Between 2013 and 2015, around 3,600 former service personnel transferred their money out of the MoD pension scheme* Many did this after being targeted by unregulated salespeople and overseas companies who convinced them to move their funds into private schemes. However, all too often, the risks of transferring a military pension were not fully explained, and numerous former and current service personnel have lost thousands as a result.
If you were persuaded to transfer your British Armed Forces pension to a private scheme you might have been mis-sold and we can help you to make a claim. But many people still do not know if their pension is affected by this scandal – especially as they may have been mis-sold even if their current pension pot seems healthy.
Our expert fraud and investment mis-selling lawyers explain how to find out if your armed forces pension was mis-sold, as well as answering some of the other frequently asked questions in this case.
What happened in the military pension mis-selling scandal?
When a member of the armed forces retires, they receive one of the most generous pensions available in the UK. These pensions provide a guaranteed pay-out for the rest of their retirement and keep pace with inflation. Despite this, before 2015**, many service personnel were persuaded to move their valuable pensions into private schemes, and many have lost out as a result.
What losses have been suffered as a result?
As a result of transferring their pensions, many former and current servicemen and women have:
- Lost thousands of pounds from their pensions.
- Lost all the guarantees that came with their military pensions.
- Made unregulated, unsuitable, and potential fraudulent investments.
- Discovered that they cannot access their pension.
- Been hit with high fees and charges.
How would I know if my military pension was mis-sold?
Your pension may have been mis-sold if:
- You transferred your military pension to a private scheme.
- You were approached prior to 2015.*
- You were not told about the risks of transferring your British Armed Forces pension (or these were not fully explained).
- You did not understand that your pension could run out if you transferred from the British Armed Forces pension.
- The negligence of your financial advisor has (or could) made you worse off in life.
- You were either advised by, had dealings with, or had your pension moved to one of the following companies (more are likely to be added to this list as the investigation progresses):
- CI Associates / Caledonian International
- Servatus
- Harbour Pensions QROPS
- STM Malta QROPS
- Carey Options SIPP
- Creechurch Isle of Man
- Ardan Platform
Crucially, you may have been mis-sold even if your current pension pot seems healthy.
Could I have been mis-sold if I transferred my pension before 2013?
Yes. In 2013 it was announced that, from 2015 onwards, service personnel would no longer be able to transfer their money out of the MoD scheme. This gave the unscrupulous financial advisors two years to secure as many transfers as possible. However, many pensions were also mis-sold before 2013.
How many people are affected?
Between 2013 and 2015, around 3,600 former service personnel transferred their money out of the MoD pension scheme*. In total, we believe that up to 5,000 people could be affected by this scandal.
Am I eligible to bring a claim with KP Law?
Moving a military pension is rarely advisable. So, if you believe that you have been mis-sold a military pension, contact us to find out how we can help you. If you are not sure if you have a claim, we can find this out for you.
How much compensation might I get?
While each case is different, we believe that those affected by the mis-selling of military pensions could be owed hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Will I have to pay to make a claim with KP Law?
We will conduct the claim for you under a no-win, no-fee agreement. So, if you lose your case, you will not have to pay us a penny.
If you win, our fees will be deducted from your damages. So, you will not have to pay anything upfront. Any payment would only come out of the money that we recover on your behalf.
Our success fee is one of the most competitive around. But more than this, the value that we add to this case could make all the difference to the compensation you receive. When it comes to getting you the compensation you deserve, you need the absolute best team possible. The fees we charge correspond with our skill and associated reputation when it comes to getting results for our clients.
Is it complicated to make a military pension mis-selling case with KP Law?
Not at all. The process to join is straightforward and can be completed quickly from your phone or computer.
How do I start a claim?
If you are interested in joining our action, sign up to see if you can claim.
*Freedom of information request
**After 2015, service personnel could no longer transfer their money out of the MoD scheme.