Aberdeen Reviews 

Actually getting them to do anything is like getting blood from a stone. My account transfer started in August 2022 and I'm trying to get them to do the final clearing up, which should have been done automatically. My advice on moving from this motley crew is never join them in the first place.

We have used Standard Life, latterly Abrdn for years as a firm of Financial Planners Their service over the last two years has been a steady decline into an abyss, which I fear they will not recover from. I find it hard to justify using Standard Life/ Abrdn any longer as our staff spend many hours hanging on the telephone to get basic information from them to be able to our job for our clients.

I requested pension drawdown on 2nd April. Received ack from Standard Life on 17 April. Process normally takes 7-10 days. Rang on 2 May, told advisor had only submitted request on 1 May which I don't believe. Then told it would take 16 working days to process (that's over 3 weeks) to do a simple cash transfer, Not good enough.

Financial advisor has cashed in bonds, but Standard Life seem incapable of uploading new bank details for a Trust bank account so the funds can be paid. Failed to respond to a complaint from the financial advisor, so I called as owner of the account and was totally misdirected. Still no sign of funds and an anticipated house move might have to be aborted, currently in the conveyancing process. Heartbreaking and unnecessary due to constant delays and incompetence.

Requested pension w/drawal 2 weeks ago from Wrap. IFA completed all relevant paperwork on time. Told 10 days, then 14 days now Abrdn won't commit to a timescale. All managed funds so automated process and saleable!

Shambles!!

A wrap has to provide a service. From my perspective they dont. 15 working days to process a change of agency authority. Now insisting on new Terms of Business for clients and ourselves with more delay. In the meantime point blank refusal to provide info on clients holdings and charges. "Its a different work flow". Total disregard for client and IFA service.

I HAVE A MAJOR OPERATION COMING UP AND IM APPALED AT THE SERVICE FROM ABERDEEN / STANDARD LIFE
20 PHONE CALLS AND NO ONE CAN CONFIRM OFFSHORE MONIES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.
IM AT THE END OF MY TETHER

It took 5 months to transfer my shares to another provider. I sent a letter of complaint over 12 weeks ago. I got a reply falsely claiming I had got the account numbers wrong. Letters go unanswered. About a month ago I received a case number from another company called ii - but of course no action or answers. They are a disgrace. No wonder their share price is in real terms about a third of what it was 10 years ago.

Lost over £20,000 with this company since they took over standard life, took nearly 4 months to get monies transfered to another account not with them. Still having issues getting part of our money back. Would not recommend this company.

Dinosaur system with poor customer service attitude.

What a JOKE!

I had a junior ISA transferred to ABRDN from Vitality and tried to transfer it out to another provider.

3 months later and I AM STILL WAITING!

When you speak to customer service, they cannot do anything, and just refer it to the back-office team (which I just found out isn't even part of ABRDN!)

I would HIGHLY ADVISE looking elsewhere for your financial management requirements!

Further to my post of 28.12.23

It would be difficult to add insult to injury but abrdn are quite adept at doing so.

My complaint remains unresolved after 9 weeks.

The direct line numbers given to discuss the complaint have never been answered - nor have the messages left.

I am sent letters to my late father's address despite my repeated letters and emails to abrdn advising that I do not live there.

The complaints team have again written to me at that address, with the letter beginning 'Dear Mr Edwards' - he is dead and every piece of information I have shared with them (including his death certificate) notes that he is dead.

Upset does not come close to the emotions I feel.

Had loads of problems trying to use the App. It only has a valuation of my fund, nothing else. I need tax information. Tried to logon to the website but kept hitting a wall. Any codes or messages going to the App were not possible to see.
Customer services then told me after a week that I should be using a computer to use the website.
They want me to phone them, no doubt to make money from you. There is no free phone number or webchat. Just emails which take about 2 days to get a response.
So fed with it all, I have closed my account. Lets see how long it takes to pay me and get the statements.

Those who are thinking about using their services shouldn't make this choice. To prevent possible financial losses, keep your distance. A few weeks ago, I came onto CALMO sh ub’ from an internet review, and ever since then, my experience has been nothing short of extraordinary.

After years of dealing with Standard Life (as a very happy customer) what has happened with abrdn call after call to them to resolve a small issue sometimes being put on hold by the advisor and clearly just left I suppose hoping I just go away I have to say the standard of customer service is non-existent I am no closer to getting answers after 5 calls totalling over 3 hours how is allowed to happen in todays world my advice is steer very clear of abrdn

Enough complaining here. Be good and take your problem to the company in my name and get a refund or you will wait for them forever.

Sold shares after they closed the plan in October 2023. It was for just under £4000. They still haven't sent me my money wanting certified documents after documents

Last correspondence on the 4th Dec to say give us 5 days to review, a week later nothing so I attempted to contact them. Everyone is dead. Customer service number no longer answers and emails bounce back. Noone replies on the phone. No one answers social media.

Financial ombudsman contacted. Also written to BBC Watchdog.

Abrdn you are an absolute disgrace taking people's money. From these reviews, I am not the only one.

Has anyone managed to get their money from Dec 8th? Please post how. Many thanks.

Update: Jan 13th 2024.
Having contacted The Financial Ombudsman to help me locate my money, and them still denying I ever existed or even held an account with them despite documents after documents, lo and behold today after back and forth with ABRDN, I woke up to a cheque for the monies owed.

If you have an account with them, I'd steer clear. Worst "investment" company. Ever. AVOID.

I have experienced lot of difficulties dealing with abrdn. I wanted to lodge power of attorney as per government guidelines which is paperless and via secure online. abrd refused to accept online checking via gov.uk
They wanted every page printed and certified . They wanted many other proof printed and certified. In total I estimated around 25 pages. This would have cost me lot if money so I decided to sell the investment. Then comes second hurdle which was to verify bank account. They could not even manage this electronicly, which is normal practice for instutions Again they wanted bank to certify account statements which some banks dont. They were willing to stamp the statement.
This was unacceptable to abrdn.
Please sort out your investment and don't leave it for your loved ones to manage. They will give up in frustration.

Can you leave no stars??? I filled in all the forms to cash in shares well ahead of ABRDN closing rhe fund. Was told that I needed to contact 'interactive investor' as ABRDN had no record of the account... II also said they had no record of the account despite me having correspondence relating to the sale of shares. So where is my money? I was promised a phone call back today by some minion to give me more information about where my funds are and when I would recieve them. Guess what - nothing. This is disgusting - I need that money before Christmas and they could not care less. Even worse, this looks like fraud. I will follow up with the FCA. It is coming up to the anniversary of my husbands death and the last thing I need is the stress of this. I want a reply and explanation from them - and I want my money.

After they decided to close various investment options, unless prepared to pay double fees by moving to IB, asked to redeem all investments now waiting 10 weeks endless phone calls and endless hold as others have said still no money and actual lies about contacting certifiers on documents appalling !! Wasn't so difficult to put money in ! Are they actually solvent? must be earming good interest on other peoples money which they will not pay back. The should be investigated by the FCA and Ombudsman and their complaint procedure is a joke.