FSAVC Pension Claim

If you were ever sold an FSAVC, you could be due thousands of pounds in compensation.

Not sure if you were ever sold an FSAVC (Free Standing Voluntary Contribution)? We can find out for you, even if you have no documentation of the pension.

We'll call you back!

Free, no obligation call to discuss your options.







A personal service with the same claims manager looking after you throughout the claims process

A No Win No Fee Service*

No policy number?

No problem, we can trace that for you.
Even if your FSAVC has paid out and you have no paperwork relating to the pension policy.

We can claim FSAVC compensation from the following pension providers

Allied Dunbar Assurance | Aviva | AXA Equity & Law | AXA Sun Life | Barclays | Bradford and Bingley | Canada Life | Co-Operative | Eagle Star | Friends Life | Friends Provident | Guardian Financial | Imperial Life | Laurentian Life | Legal & General | Lincoln Financial | Merchant Investors Assurance | Natwest | Pearl Assurance | Phoenix Life | Prudential | ReAssure | Royal Bank of Scotland | Royal London | Royal Sun Alliance | Scottish Amicable | Scottish Widows | Standard Life | Sun Life Financial of Canada | Teachers Assurance | Windsor Life | Winterthur Life | Zurich Assurance

What is an FSAVC?

A Free Standing Additional Voluntary Contribution

An FSAVC is a separate, additional pension plan away from your employer's pension. They were set up for people that wanted to put extra money away for their retirement.

Unfortunately, the way these FSAVCs were arranged, meant that the plan holder lost a lot of investment value in their pensions due to the high charges involved.

The main differences between the employer AVC and the FSAVC are the benefits involved. An employer AVC will have additional security due to being tied to your career, offer much lower costs and an opportunity to purchase 'additional years' service.

How do I know if I was mis-sold an FSAVC policy?

Alternatives to the FSAVC were not discussed

There were a number of different options to consider when it came to making additional contributions in relation to your pension.

Many advisors did not discuss all the options with the consumer, often not giving them enough information about other options that may have been more beneficial.

Were you planning to stay with the same employer until retirement?

Many consumers who were sold an FSAVC were planning on remaining with their employer until retirement and did not require a portable pension product.

All employers that offered a final salary pension scheme offered an in house alternative that would have been more suitable for many consumers.

Your attitude to risk was not assessed

Many advisors did not take into account the level of experience consumers had.

An FSAVC may potentially have high returns but often comes with increased risk that didn't match the attitude of the customer.

Were you told about the lack of flexibility?

The excessive transfer penalties with the FSAVC meant many consumers could not transfer the policy.

Many advisors did not discuss the high transfer penalties within the product.

Who were FSAVC pension schemes sold to?

Anybody who has ever worked in the public sector could have this type of pension policy.

Occupations include:

  • Doctor
  • Surgeon
  • Nurse
  • Teacher
  • Armed Forces
  • Civil Servant
  • BT Engineer
  • Police Officer
  • Fire Service
  • Royal Mail
  • British Gas
  • Electricity Board
  • Water Boards
  • British Transport
  • British Aerospace
  • Any other public sector occupation
  • Doctor
  • Surgeon
  • Nurse
  • Teacher
  • Armed Forces
  • Civil Servant
  • BT Engineer
  • Police Officer
  • Fire Service
  • Royal Mail
  • British Gas
  • Electricity Board
  • Water Boards
  • British Transport
  • British Aerospace
  • Any other public sector occupation

What could I be due?

If you were sold an FSAVC policy, you could be eligible for:

  • Compensation to pay back the money you lost and put you in the position you would be in if you had been sold the additional contribution plan in the first place
  • The compensation will often include increasing the annuity payment to retired consumers
  • Additional interest can often be added to any loss suffered
  • This is all possible even if you have retired and are now in receipt of your annuity or you have no paperwork.
  • We have specialist teams that can also win cases where you have been told you are 'out of time' or the firm that sold the FSAVC are no longer in business

You do not need to use a CMC to make a complaint to a lender or other compensation scheme, such as the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). If your complaint is not successful you can refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) yourself fee free.