IFA company stopped from 'impersonating' TPAS

The company, formerly known as the Pensions Advice Service, had been cold-calling members of the public who, in some cases, believed they were being contacted by TPAS, the free government-run service.

TPAS has been receiving phone calls and emails from a stream of worried customers since 2010, complaining they had been contacted by salesmen from companies trading under similar-sounding names, trying to obtain personal details and asking them to pay for pensions advice and IFA contacts.

TPAS became even more suspicious when they heard the phone calls had been made in the evening – outside of office hours – and took steps to track down the company.

It then sought legal advice and sent three letters to the Pensions Advice Service before the issue was finally resolved.

Marta Phillips, chief executive of TPAS, told PW that, where reasonable, she would take “robust action” to defend TPAS from attempts by other companies to trade off its name and good will.

She added: “We are now satisfied with this position, but will continue to be vigilant and take appropriate action to protect TPAS’s reputation and good name, and to take reasonable steps to prevent members of the public dealing with other organisations, thinking they are dealing with TPAS.”

And Danielle Amor, associate at Hogan Lovells and legal adviser to TPAS, said the extent of the problem is difficult to gauge, as most of the cold-calling incidents were probably never reported.

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