SOTC — Complaint of withholding of Pension Funds by Ex-Employer

Address:

SOTC Travel Limited, Urmi Estate, A wing, Ganapatrao Kadam Marg, Lower Parel West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013

24th January 2022
To
Employees Provident Fund Organization Office Pension Office
Bhavishya Nidhi Bhavan, 341, Service Rd,
Bandra East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400051

Complaint of withholding of Pension Funds by Ex-Employer

Dear Sirs,

I would like to complain about SOTC Travel Limited (the “Company”). I am an ex-employee of the Company and have left employment on 05th May 2019. My Pension scheme with the Company which I did make the contribution.

After my leaving employment, the Company has only paid me my leaving entitlements. However, as at to date, the Company has not yet transferred the remaining to my existing pension trustee. I have sent several reminders by way of emails and calling but have not received any satisfactory reply with which my monthly pension would have started in past 32 months (2 years and 8 months).
The last reply I got from the company dated 20th January 2022 stating that “While the Pension is applied the service from 01-JAN-2015 to 31-MAY-2017 is not reflecting in the PF system, due to which the ECR rectification is to be done. The ECR / Accounts rectification takes time as the system needs to be corrected. Currently due to increasing the Covid cases the PF office is working on the 50 % strength and only clearing the claims. Also PF office has restricted the entry to the PF office. Sir the process will take time. We sincerely regret the delay but the fault is not at our end.”
In all chasers and follow up for past 3 years with the Company, I am feeling helpless now and feels that Company is not bothering about my problems and not even considering my 35 years of service given with loyalty and hard work to the Company.
I have checked online claims through EPFO website for Monthly Pension claim as per below given details.

1. 1st Claim receipt date is 10th June 2019 vide CLAIM ID #MHBAN[protected] Status Rejected due to Remarks as “Your Claim has been rejected due to: 1) CLAIM CANNOT BE PROCESSED AS DATE OF SUPERANNUATION IS LESS THAN DATE OF JOINING TO THE PRESENT ESTT 2) CERTIFICATE ENCLOSED IS IMPROPER”
2. 2nd Claim receipt date is 7th Feb 2020 vide Claim ID #MHBAN[protected] Status Rejected due to Remarks as “Your Claim has been rejected due to: 1) PLEASE UPDATE MISSING DETAILS THROUGH EMPLOYER. CANCEL CHEQUE NOT ATTACHED. 2) 3 PASS PORT SIZE PHOTOS NOT ENCLOSED
3. 3rd Claim receipt date is 15th Feb 2021 vide Claim ID #MHBAN[protected] Status Rejected due to Remarks as “Your Claim has been rejected due to: 1) EPS CONTRIBUTION WRONGLY SHOWN 7/2019 INSTEAD OF 6/2019 ALSO BANK DETAILS ARE NOT VISIBLE AS PER CH 2) MEMBER NAME NOT PRINTED ON CANCELLED CHEQUE

As I understand, this process has taken exceptionally long for the Company to process the transfer. Since I have not received any satisfactory reply from the Company despite repeated chasers. However, this is the only financial support to live my life hence, I would appreciate if you can look into the matter and follow up for me. The following are my contact details:

Address: Utpal Sil, 117-D, Near Chhota Gole Chakkar, Kamla Nagar, Malka Ganj, North Delhi, Delhi, Pin-110007
Phone – [protected]
Email – [protected]@yahoo.in
Aadhaar Number –[protected]
PAN Number – BFNPS3531K
UAN –[protected]

I hereby confirm that I consent to the authority using my personal information in relation to and to the extent relevant to your investigation into the matter. I also consent to the disclosure of my name to the Company in relation to your investigation.

Please help me in this matter on priority basis so that my monthly pension would be started as soon as possible and also help me to release the previous holding pension funds which are due since May 2019.

Thanks

Yours faithfully,

Utpal Sil