LV=, also known as Liverpool Victoria, has committed to get tax free cash to their Annuity Pension holders within five days of receiving all relevant funds and documentation. If this is not achieved they have promised GBP1000 compensation.
Earlier this year Liverpool Victoria unsecured pension holders were told that they would get a similar deal so this step is a continuation of LV=s steps to put the customer needs first. Lump sum payments from pensions are a vital aspect of the whole retirement package, so receiving the funds promptly takes a great deal of stress out of the process.
A spokesman from the organisation said that Liverpool Victoria was well aware of their customers needs and was doing all it could to streamline the process for customer benefit.
The Prudential has advised with profits policyholders that there will not be a windfall payment to them of surplus funds after considering the option fully.
There was a consideration of the option, working out at around GBP1,000 per person which would have been in exchange for these customers giving up the right to any future pay outs from the assets the Prudential inherited from other companies. However it has been decided that the inherited funds will be better employed withn the organisation right now, especially in the current economic climate where financial institutions are looking to maintain as much financial fluidity as they can.
Customers of the Prudential will surely not feel too aggrieved by the decision since it looks like the sensible and considered option to most commentators. It is better to have a strong business than no business at all.
The Prudential is heading back to the pensions buy out environment with a deal worth around GBP350 million to pick up some of the Rank pension scheme.
The deal is expected to be confirmed next week when the interim results of the Prudential will be announced. Under the terms of the agreement the Prudential will take on the duty of paying the pensions of existing recipients of pensions through Rank.
There are around 10,000 people currently on the books,all of whom will in future receive their pension payments from the Prudential. This is a market that they used to be strong in but moved away from a couple of years ago to focus on their core business.