retirement funds reduced to L500 each

man that's rough.

where are the torches and pitchforks?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/savings/7904457/Equitable-Life-compensation-much-less-than-hoped-for-as-Chadwick-report-unveiled.html

...

Equitable Life was brought to its knees in 2000 when it lost a legal battle in the House of Lords over the rights of policyholders, forcing it to close to new business. Investors lost up to half their savings when the company, the world’s oldest insurer, came close to collapse. Since then 30,000 of the original policyholders have died.
...