Insurance- old term life policy

[jeff m]

I have just received a letter from a UK gov dept that appears to track people on behalf of insurance companies.
Attatched part of the letter says "It is really important we contact you"
I had two Joint term life policies both well beyond their term.
I paid them annually from a C.I.account, since closed, and have moved countries.
I have come to the conclusion the only way to find me was through my passport renewal as I am still a UK citizen.
The original insurance company was sold or taken over twice.

Is this normal?
Do they really go to this much trouble?

I expect they owe me 20p or something similar, but they are asking a lot of personal info "just to check I am the correct jeff m"

My curiosity level is high
I assume a straight term life has no end pay out, I wasn't expecting any, unless I am typing posthumesly of course.
So the upside is I get 20p
What's the downside?

[rfisher]

Presumably they can provide dates, policy numbers and company name?

If not it's unlikely to be genuine.

May be a scam to try to steal your ID for fake UK passport or bank accounts.

I'm happy to check out the UK side of things if you want.

PM me.

[jeff m]

Hi Richard,
Hows it going?
I've done a bit more "looking".
I am now sure it is from a genuine Gov dept.
Dept for Work and Pensions,(compensation recovery unit) the bulk letter forewarding service. I'd never heard of them.
Reminds me of those tricks the US uses to catch felons, you have won the lottery meet us at Dunkin Donuts. (and they do)

Their object in life appears to be;
[i]DWP provides a letter forwarding service for pension and insurance companies wanting to forward beneficial information to customers, usually about pensions or insurance policies.

Every effort must have been made to trace the person concerned before asking us to forward any letters.[/i]

It contains the word "beneficial"

They did not include any of the info in your post, that is basically what they are asking me!
I now have a telephone number that I'll call before I stick my life details in an envelope.

$50 says I'm going to get some old UK parking tickets
Thanks for the offer, shall move f'wd with caution

[rfisher]

Hi Jeff.

Take a look at their website;

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/other-specialists/compensati...

Looks more like they're in the business of taking money of people rather than giving it to them.

May be worth emailing them to check exactly what they're after before confirming your details.

Take care.

Richard.

[jeff m]

Holy crap, thanks for that link. I didn't use the Comp recovery bit in my searching as that was on the back of the envelope not in the letter.

I've never received any of those type of payments or used the NHS since leaving UK.
Caution now raised to red
Thanks