On Wed, 23 Nov 2005

Re: Scot Prov

I am pleased to see Tony is still alive and kicking! I will always remember (and I am sure Tony will ) the time the Leeds office Paris trip bus driver left him and his group in France . . . . . .

Well as an update I have heard from a number of people who have also suffered at the hands of Scottish Provident or Abbey(Prolific) . . . . and I have also been passed around like Tony . . . ending up with the same office I started with.

No luck so far but I have not given up yet and all stories of incompetence encourage me to think they might send me a cheque for my shortfall of £40k by mistake.

Steve Slater

On Sun Oct 30 2005

Re: Scot Prov

Just spotted the letters re the above and would like to add my own experience:

I had two policies one due in April this year and the second in June.

My m'gage was approx £ 27,500 and about the end of March I rang SP for a quote and was advised the maturity value on the large policy was about
£ 34,000 (the other was only for about £ 3,000). I was quite happy at that and even bought a new telly in anticipation!!

A few weeks later I thought I'd ring again to double check and this time was told the value of the large policy would be £ 38,000!!! I started to smell a rat.

A couple of weeks later, a letter arrived advising the final total would be
£ 25,500!!! Those of you who remember me may imagine my reaction - I wasn't pleased.

I then went to war with SP firing off letters and making phone calls even contacting the Chief Exec. of Abbey (SP's current owners). I was even more annoyed when I received a reply from the same customer services representative I'd been arguing with advising that the Cheief Exec.has asked him to reply to my letter etc......!!

At the end of the day I got got nowhere but the total of the two pols just cleared my mortgage - and my telly!

Like Dave I also received a letter some months later enclosing 2 cheques for a few hundred quid as they had made a mistake in the terminal bonus calulation.

Its been a long time since I'd come across such an amazing level of incompetence and I'm just glad I no longer have anything to do with good old Scot Prov.

Remember the SPAM battle when they shafted us over the windfall payment??

Anyway regards to all.

Cheers

Tony Ryan

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On Sun June 26 2005

Re: Prolific/Scottish Provident Life Policies - better news

I was very disturbed by Geoff Blagburn's letter, coming as it did after Steve Slater's and Don Shore's round robin on the same subject. I was right in the middle of the maturity processes of my own ex-mortgage related policies, and couldn't help wondering just how much hassle it was going to be. In fact there was no hassle.

My two policies matured end of May. I had valuations from Scot Prov in April, and as they suggested, I sent all the maturity documentation early, by registered post. We then planned how we would spend the money, and waited!

June drifted past very slowly, and we thought Scot Prov were taking their time, especially following the messages mentioned. But yesterday we had a letter from Scot Prov with two cheques, not only for the full value of the previous quotes, but also including additional amounts as payments for late payment interest.

I just thought people would like to know that the upcoming maturity of their own policies is not necessarilly a cause for concern. I am sorry for those who are having or have had problems, and hope they manage to get things sorted out, but I have to say I am very happy with the way Scottish Provident dealt with me.

David Newton

On Mon June 20 2005

Re: A company subsidised mortgage

Hello everyone!

I was interested in reading Steve Slater's comments on the the old Provincial/Prolific staff mortgage scheme and the problems that have arisen..

There are many pensioners who left "Provincial" (etc) for various reasons before normal retirement age, many of whom must have had "staff endowment" policies to mature at age 60.("It's a career to 60,not just a job!")

Many of us "topped up" our mortgage endowments when moving up and down the country and we had no complaints about "subsidised mortgages" as a well-earned perk.

Unfortunately, in my opinion, the rot set in when the "Life/Investment" side of the business ended up in a "pass the parcel" situation eventually landing at Scottish Provident/Abbey/Santander...........

Like many others,I was "surprised" when there was no "windfall" from the "Abbey" takeover but this is nothing compared with the sheer incompetence of the "Scottish Provident" who have mishandled every claim that I have made on 5 policies ( inception dates over 20 years ago). I am still awaiting substantial payment from policies which matured 4 months ago!

Thus,whilst I have every sympathy with Steve and others who have been mis-sold the
benefits of a "Prolific/Scottish Provident" policy there may be even more who cannot even get what is due to them when the policy matures!

Anybody else any problems in this respect?

Best Wishes

Geoff Blagburn
Bolton
(geordiegeoff@aol.com if anybody wishes to contact me for a pint!)

On Thurs June 16 2005

Re: A company subsidised mortgage

I believe I am one of many people who have left Provincial having had the so called "benefit" of a company subsidised mortgage only to find out that the "compulsory endowment mortgage" supplied by the preferred "Prolific"(part of Provincial) now is forecasting substantial shortfalls. I and many others were actually verbally assured there would be "with profits" to provide a substantial nest egg -whereas now I am facing a potential shortfall of £40,000.

Whilst all the paper work and small print warned of the "rise and fall" aspect of investments ... I like most ,not knowing any better went with the company backed arrangement as a safeguard(just wanting to be safe-not aiming for maximum return)

The FSA say I was not missold the endowment so have no right to some recompense. My view is that we have all been let down badly by the company and now at a time when we should be planning what to do in retirement can only worry about how we can make up the shortfall. Maybe not being able to retire at all.

If anyone is in a similar position to myself I would welcome their thoughts and if there is any support available from AXA this would be much appreciated.

Steve Slater

On Thurs Oct 7 2004

Re: People Changes

I personally welcome this new idea, and hope I am not on my own with this view. Do please continue with such information.

L.M.R.Janes ex-Reading - ex-London (Ilford) - retired June 1981

On Thurs July 8 2004

Excellent website, but some of your headings, the text size is very small for the visually challenged.

That means pensioners!

Tony Rix

On Sun Mar 28 2004

I thought the letters page here might be a useful way to share all kinds of practical information that could be of interest to other APPA members - seems a shame to waste the opportunity; for example, holiday locations and experiences.

We have just come back from spending a week in a Forestry Commission log cabin near Looe in Cornwall. This sounds basic but the cabins are new this year and are supplied with cooker, microwave, dishwasher tv showers and electric heating. They have special cabins for the disabled and are happy to accept dogs.

If you are interested you can find more information at www.forestholidays.co.uk.

Mike Nuttall

On Sun Mar 21 2004

A short note to let you know that Stan Shaw, 22 Howe Gardens, Oxenholme Road, Kendal died on Wednesday.

Stan was married to Marjorie and both were employed in Head Office Accounts, under Stuart Hinton I believe.

You may be aware that Stan was seriously ill a couple of years ago but made an excellent recovery and both he and Marjorie had begun to take up all their old activities. I understand they were out Rambling on
Wednesday and had spent an enjoyable day around Long Sleddale and were making their way towards the end of their walk at Shap. Stan had a heart attack and died almost instantly - they were in a group of ramblers and there were a couple of nurses with them so he did have some medical skill on hand.

The funeral will be held next Friday at Lancaster Crematorium - please see Westmorland Gazette for more
precise details.

I would be most grateful if you would pass the word around anyone you can think of who may have known and worked with Stan.

Thank you
Chris Nicholson

On Sun Jan 18 2004

Full marks and congratulations to David Newton for trying out the Photo Competition, and it is a great pity that this did not arouse sufficient interest. But I do agree with Derek Sutcliffes comments, and I also found it somewhat difficult to come up with a picture that fulfilled the criteria. Now - had it been "a picture depicting the wonderful character of my dog/ cat/ goldfish . . . . ". Then perhaps I could have obliged.

But, please do not give up on us yet Dave - if at first you don't succeed........ (give up?)
Terry Brown

On Thu Jan 15 2004

The photo comp is a good idea, but I found that it was difficult to find a photo to fit the title. However, that's no reason for not continuing. For the future, how about subjects which allow a fairly wide interpretation e.g. Landscape in Spring, Children at Play, Sporting Moment, Holiday Fun etc. What do other pensioners think?
Derek Sutcliffe