Howden Omdömen 

I had been a SSAS client of BW for some years but it was now time to move on and transfer my funds into a SIPP elsewhere. My fellow scheme members (it was a small scheme with just 3 of us) felt the same resulting in the actual closure of the original SSAS.
The handling of this procedure was appalling with numerous unnecessary delays resulting in a substantial personal loss to me while my funds were uninvested awaiting action by BW.
Service whilst being in the SSAS was not without issues but was adequate. The closing of the scheme was an absolute saga.
I regret having to give this company even the one star. There must be better service elsewhere.

Been trying to sort out a pension for a deceased relative that was with this company been almost 5 months dealing with them and they have been an absolute nightmare to communicate with, slow or no replies, no updates, weeks to reply to simple email requests. They have made this process multiple times harder than it needed to be and I've got to the stage I don't even bother contacting them anymore not sure if it'll ever get sorted out! Reading some of the reviews it seems this is the way they treat a lot of customers.

I am writing this out of TOTAL FRUSTRATION with dealing with this company, after reading the reviews on here I feel the need to write something… I retired officially two and a half years ago but because I have been going through a divorce for the past 13 years which caused me to have a stroke leaving half blind and paralysed, my dealings with this company have been dreadful, excuse after excuse and doing absolutely anything not to resolve this despite having a court order saying how much I will be getting… I am firmly of the belief that they are hoping the stress will kill me so they don’t have to pay me anything.

I have been waiting over four weeks for a simple estimate, and I am now being informed that it is still being processed. It is difficult to understand how a business can operate with such lengthy turnaround times—especially when the information requested is critical for making important, potentially life-changing decisions. This experience has been deeply frustrating and has caused significant delays on my end.

Requested what started out as what was thought to be a relatively straight forward pension transfer - not a chance.

Not a difficult one - stand alone AVC to be transfered from a past pension to my current employment scheme.

Started Jan 3rd - still not done. Persistent incompetence on behalf of Barnett Waddington. Ongoing delays, wrong transfer forms sent out.

Not my choice to use these people, completely useless for the want of words.

63% 1 star - i can understand why. To think they are the administrators for a further pension I hold does not fill me with the greatest of confidence.

Update as of August 16th, still no major progress, Barnett Waddingham continue to drag their heels, like pulling teeth.

5 weeks since re-submitting the correct transfer forms due to their ill advice. Why it takes them 3 weeks to review their original mistake god only knows.

Have filed a complaint and not convinced it will make any difference as they continue to be both very slow and utterly incompetent.

The pension scheme that these funds are to be transfered to has grown significantly, no doubt I'll never get this money back from this shower. So angry !!

Firstly the chap I spoke to seemed kind and helpful. However, I have been left totally frustrated by the whole pension procedure from BW. When I agreed to take the lump sum of my total pension which wasn't much, under 30K, I was informed about how much the amount would be. I was then informed it would take over 8wks to set this up. In the interim, and after being told day after day the final amount would be in my account, I have been informed that the final figure has dropped by over 5%. Now they tell me I have to go back on and agree to new amount, but alas the site won't let me on. Find it sooooo difficult to comprehend how a pension pot can drop over 5% in 8wks, considering the buoyancy of the stock market etc. Just to reiterate, the person I spoke to was pleasant and cordial, but the whole experience, all things considered, and the tardiness of they're payment, has left me frustrated and hugely disappointed!! If I could give a zero rating I would.

almost never respond and if they do they send you generic rubbish and ignore your questions

Really chuffed with the support and the whole experience. Kept things simple and open. One happy customer

ASSITECA, entrata a far parte del gruppo, dei cui servizi ho usufruito con grande soddisfazione da inizio anni '90, nell'ultimo anno ha peggiorato la qualità e l'attenzione alle esigenze del cliente per i servizi assicurativi. Trasparenza e feedback sembrano non fare più parte degli obiettivi del personale. In questi giorni sto cercando di contattare e di chiarire una polizza assicurativa auto appena rinnovata, ma oltre ad una formale risposta via mail, non soddisfacente, non ho ottenuto. Non consiglierei di avvalersi del loro servizio e io stesso sto rivalutando l'idea di proseguire ad avvalermene...

Very complete information and quick responses from Jenni who handles our SSAS

If I could give zero stars I would, sent a email 15 April requesting pension forecast, phoned today 28th April to find out that my email hadn’t even been looked at and earliest it would be look at would be 29th April and then it would be 10 days to receive a response, absolutely shocking and appealing service

Very happy with the service I have received.

The team at Barnett Waddingham are knowledgeable and helpful.

I keep sending messages via email and the portal but the only response I ever get is acknowledgement emails. Three weeks later I have heard nothing. My first query was quite involved so I've tried making simpler and more easily resolved queries but still nothing. I don't think they are calculating my annual increases properly so it's quite frustrating.

Closing my SIPP proved very challenging with one particular fund who were demanding and difficult. The team at Barnett Waddington went above and beyond helping to get my funds. The communication was excellent and I felt that they were on top of the issue all the way through. I would recommend their services to anyone.

I have received absolutely dreadful service from Barnett Waddingham and would give them zero stars if I could. 6 1/2 months after raising the matter, I still can't access my on line account in Clarity. How difficult can it be? Are their IT people totally incompetent? If they can't even set up an online account, I dread to think how chaotic their other business processes must be. Truly, truly, awful.

Very responsive, effective, friendly service, easy to get ahold of quickly by phone in urgent cases

I can not thank Daniel in Liverpool enough for his help in migrating our scheme
Was very helpful and nothing was too much trouble
10/10

Between you BW FCF and IGG you do not know anything about timescales .I was told in June 2023 it would be a matter of months .Then in April 2024 told it would be this year both by BW.So were these just made up .So can I ask you again what did you get paid for exactly

AMERSHAM branch Pension Scheme
I have tried three times to speak to someone at BW but other than the operator it has been an impossible task for anyone to pick up a phone. I was even promised a call back and that never happened.
The last written communication was 10 Oct with no word since as to when I am getting my pension. Having finished work in August and with no income since, no one at BW could care less the stress caused in not knowing how much or when my pension will start.
Very poor communication, unhelpfulness and serious lack of any customer service.
Updated 15.11.24
The day after writing this review the matter has been sorted with email confirmation of my pension start date and written apology. Going forward hopefully the pension team will now realize spending 5 minutes on the phone updating a customer would prevent a lot of upset.

Dan was fantastic. He really was patient, knowledgeable and customer friendly.
Explained the forms in simple straightforward language.