Scottish Widows Limited

Reference number: 181655

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Scammers have impersonated this firm. The FCA has published 1 warning naming the fake phone numbers, emails and websites they used. See the warnings →

Authorised by the FCA

This firm is on the FCA register and authorised to carry out regulated activities.

Website, phone number and address

Compare these against whatever you were given. Scammers clone real firm names and reference numbers but use their own phone number and website, so a detail that does not match the register is the clearest warning sign there is.

In the full report: 3 background checks

  • When scottishwidows.co.uk first appeared online, and whether it can receive email
  • What kind of line 0345 716 6777 is, and the 2 other firms that give it
  • Who else gives the postcode EH3 9BN
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Other names (7)

If you were contacted under any of these names, it is this firm.

  • Bank of Scotland Trading name
  • Clerical Medical Trading name
  • Halifax Trading name
  • Halifax Financial Services Trading name
  • Lloyds Trading name
  • Lloyds Bank Trading name
  • Clerical Medical Investment Group Limited Former name

Warning

Scammers have impersonated this firm

Fraudsters have used this firm's name or details with their own contact information to appear genuine. Check whatever you were given below, and against the firm's real details above.

Fake phone numbers (6)
  • 0131 507 0050
  • 0131 507 0090
  • 0131 507 0672
  • 0131 507 0701
  • 020 4577 2007
  • 020 8064 0442
Fake email addresses (11)
  • accounts@scottish-widows.net
  • clientenquiry@sw-privateservice.com
  • complaints@sw-private-client.com
  • complaints@swonboarding.com
  • enquiry@sw-private-client.com
  • enquiry@swapplication.co.uk
  • enquiry@swapplication.com
  • enquiry@swonboarding.com
  • info@scottishwidows-funds.com
  • legal@sw-legaldept.com
  • newenquiry@sw-application.com
The FCA warning these came from

Scammers change these details often. Always check the live FCA warning.

FCA permissions and consumer protection

  • Hold or safeguard your money FSCS may apply
    Eligible deposits are typically protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 per person, per banking group.
  • Give regulated advice FSCS may apply
    A claim for unsuitable advice is itself FSCS-protected, up to the limit that applies to the product you were advised on.
  • Manage or trade investments FSCS may apply
    Eligible investment and pension claims are typically FSCS-protected up to £85,000 per person, depending on the product and your circumstances.
  • Sell or arrange insurance FSCS may apply
    Eligible insurance claims may be FSCS-protected, often 90%, or 100% for compulsory or long-term cover.
  • Complaints Ombudsman, free
    You can refer a complaint about this firm to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free, whichever activity it relates to.
Show FCA detail (13 permissions)
  • Accepting Deposits
  • Advising on investments (except on Pension Transfers and Pension Opt Outs)
  • Arranging (bringing about) deals in investments
  • Arranging safeguarding and administration of assets
  • Carrying out contracts of insurance
  • Dealing in investments as agent
  • Dealing in investments as principal
  • Effecting contracts of insurance
  • Establishing, operating or winding up a stakeholder pension scheme
  • Establishing/operating/winding up a personal pension scheme
  • Making arrangements with a view to transactions in investments
  • Managing investments
  • Safeguarding and administration of assets (without arranging)

Limits on what they may do

  • Access to the electoral register
    The firm shall access the full electoral register, where this is the most cost-effective way of verifying identity for anti-money laundering purposes and will not prejudice the interests of the customer, in order to carry out the current customer review exercise.

Financial Ombudsman complaints

Ombudsman complaints

new complaints, January–June 2025
325
upheld, against a 31% median
42%
about pensions
237

A bigger firm gets more complaints simply because it has more customers.

Companies House record

The company behind the firm: its status, age, registered office and directors.

Company number
03196171
Company status
Active
Company type
Private limited company
Incorporated
2 May 1996 (30 years old)
Registered office
25 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7HN, United Kingdom
Nature of business
  • Life insurance (SIC 65110)

Directors and company secretaries

Name Role Born Appointed Other companies
Gayle Elaine Schumacher Director May 1959 24 Jul 2019 21 other companies
William Leon David Chalmers Director Jul 1968 9 Aug 2019 20 other companies
Chirantan Barua Director Nov 1973 31 May 2023 13 other companies
Matthew Hilmar Cuhls Director Aug 1974 1 Jan 2024 15 other companies
Shingirai Thaddeus Nyahasha Director Jan 1974 15 Jan 2024 15 other companies
Kirstine Ann Cooper Director Aug 1964 1 Mar 2024 18 other companies
Paul Gerard Mcnamara Director Sep 1966 2 Sep 2024 49 other companies
Mary Helen Trussell Director Jun 1963 7 Jul 2025 13 other companies
Dena Jane Brumpton Director Dec 1963 2 Feb 2026 17 other companies
Danuta Gray Director Nov 1958 1 Jul 2026 15 other companies
Krishna Venkata Raman Secretary Not published 1 Mar 2026 –

Other companies run by these 10 directors

A firm is run by people, and their other companies are their track record: what they built, what closed, and anything that failed. It is the check most people never think to make.

other companies
70
closed down
13
went insolvent
1

In the full report: all 70 companies, named

  • What each company does, and whether it is still trading
  • Which of these 10 directors sit on each board, and since when
  • The one that went into liquidation or administration
  • The 27 on the FCA register
  • The 21 companies these 10 directors run together
  • All 88 people who have ever been directors, with their dates
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Key dates in its history

Scottish Widows’s history from the FCA register and Companies House, newest first.

Key events (10) All events (191)

2020

22 October 2020

  • FCA warned the public about a scam impersonating this firm

FCA warning list

2016

6 April 2016

  • Scottish Widows Group Limited took control (75–100% of shares)

Companies House

5 January 2016

  • Changed its registered name from "Clerical Medical Investment Group Limited"

FCA register

2013

1 April 2013

  • Regulated by the FCA from this date
  • Regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority from this date

FCA register

2003

3 September 2003

  • FCA imposed a requirement (Access to the electoral register)

FCA register

2001

1 December 2001

  • Regulated by the Financial Services Authority from this date
  • Became authorised by the FCA

FCA register

1996

2 May 1996

  • Incorporated at Companies House

Companies House

1901

1 January 1901

  • Supervised by HM Treasury under the money laundering rules from this date

FCA register

In the full report: all 191 events

  • All 191 events in its history (10 shown here)
  • Every director appointment and resignation: 172
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Firms connected to Scottish Widows

Other FCA-listed firms that share a director, phone number or address with Scottish Widows. A link shows who the firm is tied to, not whether either can be trusted.

connected firms
12
share a director
12
share its phone number
2

In the full report: all 12 connected firms, named

  • How each is linked: shared directors (12), the same phone number (2), the same postcode (3)
  • Who links each one: the named directors, with dates
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Firms like Scottish Widows

Other firms of the same type (insurer), nearest first.

In Edinburgh

Scottish Equitable PLCEdinburghAuthorisedStandard Life Prt Solutions LimitedEdinburghAuthorised

In the Edinburgh (EH) postcode area

Scottish Electrical Contractors Insurance LimitedPenicuikAuthorised

Firms are listed by type and location, best known first. Being listed is not a recommendation: check any firm before you deal with it.

Get the full report on Scottish Widows

Everything on this page, plus everything locked above, in one dated PDF you can keep, file or send on.

  • 70 other companies its directors have run, named
  • 3 background checks on its contact details
  • All 191 events in its history
  • 12 connected firms, named, and who links them

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Frequently asked questions about this firm

Is Scottish Widows Limited FCA authorised?
Yes, Scottish Widows Limited (FRN 181655) is authorised by the FCA to carry out regulated activities. It has held its current authorisation since December 2001 and works as an insurer. The FCA has placed a limit on what it may do.
What is Scottish Widows’ phone number and website?
The FCA register lists the phone number 0345 716 6777 and the website scottishwidows.co.uk for Scottish Widows. If you were given different contact details, use these to check with the firm before going any further. The same number is also given by 2 other FCA firms.
Is Scottish Widows a scam or clone?
Scammers have impersonated Scottish Widows: the FCA has published a warning about fake versions of it, using contact details that are not the firm's. Only trust the details the FCA register gives for Scottish Widows, shown on this page.
Is my money safe with Scottish Widows?
It may control client money but not hold it. It depends on the product, but eligible claims may be protected by the FSCS. You can also refer complaints about Scottish Widows to the Financial Ombudsman Service, free of charge.
Who owns Scottish Widows?
Scottish Widows is owned by Scottish Widows Group Limited, which holds 75–100% of shares, 75–100% of votes and can appoint and remove the board, since 6 April 2016.
Who runs Scottish Widows?
Companies House lists 10 directors of Scottish Widows: Gayle Elaine Schumacher, William Leon David Chalmers, Chirantan Barua, Matthew Hilmar Cuhls, Shingirai Thaddeus Nyahasha, Kirstine Ann Cooper and 4 more.
How long has Scottish Widows been in business?
The company was formed on 2 May 1996, and has held its current FCA authorisation since December 2001.
How many complaints does Scottish Widows get?
In January–June 2025, the Financial Ombudsman Service received 325 new complaints about Scottish Widows, and upheld 42% of those it decided.
Does Scottish Widows use any other names?
It trades as Bank of Scotland, Clerical Medical, Halifax, Halifax Financial Services and Lloyds, and 1 more names. It has previously used the name Clerical Medical Investment Group Limited.

Sources and links

The full report on Scottish Widows Limited

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