MiccoSydney, NSW
- 3 reviews
Happy customer
I've been with Unisuper for over 10 years in their High Growth, Sustainable High Growth, Global Companies in Asia and Global Environmental Opportunities options. Easy to use, easy to contact. The returns have been very good for example $10,000 in 2012 (start) would be $27,240 on 21/4/2020 (mid coronavirus) for their Global companies in Asia option.
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Gary W.South East Queensland, QLD
- 2 reviews
Choose a better Super Fund!
Would I recommend UniSuper to family or friends? Definitely not! My satisfaction on a scale of 1 to 10? - Can I select minus 1? I see a lot of similar concerns on this site. Transparency is a huge issue, especially when it is in an unstable market. Investment balances on your online account are several days old useless in a changing market and in terms of trying to make a decision to transfer to a different investment option. Investment lists on your account are about a month old and only show part of your investment the greater part of...Read more
your investment is grouped into an ‘other’ category so you have no idea where or who you money in invested with. Investment changeovers take 48 hours to process and in my experience what balance is transferred and when it is effective from is not clear and good luck in finding out what the transferred balance is because that is not immediate either. I’ve lost approximately 23K to date from a balance only a little over 100K . My request for an escalation to a supervisor to contact me regarding conflicting advice was not followed up. A week later I still had no contact and each day my super fund was losing more and more money. I requested this follow up a second time and was told by the escalation person I would receive a call within a three hour window No call was received that day! A request for them to investigate a recorded phone conversation to prove their staff gave me specific information was met with an explanation they could find no evidence of it Do I trust Unisuper after this experience? Definitely not!!! I have received better service returning a t shirt than I have with a company that has my future retirement savings!! It is woeful.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Certified con artists. Stay away
Even a dog gets it right in a bull market. They will stop answering your calls or returning emails when you call to switch your super. Universities need to be investigated on forcing their staff to use this good-for-nothing fund. Nothing that they will do despite the rut the market is going through. Not sure if they have interns as their so called fund managers.
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concerned memberTasmania
Huge downfall
I have just retired with a small super balance of 110,000. I was shocked to see today that this has dropped virtually overnight to $96,000. This had been slowly building over many years. This is a huge amount to drop on such a small account. I am not a savvy investor but how do I know if this is genuinely due to COVID19 influences or not? Can I trust UniSuper not to use client money to keep themselves afloat ?
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JockoSouth East Queensland, QLD
- 2 reviews
Can't understand all the negative reviews
Been with them 30 years and they have low fees and consistently return better than average returns. My retirement will be much more comfortable thanks largely to Unisuper. Can't say I've had much contact with their staff though.
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Troy TempestSydney, NSW
Hard to disagree with most of the negative posts on this site...
I’ve been with them for 24 years on their Accumulation 2 scheme. I can only say I’ve always been met with courtesy and helpfulness whenever I’ve spoken to any of their staff and their seminars are good. However, that glossy, smiling interface hides a moderately performing fund that offers limited transparency.
Since 2012, my account has returned maybe 5%ish on average. Last year 3.1% and I was $30K down at one point. This year it performed well in bonds and listed property for two months but now it’s rapidly heading back to zero return and ma...Read more
ybe worse. That’s scary as you near retirement. They have many investment choices. Basically the higher returns are attractive but risky and its far too easy to lose very large amounts of money very quickly. They tell you, you have to ride the markets and be in it for the long term and flash up graphs that show fantastic returns in some investment choices. It’s easy to do that with hindsight of course and they make it very clear that previous performance is no guarantee of future returns. I can vouch for that! Even in the so-called ‘defensive assets,’ like Australian government bonds, you can lose massive amounts. As you near retirement, you need a little more certainty. Last time I spoke to them, they said I should consider putting it all in cash. Their cash returns are woeful, worse than some banks are offering in savings accounts and term deposits, even after superannuation tax savings, but I guess the point is at least Unisuper can’t lose any more for me!Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
WayneGreater Melbourne (Outer), VIC
- 3 reviews
Pathetic Company
I had two meetings with one of their Consultants, he provided me incorrect information which caused me to have an excess tax bill of $4000. I complained to Unisuper and they offered me $79.00 as compensation when I was out of pocket $4000. The consultant actually lied when he made notes on 'his file' and advised he didn't provide me with incorrect information however, I made decisions based on this information that caused additional charges being imposed by the ATO. There customer service is pathetic and in the review they based the whole d...Read more
ecision on the notes that the Consultant had entered into his Calendar or UniSuper system. If you are going to use this company, be warned their Superannuation consultants are under trained and provide incorrect information, so I would ensure that you seek more expert advice and don't follow what the UniSuper consultant says. Stay away from their general advice as it is wrong and could cause you some additional charges if you do what they say. You have been warned..Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
BrettSydney, NSW
Incompetent, liars and thieves
UniSuper, incompetent, liars and thieves. Since university employees to do not have a choice of superannuation funds (forced into UniSuper), I have been with UniSuper for approx. 12 years. I received a letter from them stating approx. 11 years ago they made a mistake (administrative oversight) with my fund and will now charge me approx. $2,000 for their error. I called to ask them to explain the error and they refused. I looked up my rights and under the Limitations of Actions Act 1958 (Vic), there is a maximum of 6 years a creditor can pursue ...Read more
a debt (if it was a debt as UniSuper refuses to provide any information about their administrative oversight). I wrote letters and telephoned UniSuper highlighting this ‘act’, but they refused to respond or return my calls (even the Manager Member Care). I then lodged a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority and within 90 days they responded. They informed me they made yet another error (yes can you believe it). The original administrative oversight error was wrong, and instead of charging me approx. $2,000, they should have charged me approx. $500. Of course I refused to pay or accept, and they returned all money deducted from this so called series of administrative oversights. From my experience, I would not believe a word they say. If you have a complaint, write a letter highlighting your complaint, give them a few weeks, and then move directly on to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Unisuper share my personal information with their other customers without my permission
I have never been to VIC and Melbourne University. Because I am an employee of a university in Sydney. However, I received a letter from Unisuper on 19 March 2022 saying that Melbourne University requested my TFN which was not matched with their record. That is wired to me because I have never been employed by Melbourne University. But I treated this as a mistake. The question is how Melbourne University has my personal information.
So, I called their customer services line and the staff told me that she would remove me from Melbourne universit...Read more
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LuluCentral Highlands and Goldfields, VIC
- 4 reviews
- Verified customer
Worst Super Fund - No Member Care
I opened a case against UniSuper with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority in 2022 for their dishonest business practice. AFCA found in my favor 8 months later but UniSuper chose to PAYG tax the Omdudsman awarded payment 6 years after it was claimed for. I am now an aged pensioner and I will have to pay the income tax and my pension will be reduced for the next 12 months. Unethical and morally wrong!!
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JohnCMBrisbane
- 2 reviews
- Verified customer
Disappointing
I joined UniSuper 18 months ago thinking the were the best Super fund. I'm very disappointed. Their accounting systems, transparency and performance reporting are all pathetic. Their website suggested to me that they had good computer systems. However, from a member's point of view, their computer systems are pathetic.
They hide behind their 'crediting rate' methodology (instead of unit rates) and don't provide history so it has been impossible, at least for me, to determine why my balances don't match the reported performance. Sometim...Read more
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BOB B.South Brisbane
Poor accounting practices, no transparency, generally a bad Super fund
I have been with UniSuper for about 15 years but I have gradually become frustrated with their inconsistent and non-transparent accounting practices. I am transferring everything out of Unisuper and into HostPlus, which offers much more transparency and flexibility, as well as better investment performance over the past 10 years (I have been trying them out for 2 years).
Some of my problems with Unisuper: when I rollover money out of Unisuper, they are not consistent in how long they take to action the requested transfer; it can take anyw...Read more
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Lied to me over the phone
I called UniSuper to ask if I could change from them to my super account I'd been with for the last ten years and was told I couldn't. The man I spoke to said that it was compulsory for my super to go into this account and that was the case with all uni staff. He said the uni was under no obligation to send my super elsewhere. According to him they didn't need to offer that option.
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GregSouth Australia
- 3 reviews
Nothing to complain about, fees seem reasonable and I'm happy with my current balance.
Been with UniSuper for close to 20 years on defined benefit and balance is just over $300k, never added any additional contributions. Was on the Balanced plan until about 4 years ago when went to a high-risk plan, then last year I paid them about $600 to do a thorough review of my investment strategy and suggest a custom plan which is now in place, it has similar returns but lower risk as my own attempts ended up over-exposing me to higher levels of risk for no extra return. They also reviewed insurance and made some recommendations but I didn't implement those. Nothing to complain about, fees seem reasonable and I'm happy with my current balance.
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Be careful of their insurance premiums!!
Unisuper for charged me Insurance Premiums for the last 6 months without my authorisation. The form to transfer from Defined Benefits to Accum 2 was so full of jargons, with a hidden message that says you will automatically pay for insurance premiums if you make this move. The process to opt out of insurance was made difficult by not allowing me to cancel over the phone. Instead I had to log into my account, but remember you can't just click 'cancel', you have to go through all the categories and tick the smallest of tick boxes. It was so simple for them to charge me insurance I didn't need but so hard to cancel something I never wanted.
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Wasting Money Sending Personal Contribution Letters EVERY TIME
After a longwinded attempt to determine WHY UniSuper insists on sending me a letter every fortnight when I make a personal contribution to my Super fund, and after my repeatedly asking them not to, or to give me the option to receive this electronically, I am told that it is something they have zero control over because of the computer system or software (or some lame nonsense) that has this automated snail mail generator in place. I have saved these letters and sent a complaint right to the top of the food chain and been told that this is part...Read more
of their administrative process, and been told by others that they can't change anything until the system is overhauled. I've been getting the same story now for two years and nothing has changed. In fact, I stopped making contributions as I was sick of receiving the letters. This seems absolutely ludicrous. What else do UniSuper figure they have no control over?! And since it is the responsibility of my super fund to save me money AND make my money grow, I cannot begin to imagine how much it costs them to send each and every member a letter when they pay money into their super. When I mentioned this to one of the staff, they replied that it doesn't really cost that much. OMG. Are they serious? I have also had some strange experiences and been given inconsistent information when calling the customer service line, so I have little trust in this fund and will be considering moving to another fund as soon as I can.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
sjames
- 2 reviews
Mixed feelings
I'm getting ready to move to a Personal/Pension retirement account, but based on UniSuper's fee table for High Growth, and my current balance, the thought of more than $5000 per annum in fees is alarming. I'm having to consider options other than UniSuper. The returns from High Growth have been reasonable; the sting is in the outrageously scaled up management fees when you move from Accumulation to Personal/Pension. Not sure if the Banking RC is going to look at this - hope they do.
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Richard.OPerth
- 7 reviews
Super Loss not UniSuper
I,m with them for 15 years, and over all those years returns were very small !! . As I, 64 so its a bit late to change my Super so i decided to keep it in ;cash 100%. Minute returns, but no more shrinking "feeling " .Not recommended to anybody.
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Gary1414Illawarra, NSW
- 17 reviews
Inefficent administration
Totally useless and inefficent administration, each time you ring you will get a different story.
Tried to withdraw funds being over 65, wow the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.
Five phone calls to just get processed, each call they tell a different payment date, then blame bank, only to find still not processed in own office.
If you have a choice stay away from this fund
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WillQLD, 4066
- 6 reviews
- Verified customer
Excellent Superannuation Fund
I was fortunate to work a casual job tutoring for my university, which enabled me to open a UniSuper account. The fund has low fees, great returns and an amazing website (just missing an iOS / Android app in my opinion). My rare phone dealings have always been polite and efficient.
I Definitely recommend UniSuper.
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Questions & Answers
PRebasked
I am a 65 year's old and in a normal growth account. If I move to Pension fund I gather I must accept a minimum of 5%. What is the last 5 to 10 years growth for my balance in a default fund.>
No answers
midlifetravellerasked
I am somewhat surprise to see quite a few negative comments about Unisuper. Although I also had a few bad experiences with particular call centre staff over the last 2-3 years my overall impression is that Unisuper is relatively and comparatively quite acceptable. Does anyone have a general view or opinion here on Unisuper?
2 answers
How good (or bad) a super fund is for you will depend on what you are after. Some people may want updates every month, some are happy with a statement once a year. The more updates, the higher the expenses because you want more from the fund. You might be happy with the default investment option. Generally this is fairly aggressive with investments in shares, private (smaller) companies, hedge funds and other alternative investments. This is great if you want growth and you are happy to ride out the next market dip, but may not be great if you are a conservative investor. A super fund is an investment vehicle, it is where you want to take the vehicle that is important. like every car, it is the hidden stuff under the bonnet that determines how well the fund performs, and that is the stuff you need to look into. Kenmore Financial are professional financial advisers if you need further advice.
UniSuper are the worst fund for member care. Read all the other poor reviews. I have opened a case against them with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority.
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