Capita - not at all helpful

A minor gripe is that Capita left part of the postcode off their address.

The rest of the letter isn't of much use either.

The 2018 statement was wrong so must be chucked away.

The 2019 statement didn't arrive.

What is the recipient to decide upon receipt of this letter? nothing, as there aren't any figures with it.

What should it have contained?

A statement as at the date of normal pension age (NPA).

A list of the possible options.

A request for your bank details so that the arrears can be paid asap.

A calculation of the compensation which will be paid to the pensioner for not paying them for up to 2 years.

The letter as it stands merely tells you they messed up and then wants the pensioner to make the running.

Mr Mustard's advice.

Don't phone them and don't write (unless you don't do email) you'll need to complete the post code, it is DL98 1AJ

Mr Mustard would email and ask for the information that you should have been given on the NPA (normal pension age) and for the relevant facts and figures and options. You want everything in writing, phone calls can lead to disputes.

Having right royally messed up Capita should be going the extra mile to provide information & compensation to the adversely affected parties, not putting the onus on them to phone up Capita. They should be offering the affected parties individual appointments at which Capita can demonstrate that they have now got the pension records correct and explain the options available in each case.

Mr Mustard really doesn't understand why councillors don't kick out Capita given that this is just one more example in a long list of administrative incompetence. They are truly awful and yet on we trot lurching from one dreadful story to the next.

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard

Where did I put that pension slip (up) ?

Last year the Annual report of the pension scheme for Barnet contained a note as follows :-

Admitted Body, Connaught Partnerships formally entered administration on the 8th of September 2010. Whilst the consequences of the administration are under consideration, the full impact on the London Borough of Barnet Pension Fund is unlikely to be known until the administrators have completed the administration process.

The chickens have now come home to roost. KPMG, the administrators, of Connaught recently wrote to say that the claim by Barnet Council is unsecured. That is accountancy parlance & means that, under Insolvency Law, Barnet Council sit with all other unsecured creditors at the end of the line and what is more will receive at most 1% of their money back.

So here is what the 2011 report says.

Connaught Partnership, previously an Admitted Body, went into administration with effect from 31/08/2010. A pension fund deficit of £1,492,000 has been calculated by the fund actuaries. The Council’s legal team are currently liaising with Connaught’s Administrators (KPMG) for the recovery of these monies. KPMG have confirmed the pension deficit is classed as unsecured, non-preferential debt. Legal have also queried the position on unpaid employer contributions and are awaiting a response from the Administrators.

So what doesn't the report say ? 

Who was meant to be monitoring the payments, was the bond in place to secure them against insolvency ? 

Has someone right royally messed up ? 

We should be told.

It looks like another glorious day in the annals of Barnet Council.

The shortfall will have to come from somewhere. 

Only three choices look like :-

1. the Council Tax Payer 
2. pensioners
3. current employees in the pension scheme

Why do these catastrophes happen in Barnet. Could it be the eye taken off basics because of the OneBarnet nonsense ?

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard