contacting British pension service

[soalbundy]

I have always relied on confirmation of my German pension at the German embassy for my visa extension but due to Brexit i would like to include my small British pension, in case the Euro falls dramatically. The German embassy were quite willing to confirm my British pension along with my German pension but wanted the original letter informing me of my pension, i only have a copy. I have sent the pension people two E-mails so far, using their online form, asking if they could send me a new original but apart from an automatic answer that they would respond within 10 working days, 5555555, no response, the first E-mail was sent 5 weeks ago the second was sent almost 3 weeks ago, do they only take letters seriously?

[Eff1n2ret]

Try phoning them - see the numbers on this page (I assume by "pension people" you refer to the State Retirement Pension):-

 

https://www.gov.uk/international-pension-centre

 

It's quite some time since I had to phone them, but the service was pretty good. I did send them an email many months ago, and never got a reply. The British Embassy accepts copy documents, but I can understand why you would not want to present two income letters to Thai Immigration, they seem to get confused very easily.

[canopus1969]

Second that - I've phoned on several occasions and always been dealt with most efficiently

[Retiredandhappyhere]

Soulbundy said:

"I have always relied on confirmation of my German pension at the German embassy for my visa extension but due to Brexit i would like to include my small British pension, in case the Euro falls dramatically. The German embassy were quite willing to confirm my British pension along with my German pension but wanted the original letter informing me of my pension, i only have a copy. I have sent the pension people two E-mails so far, using their online form, asking if they could send me a new original but apart from an automatic answer that they would respond within 10 working days, 5555555, no response, the first E-mail was sent 5 weeks ago the second was sent almost 3 weeks ago, do they only take letters seriously?"

 

 

I had a similar problem when, in response to a letter received from the UK Pension Service,  3 registered letters mailed to them went unanswered, followed by my two emails which received the automatic response as yours did.  As a result of all this, they stopped my State pension for two months, blaming me for not replying to their original letter.  It was only resolved when I emailed a further letter suggesting that I might be obliged to register a formal complaint that they were not living up to their published Code of Conduct.

 

That produced a speedy response with an apology and payment of the Pension arrears.  Years ago, I had a somewhat similar experience with the British Embassy who incorrectly refused a Tourist Visa for my Thai wife and who only corrected the situation when a formal complaint was lodged.

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[Common sense]

www.gov.uk

 

this should give you all the info you require on U.K. pensions.

[Jonmarleesco]

State or private pension? I assume state, in which case you are dealing with a British government department.

 

That said, I've found the DWP quite helpful via email, and have even had them phone me. If you have the state pension booklet, there is an email address in there which should generate a response.

[Jonmarleesco]

1 hour ago, Retiredandhappyhere said:

Soulbundy said:

"I have always relied on confirmation of my German pension at the German embassy for my visa extension but due to Brexit i would like to include my small British pension, in case the Euro falls dramatically. The German embassy were quite willing to confirm my British pension along with my German pension but wanted the original letter informing me of my pension, i only have a copy. I have sent the pension people two E-mails so far, using their online form, asking if they could send me a new original but apart from an automatic answer that they would respond within 10 working days, 5555555, no response, the first E-mail was sent 5 weeks ago the second was sent almost 3 weeks ago, do they only take letters seriously?"

 

 

I had a similar problem when, in response to a letter received from the UK Pension Service,  3 registered letters mailed to them went unanswered, followed by my two emails which received the automatic response as yours did.  As a result of all this, they stopped my State pension for two months, blaming me for not replying to their original letter.  It was only resolved when I emailed a further letter suggesting that I might be obliged to register a formal complaint that they were not living up to their published Code of Conduct.

 

That produced a speedy response with an apology and payment of the Pension arrears.  Years ago, I had a somewhat similar experience with the British Embassy who incorrectly refused a Tourist Visa for my Thai wife and who only corrected the situation when a formal complaint was lodged.

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Funny how a complaint, appropriately worded, can produce such magical results from otherwise slothful civil servants.

[leggo]

I have had numerous telephone conversations with them from Europe and from Asia and I can honestly say that they are the best example of customer service I have had anywhere in the world. They arranged my pension over a weekend, they made sure I got my pension immediately after it had been stopped because I had not received a proof of life form and on all other occasions have been exceptionally polite and efficient. Just skype them and I'm sure they'll sort out then problem toute de suite as they used to say before Brexit!!!

[jacko45k]

Would it not be more straightforward to combine the German pension with a 'small' amount on deposit  in the bank.

[soalbundy]

On 3/31/2017 at 6:55 AM, jacko45k said:

Would it not be more straightforward to combine the German pension with a 'small' amount on deposit  in the bank.

Yes, but with an overdraft on my German bank account due to very slow payment of the rice mortgage scheme ( it took them 3 years to pay me 500k ) and three kids, one of whom goes to university, small deposits seem quite large to me.

I noticed that some posters have had good experiences with phone calls to the department of pensions, i tried phoning them in the past, apart from 10 minuets of 'please hold the line' i was fed BS when i finally got through, however i did get a nice letter from them one month after my pension was paid telling me why the payment would be late. I can also confirm that the British embassy can't be bothered to reply to emails.

What a difference to the German pension department, the quickest email reply that i had from them was 25 minuets,the longest was 3 days and they apologized for the delay !!! Which is why, although British, i always use the German embassy if possible, helpful, polite and efficient.