Pension advisers and their insurers rely on claimants not acting in time. The deadlines are real. They will not be extended. If you were advised before 2020, some deadlines may already be close.
Check my deadlines for free →Every day you wait, you are closer to losing the right to claim — not because the advice was right, but because the deadline has passed. Advisers know this. Their legal teams count on it. An assessment today costs you nothing and tells you exactly where you stand.
The Financial Ombudsman Service can only consider your complaint if it is made within 6 years of the date you received the advice — or the date the transfer was completed, whichever is later. After 6 years, the FOS cannot consider it, even if the advice was clearly wrong.
Example: Transfer advice given in March 2018 → 6-year clock expired March 2024. FOS route closed on this limb.
Even if the 6-year clock has expired, the FOS can still consider your complaint if you bring it within 3 years of when you first knew — or should reasonably have known — that something was wrong. This clock starts from when you became aware, not when the transfer happened.
What starts the clock: A pension statement showing a large loss. A letter from the FSCS about your adviser. A news article about mis-selling. A conversation with a friend. The clock starts when you had reason to question what happened — not necessarily when you understood the full legal position.
| Transfer year | FOS 6-yr clock | Action needed |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 or earlier | Expired 2020 or earlier | FSCS route + 3-yr awareness clock only — get assessment now |
| 2015 | Expired 2021 | FSCS + 3-yr awareness clock + FSMA s.27 civil |
| 2016 | Expired 2022 | FSCS + 3-yr awareness clock + FSMA s.27 civil |
| 2017 | Expired 2023 | FSCS + 3-yr awareness clock + FSMA s.27 civil |
| 2018 | Expired 2024 | FSCS + 3-yr awareness clock + FSMA s.27 civil |
| 2019 | Expires 2025 ⚠ | Act immediately — may already be expired |
| 2020 | Expires 2026 ⚠ | Act now — all routes still open but closing |
| 2021 or later | Open | All routes open — still act promptly |
FSCS time limits run from the date the firm was declared in default — not from the original advice date. This means that even where FOS time limits have expired, the FSCS route may still be open. For firms recently declared in default (Heritage Pensions April 2026, Gaudi March 2026), the FSCS window has only just opened.
If you have received a Final Response Letter from a firm rejecting your complaint, you have exactly 6 months from the date of that letter to refer your case to the FOS. After 6 months, the FOS will not accept it.
If you have a rejection letter and have not yet referred to the FOS, check the date on that letter today. If it is within 6 months, act immediately.
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Not necessarily. The FSCS has different time limits that run from the date of firm default — not the advice date. FSMA s.27 civil proceedings have their own limitation rules. And the 3-year awareness clock may still be open if you only recently discovered your loss. A formal assessment will tell you exactly which routes remain available for your specific case.
You can complain directly to the firm, or refer to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) or FSCS — both completely free. If you use the free routes, you keep 100% of any compensation awarded.
| Redress received | Max % | Max fee |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £1,499 | 30% | £420 |
| £1,500–£9,999 | 28% | £2,500 |
| £10,000–£24,999 | 25% | £5,000 |
| £25,000–£49,999 | 20% | £7,500 |
| £50,000 and above | 15% | £10,000 |
Compensation is paid directly to you. We invoice after you receive your compensation. You pay nothing if unsuccessful. Source: FCA PS21/18 (Chapter 2, Table 1) & CMCOB 5.2. Excl. VAT.
If you sign a client agreement with us, you may cancel it within 14 days without any charge or obligation. No questions asked.
Contact us at complaints@redressadvisory.com. If we cannot resolve your complaint you may refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service free of charge within 6 months of our final response.