The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) could end up paying over £124 million to victims of the Rowanmoor pension scandal.
Pension provider Rowanmoor failed on 15th December 2023 with 1464 claims against it. Claims had been transferred previously to the FSCS for investigation, which may face a £124 million compensation bill.
Rowanmoor History
+ −The troubled Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) provider, Rowanmoor, has been in the news for several years. It closed its doors to new business in August 2020, after which large numbers of claims against the firm were submitted to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) for consideration. FOS is the independent organisation whose job it is to resolve disputes between financial institutions and their clients.
A sample case was investigated during 2021, involving a Rowanmoor client, Mr T. He had been ‘advised’ to invest in an unregulated offshore property deal involving Cape Verde-based The Resort Group and lost his pension savings. The FOS investigation revealed that an introducer firm, CIB Life and Pensions Ltd, was passing a large number of clients on to Rowanmoor, making up over a quarter of Rowanmoor’s business between 2009 and 2013.
Neither firm admitted responsibility for giving Mr T financial advice, stating that he signed papers to say he would seek his own independent advice elsewhere. FOS disagreed, saying that Rowanmoor should have followed published guidelines from City watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), so they would be able to demonstrate due diligence and risk management (regarding how they accepted new business and recommended the investments they offered) but, above all else, they should have treated Mr T fairly.
As Mr T’s complaint was successful, FOS ordered Rowanmoor to pay him compensation. FOS also asked Rowanmoor to close the SIPP fund, so that other investors did not have to continue paying wrapper fees.
Now that the door was opened for other investors, many more claims were submitted to FOS. The Government-backed lifeboat scheme, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) stepped in on 31st August 2022, agreeing to take over the FOS claims and to investigate Rowanmoor’s demise.
What does ‘declared in default’ mean for Rowanmoor customers?
+ −Rowanmoor went into administration in August 2022 but has only now been declared in default.
When a financial organisation is declared in default, it means that the FSCS has assessed whether or not the firm is able to satisfy claims against them and decided that it cannot. Compensation for investors will come from the FSCS.
Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) Mis-selling
+ −Mis-selling is where the risks of transferring an existing pension to a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) are not investigated or explained fully by a financial adviser, resulting in financial loss. People who have occupational pensions, such as those in the public sector or nationalised industries, have been particularly affected.
SIPPs can be a tax-efficient way of saving for retirement, but given the wide variety of investment products available, getting the right financial advice is key. Unfortunately, many people – including those who did business with Rowanmoor – received unsuitable advice, causing them to invest in risky or unregulated investments and have lost out.
TLW Solicitors’ view on the Rowanmoor scandal
+ −Sarah Spruce, who heads up TLW’s Pension Mis-Selling Claims team, says:
“Thousands of investors have been affected by the actions and subsequent failure of Rowanmoor, The Resort Group, introducer firms and other independent financial advisers, and we are already working with many people who have been impacted. The delay caused by the FSCS investigation has been frustrating, but now people’s cases will finally be able to progress to the claims processing teams.
“Even if you previously made a complaint to Rowanmoor and it has been rejected, or if FOS rejected your complaint, please get in touch as we may still be able to help.”
TLW Solicitors can help
+ −Our experienced team can help you make a claim for compensation, and get your pension and investment plans back on track. We have extensive knowledge of SIPP mis-selling claims and FSCS claims. We operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, meaning you do not pay us a penny if your claim is unsuccessful.
If you are concerned about your Rowanmoor investment, or the actions of an associated introducer firm, please call us on 0800 169 5925 or fill in one of the forms below.
Time limits can apply so anyone wishing to bring a claim should do so without delay.
Meet Our Team
Meet Sarah, who heads up our experienced FSCS Claims team.
Sarah and her colleagues are on hand to help with your claim.