Hope this posts Ok as last post jumped and wouldn't let me finish. It gone to the great post land in the sky...lol I am getting a little crazy. I am back to getting all sorts of information.... different every time.
I had requested to offset what is owed to me now by the pension service against what I owe for contributions. Almost sorry I asked. One woman told me they will work off the amount I am getting now. I don't think that is right as now my US information will be scrapped so to speak and my VC will come into play. If I could just get the numbers I could make decisions. I am more interested in raising pension than large lump sums but it is quite a bit of money and I only have a short time to pay. Does anyone know anything about this? I have been assured that I will not lose out on the years I did not collect but now it may not be so..I think the postal strike will be the hold back so I am trying to get this verbally. It Don't know why they can't email.
Also my documents have not arrived but the letters from the department have and they were mailed later.

Even if they won't send you emails, do you have an email address for them? If so, I recommend you a) get the name of whichever person you speak to (not just first name - there are stacks of Adams and Susans, and the conversation won't be as traceable without full details), and b) after the conversation, write down every important detail of what was said, and finish with "My understanding from our conversation, therefore, is that X, Y, and Z"

That way you won't be stuck in a "he said/she said" argument sometime in the future where the arbitrator says it's your word against theirs. With a typed record that gives them the opportunity to correct any misunderstandings, you would be in a stronger position to appeal if you have written evidence,

that's a great idea. Don't know why it didn't occur to me as I do that for many different situations. that's why this board is so great, it jogs your memory and gives great advice. thank you. I don't have an exact email address for them but I will get it at next contact.

finally got documents back. mailed on 7th(on voicemail) letter marked 10th
included, postmarked 14th received today 24th.....duh?

OK finally got some verbal figures. They informed me I cannot offset anything. I have to pay first even though amount owed is more than amount due. also they say i will only receive deferred amount on some of the years
even though I would have paid this 4 years ago if I had been informed then.
I don't understand their reasoning and am not sure they are correct. very confusing.

some of you who posted here talked about paying voluntary contributions and/or
nat. ins. contributions....any advice on the mechanics of actually doing this.
My bank has informed me they don't do international wires etc.(they're happy to receive them.) checked with western union...costs through the roof.
Meantime, still waiting for letter from pension department.

I am about to do the same thing, pay in 7 years of NI contributions. A friend of mine who is an expat and now lives in Oregon did this a few years back. He had his sister do it for him. She sent a cheque to the NI people, apparently they don't care whose name is on the cheque as long as they get the money. She lives in England so it was easy. Then he sent her the money back in US dollars (an equivalent amount) and she exchanged it into pounds at her bank. That's my plan too.

unfortunately it is not an option for me. I need to find a way.

Alba, can you not send an international money order in GBPs? made payable to the appropriate government department. If they will only accept one from a bank that has branches in the UK, check your area for HSBC. Did you get any advice on how to send in back payments when you spoke to the people over there?

Alba, on my letter it gives the following options for payment:
1) cheque in sterling
2) foreign currency cheque - "will need to be converted into sterling before it can be paid to us. This will incur bank charges of £10.50 from the Royal Bank of Scotland. There will also be charges levied by the foreign bank."
3) sterling draft - you can purchase this from a bank abroad drawn in sterling with a UK clearing bank. Any charges are payable at time of purchase.
4) Direct debit

We use xe.com (there are others) to move funds between our US and UK bank accounts - would something like that be an option?

http://www.xe.com/fx/how.php

Just go to your US bank and get a "foreign bank draft" for the amount you need in GBP. The charge is generally $10 or $20. Then post it with your payment slip.

Yes, I will check into this a little more when letter comes. Thank you for info. Actually spoke to them and their rates were not bad. I am a little nervous in using them as I am not familiar with them but am checking them out

You're welcome

Do a bit of searching around and you'll see that lots of people on here have used them.

In fact, someone else just suggested the same in another thread here in the MBTTUK just a few minutes ago...

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...47&postcount=4

thanks again. I think I will use them if possible. spoke with them but they use post with only other option direct deposit so during this strike will have to see.