I've been approached by a company called Morgan Green Ltd who say they can help me make a claim because I opted out of SERPs in 1987. They want �522 up front for this service. Sounds like a scam to me but does anyone know for certain? Anyone heard of this company? Thanks in advance.
I would have thought that any company worth their salt, would not want money up front. I'm not saying its definitly a a scam, but it certainly sounds like one. Surely if there is money to be claimed back, you must be able to get at it yourself - try www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk to see if any one on there has had dealings on them.
I just googled the name and came up with this www.morgangreenlimited.com/sites/default/NO2.html
Totally agree with the excellent previous answer. I can only add that if they are so sure that they can get you money, why don't they take their fees out of said money once they have obtained it for you.
In my limited experience I never deal with such companies who require upfront fees.
They can't make a claim for you because YOU opted out of SERPS. No-one opted out on your behalf. Even in the fairly unregulated times of 1987 you would have to sign something to state that it was your choice to opt out. The only winner is the company that has your �522 in their pocket. They'll take several months to tell you that you do not have a claim and the money is non-refundable.
Morgan Green are endowment claims specialists. There was a lot of conjecture that the Financial Services Authority were going to look into the advice that was given to those who contracted-out of SERPS, although the consensus now is that the FSA are not going down that route, largely because the Government are on a sticky wicket on that one as they are on pensions generally. Morgan Green are simply trying to jump on the next claims bandwagon however that is their business and they are entitled to do so. They can represent you in a claim for compensation put to the Financial Ombudsman who handles such things. If you were advised to Contract-out and you are unhappy about the advice you can make a claim for compensation to the Ombudsman but you can do this yourself and you do not need to use a claims firm.