Contact any of our Team if you have any questions

FAQ's
Who can I complain to about my pension?
Write to The Pensions Ombudsman – www.pensions-ombudsman.org.uk there is a simple on-line form to state your complaint. Please use your own words, don’t copy other peoples wording.
Write to your MP – www.parliament.uk/about/contacting/mp.cfm
Where can I meet with other Ex-Visteon workers and pensioners?
In Essex there is a weekly meeting, each Thursday, 7.30 pm. At:
Basildon Ford Sports & Social Club, Gardiners Close, Basildon, SS14 3AN
At the meeting there will be discussions about the fight to rescue our pensions and what you can do to assist.
The Swansea group also meet regularly at the Railway Club, Wynd Street.
Belfast pensioners should contact Gerry Campbell for updates.
Can I talk to anybody about my pension worries?
You can e-mail or telephone any of the contact team listed under the page “Contact Us”. They may not have the answer to your worry but may be able to advise you.
How much will I lose if we enter the Pension Protection Fund (PPF)?
Calculations will be done on an individual basis. Current age, any lump sum taken at retirement, any enhanced pension taken to state pension age and PPF cap factor are all taken into consideration and will have the effect of reducing your PPF compensation level. Expect to lose between 10% and 50% of your Visteon pension.
Will my pension increase under PPF rules?
Only that part of your compensation attributable to pensionable service after 5th April 1997 will attract any increase. This will be calculated in line with any increase in RPI capped at 2.5%. In effect this means negligible increases for life!
Contingent spouse's pension (currently 50% of Visteon pension) - Assuming we are in the PPF would this be 50% of determined PPF compensation level or 50% of original Visteon pension?
This is 50% of compensation in payment at date of death. So if your loss under PPF rules is 50% your spouse will get half of this when you die – that is a quarter of your Visteon pension !
Example: Current Visteon pension is £8000 per year. Under PPF you could lose 50% of your current pension, so you get £4000 per year, therefore if you were to die your spouse would only be entitled to £2000 per year !
Assuming we are in the PPF any pension overpayments made since 31/3/09 would be recoverable. How will this be done? Will amount and time taken to recover overpayments be negotiable to avoid hardship?
The amount of the overpayments will be notified individually to members and recoveries will be made by reduction to future pension instalments over a period of months. The number of months will be set by the Trustee but in individual hardship cases then it may be possible to recover over a longer period. You need to ensure you ask & insist on a longer payback period.
Assuming we are in the PPF for those members whose pensions are not being drawn does the index linking of 5% max apply to ALL the pension, or only that part accrued since April 5th 1997?
The revaluation of the deferred pension will be on the Plan's basis up to 31/3/09 and then on PPF basis thereafter up to the member's retirement date. The PPF basis is the lesser of 5% and RPI.
Is our Fund in the PPF?
No, our fund is still in the assessment phase to see that it qualifies ok to be admitted. ( ie: nothing done wrong previously!) This assessment may last for another 12 months until Mar 2012. However the current administrators of the fund must administer it according to the PPF rules, by law. ( Hence the recalculations of our pension payments.)
We can avoid the fund if we get cash which covers the VUK pension fund liabilities, which would return us to status quo.

What is the pension investment shortfall required to enable the pension to be kept out of the PPF?
A precise figure for this is unknown at this time but (very approximately) it is in excess of £150m. To get to full benefits coverage on a buy out basis, the deficit is in excess of £350m.

Can I make a contribution to the legal fund?
Yes go to the legal page and address is at bottom of page.
Do I need to complete the Union membership form?
Yes, you should complete the form asap answering all the questions factually. You may be asked by a further mail request to complete the form again, ( in Feb / Mar 11), even if you have already done so, please complete the form again and send it in. If you were  not a union member  please complete the form and send it, as a separate legal claim may be issued on your behalf which would mirror any legal claim issued by Unite of behalf of its members. Please advise us at VPAG that you have done so.
Where are Visteon Corporation currently?
Visteon Corp exited their bankruptcy Chapter 11 late 2010 with full agreement of the courts and creditors. Ford assisted significantly in getting them back on their feet. Their pensions were also rescued and are currently un harmed. At the moment the 3000 Visteon UK pensioners are the only pensioners to suffer worldwide.
The VUK Trustees and the UK Pensions Regulator jointly put a claim in place in 2010 in the US courts, but quickly pulled it due to the potentially high cost of pursuing and fighting the action in the States.