Windsor Life Assurance Company

[sqad617]

Does anyone know anything about this company, reliable or otherwise. The initial company was G.E Life, taken over by Tomorrow and now taken over by Windsor Life Assurance. Having problems with them paying my annuity.

[kelfoan]

I've got life assurance with them (unit trusts). What do you want to know about them? I've got contact details if needed. They took over my portfolio from General Portfolio. I receive annual statements and have contacted them for current prices (they are based in Telford). If you ring their switchboard there is an option to talk to someone if you previously had investments with Tomorrow

[sqad617]

Thanks kelfoan for taking the time to reply. I live in Spain and have drawn 3 annuities monthly for the past 10years all by electronic transfer, on the dot, until Windsor took over the company and then the pensions arrived by check in the mail. I phoned and explained that it was dangerous but was told that they had not the "set up" for electronic transfers for overseas banks, although GE Life and Tomorrow indeed had. Bottom line is that my Feb and March Pensions have not arrived and Northern Rock and lost discs have reared their ugly heads. I needed to know that they are a reputable company and you have gone a long way in reassuring me.
Thanks again

[billbo]

Hello,
I also have several anuitties ?? originally from Canada Life, passed to GE, then to Tomorrow and finally to Windsor.

They are all in the bank on time with no problems.

Hope your situation with them will be as good as mine.
Best Regards

Billbo

[sqad617]

No Bilbo the situation has not been resolved, they sat that the company is not set up for transferring annuities to a foreign bank and that cheques have to be sent by post.
Are your Annuities sent bt electronic transfer to your bank in Canada?
Thanks billbo.

[Skyline D]

He's not in Canada, he had policies with Canada Life. They trade in the UK.

[sqad617]

O.K, thanks for pointing out my mistake, so I assume his pensions from Windsor Life are transferred monyhly electronically to his UK account. Windsor Life maintains that although there is no problem with electronic transfer to a UK account, they are "set up" to send to foreign banks electronically. Thanks anyway

[lmumbv]

You're not alone. I, too, am ex GE, ex Tomorrow and also living in Spain and have received nothing yet. 2 letters to the Chief Exec, 4 phone calls & countless emails to date have proved fruitless except for an assurance I will get Jan, Feb & March payments all together at the end of this month, but to my bank account in U.K. Will keep you posted as to outcome.

[sqad617]

Thanks Imumvu...my Jan ones came by check in the post. My Mar ones came yesterday by electronic transfer and my Feb ones not yet arrived. What is goin on? any ideas?

[sqad617]

Just to put some meat on my previous answer, I have been dealing with a girl called Angela Albon who has been very helpful. I was told that only annuitants with FOREIGN bank accounts were having trouble, bit clearly not, if your pension is paid into a UK account. I was worried about another Northern Rock, or if they had lost the CD of all the foreign recipients, but they say not. Keep me informed, as I will with you.

[lmumbv]

Guess what? One of my outstanding monthly payments has arrived in my Spanish bank account, I think! Will know more when I visit the bank tomorrow and find out the details. More later.

[sqad617]

Good on yer! I am still waiting for one of my February ones.
I wonder what REALLY happened at Windsor.

[sqad617]

Imumbv, promised my Feb annuities this week, but one large one is still outstanding. Have sent 3 emails to Angela Albon on 3 consecutive days but no reply. I have received an acknowledgement of my official complaint, but apparently they have 6-8 weeks to investigate and reply.
What a complete shambles.

[lmumbv]

sqad617. Received by email today copies of 2 letters from W-L, one of which (dated 15/3/08) says that as from Mar 28 all overseas annuitants will get their payments direct to their foreign bank. Perhaps they're starting to get it right.

[sqad617]

Thanks imumbv, I received the same letters BUT.....I still have yet to receive my February Annuity and we still haven't had a cogent answer to what went wrong.

[sqad617]

All my outstanding Annuities have now been paid, final February one came today by electronic transfer. Will now be interesting to see if there is any problem with the March annuities. Good luck.

[saintpeter48]

does anyone know if windsor life pay into thai accounts, i have a small pension which i would like paid into my thai bank account, any help appreciated, thanks.

[slygen]

is everyone aware that Windsor Life will charge 2.60 pounds for each transfer

[sqad617]

Thanks slygen, I have 3 transfers sent each month, BUT Windor Life will deny that they are getting the money but they are having to py the Transfer Bank that the are using and passing on the cost to us.For me, that will be �7.80 a month, well worth it considering the hasle I have had getting my "back" annuities paid. What can we do about it?