Pension liberation transfer case to bring 'much-needed clarity'

Royal London blocked £9k pension pot transfer

clock • 4 min read

A pension liberation case will shortly set a precedent over provider attempts to block suspect transfers. Rebecca Shahoud looks at the issues

Later this month the High Court will rule on the ability of trustees and providers to block transfers to schemes they suspect to be fraudulent. Hughes v Royal London has already been considered by the Pensions Ombudsman, Anthony Arter, who rejected Donna-Marie Hughes' complaint against the pension provider. Royal London had blocked Hughes' request to transfer her pension plan benefits to a small self-administered scheme (SSAS), the Babbacombe Road 1973 Limited SASS. The scheme was registered by Bespoke Pension Services Limited, and the principal employer was a recently incorporated...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Pensions

Evolution of pension recommendations and how 2026 may influence change

Evolution of pension recommendations and how 2026 may influence change

Next year could be the start of something big

Richard Hulbert
clock 06 January 2026 • 4 min read
Preparing for 2029: Adapting to the Budget's salary sacrifice cap

Preparing for 2029: Adapting to the Budget's salary sacrifice cap

'While this policy alters the landscape, it arguably represents an adjustment rather than a fundamental reform'

Steve Charlton
clock 22 December 2025 • 3 min read
Utmost to sell life and pensions business to JAB Insurance

Utmost to sell life and pensions business to JAB Insurance

To focus on wealth solutions business

Jen Frost
clock 22 December 2025 • 2 min read