This is a rant. It is personal.
I am a retiree from IBM Canada Limited. I was offered a package when the company wanted to downsize; it was attractive, and I accepted it. (In fact, anyone who could replace their job was financially incented to do so, and take the bribe/gift to leave what was once a great company to work for.)
That was awhile ago. Recently I received a letter from a company, not IBM, requesting proof of birth for their records as a beneficiary of an IBM pension.
Apparently IBM has outsourced managing its pension. Interesting, since defined benefit plans are always the responsiblity of the original company and its management. Is IBM now starting an end-run around this legal obligation?
In the letter I am asked to confirm a lot of information, and to include a birth certificate or a passport (copy). The passport must be current.
I note that federally issued documents are valid identification even if they are expired. Why must the passport be current? My birth certificate is older, eh?
When I called the ‘if you have any questions’ number, I was asked for every single piece of information ever used to confirm identity. (I have dealt with CRA and banks over the phone; trust me, I know what the list of questions is.)
Add to this a birth certificate or current passport copy, and you have all you need for identity theft.
When I made the comment that IBM never spends money on pensions or pensioners unless they are trying to find some way to trim their benefits, the person at Morneau Shepell got somewhat conciliatory. ‘Don’t have to send this stuff in,’ he said. This when I questioned why, with all the confirmation, there was doubt that I was alive and had worked for IBM who knew my birthdate all that time, and kept track.
Does anybody out there understand why this information is being asked for? Is it simply a bureaucracy taking over a set of files creating an additional initial setup cost? By asking for confirmation? Is it for every IBM Canada pensioner?
If you understand this, or have interesting insights, please post a reply here.
Do include a real eMail when responding to this website; you will be kept anonymous. (But I do test the eMail. If you want your thoughts here, you have to trust me on this one thing.)