Friends Provident International Reviews 260

TrustScore 2 out of 5

1.9

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

DO NOT USE FRIENDS PROVIDENT INTERNATIONAL. I paid into a policy every month for 15 years, when I’ve tried to get my money released it has been almost impossible. I’m 2+ months in and still have not... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Hmmm. I'm a bit delayed writing this, as my experience was some years ago - but it still pains me occasionally and so I thought I'd at least write a review to encourage others not to invest wit... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

You should be able to apply Negative Stars. Simply a scam company that extracts RIDICULOUS FEES from their clients. In the old days you wore a mask and carried a gun, this company just s... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I am overall happy with FPI. Markets have been extremely volatile for the past few months but managed to make good returns. The credit also goes to the adviser as he manages it actively. I am also abl... See more

Company replied

Company details

  1. Insurance Agency

Written by the company

Friend Provident International has over 40 years of experience in the international life assurance market. We provide savings, investment and protection to customers in Asia and the UAE. Based in the Isle of Man we also have offices in Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore with staff worldwide, who are committed to helping our customers achieve their financial goals. Friends Provident International is part of IFGL. IFGL provides investment, savings and protection solutions to international investors around the world and the group comprises RL360, RL360 Services, Ardan International and Friends Provident International. The group employs over 700 staff and administers assets of £17 billion for over 230,000 customers. Our customers choose our financial solutions to give them the freedom to get the most from life, to protect the things they value most and save what is important to them.


Contact info

1.9

Poor

TrustScore 2 out of 5

260 reviews

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Worst company I've ever dealt with

I foolishly started a pension fund with this company in 1995 (in one of its many former guises). In 26 years my savings have barely grown. In addition they are awful to deal with - ignoring emails to their alleged "customer services" department. A few years ago I withdrew some funds - they made me send my sample signature several times - & didn't send the funds until threatened by my financial advisor. I'll be withdrawing all savings at the earliest opportunity.

September 3, 2021
Unprompted review
Rated 3 out of 5 stars

I had contacted in order to restart my…

I had contacted in order to restart my investments under a investment scheme started in 2008. Please would you guide me as to how to restart. My contact number is 0503876950

September 3, 2021
Unprompted review
Friends Provident International logo

Reply from Friends Provident International

Can you please email your concerns to our Customer Services CSC at customerservices@fpiom.com with your contact number? We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss this further with you.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Answers ready available when needed

They answered my queries promptly and provided all the clarifications requested, more than once, showing patience and understanding.

September 2, 2021
Unprompted review
Friends Provident International logo

Reply from Friends Provident International

Thanks Marcelo! Much appreciated :)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Overall satisfied

I have been saving with them since 2011. I was not happy that things were not properly explained at the start in terms of funds being locked in, and the huge loss should I terminate prematurely. I was however given a solution that works for me, and my advisor has been communicative whenever I reach out to him.

I would use them again, just a different type of plan.

September 1, 2021
Unprompted review
Friends Provident International logo

Reply from Friends Provident International

Thanks Dr. Stephen! Your feedback means a lot to us.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Extremely HIGH fees!!

Bad bad bad

Their charges and surprise fees are the most expensive in the market. It is simply a really bad product, that returns not much on a spam of 25 years. You will basically lend money to a bank for free, because the return is low and the charges are super high.
If you decide to take the money back, you will only get 20% of the initial units.

There are waaaay better plans in the market, just look for it.

August 31, 2021
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

High Fees and Huge Penalties for Early Redemption

There is not much I can say about FPI customer service per se. The few occasions I needed to contact them I usually had an appropriate reply. But then again I've never had any big issue regarding my policy.
The real big problem is FPI itself as an investment strategy. There are 2 things you have to bear in mind when investing with Friends Provident:
1. If you decide to withdraw the totality of your money before the maturation date, the redemption fee is huge. You will loose a lot of money.
2. The fee structure is never very clear but they are clearly very high. That will have a substantial negative impact on the performance of your investment in the long term.
If you have a moderate financial literacy it would be better to set up and manage your investments with some other institution.

August 28, 2021
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

No Trust in the Company

No Trust in the Company. Deposit has gone missing.
Poor customer service and always a different person replies. I have no trust in Friends Provident. Have been chasing up a deposit that has gone missing. Staff don't seem to care and no action taken. Every two days I am calling or emailing and getting nowhere.

Friends Provident....where is my money?

August 26, 2021
Unprompted review
Friends Provident International logo

Reply from Friends Provident International

I’m sorry to hear about your experience. We would like to learn more about your specific situation and make things right. Can you please email your concerns to our Customer Services team at customerservices@fpiom.com with name, policy number and your contact number? We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss this further with you.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Bad service in Dubai

1. No phone contact for Middle East area;
2. Update credit card is difficult and no confirmation message, no where to prove what has been updated etc; not professional;
3. NOBODY in your office for Dubai customers, no where to have support!

August 21, 2021
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Very poor service

Very poor service. I recently made a fund switching instruction which was pending for more than 3 weeks despite my repeated enquiry online and phone calls to its customer service team. There were actually other incidents where routine transactions were not executed timely with no proper feedback.

August 20, 2021
Unprompted review
Rated 3 out of 5 stars

After three days of going around in…

After three days of going around in circles with no joy and my numerous emails getting no response I finally got a response from Paul, and between him and Lynn things got sorted at lightening speed and with great efficiency ( the only reason I’ve given 3 stars). If only I could have contacted them from the start I’d of been a happy customer.

August 13, 2021
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Ten year relationship

I would be so pleased to write a positive review for Friends Provident the original name of the company I purchased a policy with in 2012. I taught at AIS international school in Egypt and my school and agent Mr. Sproul arranged the policy. Mr. Sproul left Egypt unannounced in 2013 but I stayed with the company. Dan Griffiths became my agent and helped me stay with the policy at a time when several other teachers terminated their policies unfortunately at a loss to them. Mr. Griffiths left the company and since that time my policy has only been available to me online. I invested $9k and my policy at this time is $9.9k. My policy states that 2015 is the maturation date but in 2015 the online date changed mysteriously to 2021. I have contacted customer service three times to request information on cashing in my policy to no response. The maturation date has changed once again to 2026. I need support to terminate my matured policy and have no way to contact the company. My positive review depends upon the return on my investment and communication with the company. A lawyer who reviewed the material explained that the policy was not a retirement plan but a life insurance policy. If I die I would like to know how will the company refund my heirs listed by name only on the policy. I am ever hopeful I have not been scammed.

August 7, 2021
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

No Growth

No feedback, no engagement!

I can retrieve less than what I have paid in 10 years ... no growth and it is shameful. A bed decision on my part.

August 7, 2021
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

A bad investment

I began a Premier Whole of life policy in 2009, investing US$500 per month over a projected term of 15 years. As time went by, it became increasingly apparent that the money was badly invested and that I would never be able to reap anything near the promised return. My advisers' reassurances that staying in the fund for the long haul would be the best option eventually strained credulity to breaking point. By 2018, I had invested $53,500, which had stagnated in value, and I decided to suspend and then liquidate the policy. I was able to recover a total of $51,172.

August 7, 2021
Unprompted review
Rated 3 out of 5 stars

My wife paid my insurance policy for me…

My wife paid my insurance policy for me after FPI mucked up the payment deduction from my credit card. Took 3 months to convince FPI the payment was genuine- not money laundering - They even threatened to cancel the policy because of late payment even though the payment was made on the due date!!!even though my wife is the beneficiary of the policy

August 6, 2021
Unprompted review

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