Pension complaints continue to rise - FOS figures

Figures for Q2 and Q3

Jenna Brown
clock • 1 min read

Complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service about defined benefit (DB) transfers and self-invested personal pensions (SIPP) steadily increased between the second and third quarters of last year, official figures show.

Data for Q2 (July to September 2019) showed 157 DB linked complaints were made. Some 34% were upheld. In Q3 (October to November) this rose to 213 with 29% being upheld. In Q2 597 SIPP related complaints were started. That increased to 653 in the third quarter. The uphold rates were 56% and 49% respectively. Annuity gripes were also up quarter on quarter from 108 to 191. Income drawdown complaints stood at 46 in Q2 and 56 in Q3. Overall, between 1 October and 31 December, 2019 FOS received 195,851 new enquiries and 83,754 new complaints - with 9,160 complaints passed to an ombudsma...

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 Regulation

Paul Bruns: Ongoing review flexibility and the advice gap

Paul Bruns: Ongoing review flexibility and the advice gap

Changes are still currently only at proposal stage

Paul Bruns
clock 10 August 2026 • 5 min read
How considering vegetable peelers can inform your product design

How considering vegetable peelers can inform your product design

FCA released two reports to mark the third birthday of Consumer Duty

Alison Gay
clock 31 July 2026 • 4 min read
Andy Wealthall: Is there still a place for annual suitability reviews?

Andy Wealthall: Is there still a place for annual suitability reviews?

'We shouldn't solve one problem by creating another'

Andy Wealthall
clock 30 July 2026 • 4 min read