reviews for Standard Life

Showing 11 of 76 company reviews

What on earth has happened to Standard Life

Pensions 25th October 2024

Chris Canham Write a review Reviews 3.6 949 total 5-star 43% 4-star 5% 3-star 3% 2-star 5% 1-star 44% Sort: Chris Canham 61 reviews Rated... Chris Canham Write a review Reviews 3.6 949 total 5-star 43% 4-star 5% 3-star 3% 2-star 5% 1-star 44% Sort: Chris Canham 61 reviews Rated 2 out of 5 stars Updated 5 hours ago Chaos continues - What has happened to Standard Life ?? Ive always had a high regard for Standard Life ( their people are nice and website and paperwork are great ) and it pains me to do this poor review but communicating with them over the past few years has become unbelievably clunky and drawn out ...... Having just turned 68, yesterday i called them to simply try and find out what potential lifetime annuity rate i would get with them from the large 38 year old plan i have with them ( to which i would also have combined 2 Aviva plans ) but after lots of long waits and almost 3 hours getting passed between numerous people and having to repeat myself numerous times and eventually telling me they could not answer my question and eventually getting bounced to HUB Financial Services who want to arrange another call with me in almost 2 weeks time earliest etc ....... and i still cant get an answer to this very simple question ....... Its quite ridiculous and life is too short when your 68 for this messing about especially compared to dealing with people like Annuity Line ....... What has happened to SL ? ...... A few years back you could call them and sort such things in 20 minutes but now it feels like a bureaucratic government department ....... I would have loved to give SL 4 or 5 stars but after yesterdays experience i feel that 2 is all i can offer. 25/10/25 Update - Well HUB Financial did call me a couple of weeks later as promised ( yesterday ) but only to tell me that " they have issues and it will be another 2 weeks before we can talk " so i told them not to bother ...... what on earth are we Standard Life investors and share holders supposed to do to get simple information from them ?? Its pretty disgusting !! Read more Read less

Rated Poor 2/5
Read more product reviews

I love Standard Life.

Pensions 14th September 2024

I love Standard Life. Their app is so easy to use. Any queries I’ve had have been dealt with quickly. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending them!

Rated Excellent 5/5
Read more product reviews
  • 5/5

    Managing pensions on the Standard Life Portal

    Standard Life's incredibly user-friendly, transparent website and personable customer service operators have really helped to demystify pensions for me at every step; from checking in... Standard Life's incredibly user-friendly, transparent website and personable customer service operators have really helped to demystify pensions for me at every step; from checking in with me every year on the ethical standards applied to my investments, to making it incredibly simple to transfer older pensions that were left languishing. They also make the process of changing where my pension is invested under their umbrella very straightforward so I might optimise it when the time comes to drawdown. Whereas before I felt confused by my pension and tempted to 'leave it for another day', I now feel I have much better understanding and can make more informed decisions about it. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Jan P","full_name":"Jan P","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Pensions
    Jan P 12th April 2024
  • 5/5

    Great customer service and no hidden transaction cha...

    Great customer service and no hidden transaction charges

    {"display":"Kirsty M","full_name":"Kirsty M","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Pensions
    Kirsty M 12th April 2024
  • 3/5

    Customer service pretty good

    Customer service pretty good and the app is really easy to use

    {"display":"AGP","full_name":"AGP","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Pensions
    AGP 2nd April 2024
  • 1/5

    Poor pension system landed me with a £32,000 tax bill

    Tried to make a £300 withdrawal from my pension pot of £73,000. Selected the pot to suture from and Entered the £300 into the amount... Tried to make a £300 withdrawal from my pension pot of £73,000. Selected the pot to suture from and Entered the £300 into the amount of withdrawal. Then clicked confirm. It then stated I had withdrawn my entire pension of £73k without any warning or double confirmation. This was on Saturday and they were closed until 9am Monday. Rang at 9am monday and told the payment had been processed and sent be reversed. Received £41k this morning so £32k tax deducted! This has put me in serious future financial difficulty The advisor on the phone admitted other people had the same problem You have been warned. Read more Read less

    {"display":"D Weild","full_name":"D Weild","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Pensions
    D Weild 26th March 2024
  • 1/5

    Workplace Pension Scheme Administered By Standard Life

    I had some pension savings from a previous employer (one I left in 2004) in a scheme administered by Standard Life. It was a relatively... I had some pension savings from a previous employer (one I left in 2004) in a scheme administered by Standard Life. It was a relatively small amount so I didn't pay close attention to it - more fool me! The charges are egregiously high, typically running at around 1.3% per year for actively managed funds which uniformly performed poorly and even as much as 1% per year for a simple FTSE index tracker (available from many other providers for as little as 0.1% per year). Finally I've transferred away but these people are a bunch of rip-off merchants. And the website's a load of rubbish too despite all that money . Avoid them at all costs. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Nicholas Gibbins","full_name":"Nicholas Gibbins","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Pensions
    Nicholas Gibbins 23rd October 2023
  • 1/5

    Extremely slow payout,

    My 54 year old husband of 30 years passed away in March 2023. His pension will give me some security, and look after me like... My 54 year old husband of 30 years passed away in March 2023. His pension will give me some security, and look after me like my husband intended. Now September and still nothing received. Standard Life say they have worked hard to make the process easy and quick. Don’t believe it…. I must be 30 phone calls in. All documents submitted in April. They have approved everything, They said you will receive funds within 10 working days…. Of course it’s 11 working days and nothing. They say they will keep you informed……. They don’t. You complain they throw £100 at you to go away. All I want is what they promised to do. Struggling with the loss of my husband, they just add extra stress that you don’t need. For a large company, they have dreadful processes, and no respect for their clients. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Ells","full_name":"Ells","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Pensions
    Ells 7th September 2023
  • 1/5

    Charges

    Charges are too high compared to other SIPPS, I will be moving my money. Over 6 yrs no returns on my pot and paid £25k in charges

    {"display":"Heather ","full_name":"Heather ","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Drawdown
    Heather 5th September 2023
  • 5/5

    A well managed product and company

    My pension is well managed and looked after by a great team and easy to contact if I need help or information.

    {"display":"Matt Randalls ","full_name":"Matt Randalls ","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Drawdown
    Matt Randalls 29th August 2023
  • 5/5

    New-era, Pension-provision entrepreneurs!

    Great investment hub, support mechanism second-to-none, amazing App for tracking fund, providing advice and DIY pension provision for new generations of investors! Invest with the Best..!

    {"display":"Greg","full_name":"Greg","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Pensions
    Greg 13th July 2023

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