1,518 reviews
Reviews with attachments
Great relationship – Been with Hesta for many years and have always felt valued and supported. Communication is second to none and I’ve been very proud to be with Hesta, I can definitely recommend them.
Needing to withdraw some funds – Very informative and helpful whenever I have had to withdraw any funds
Hesta good super fund – I recently withdrew a lump sum from my Hesta Superfund. It was very easy and they kept me informed each step of the way. The money was transferred into my account in three working days. Very happy with their service.
Processing experience for Compassionate Grounds Request – I would like to give an update on my progress with the compassionate grounds release of funds and I am letting everyone know that Joanna, finance trustee of Hesta was able to process my application. My advice to others who have applied for compassionate grounds release of their super, please don’t give up!!! Had I not come on here to write a… Read more
review about the process and reading the other reviews about what other people have had to endure as well I would still be waiting for my application to be processed. Joanna, has been fantastic and kept me updated on how things were going and got the application processed faster.
Friendly service – Excellent friendly service, the agent helped me figure out what I needed to do, perfect cheers.
I joined HESTA a bit over a year ago enticed by its motto of “Super With Impact” which is marketed as taking an ethical investing approach to all its products and customers: “At HESTA, we invest in and for people who make our world better.” HESTA spruiks this on its website with images of members (likely actors) who want a superannuation fund… Read more
that thinks about “my future world” and HESTA takes pains to point out in the responsible investing portion of its website that they “believe that members' best financial interests are served by having a deep commitment to responsible investing.” In Section 2.1 of its responsible investing guide it commits to human rights being a core part of its investment decision making policy.
So this turns out to be just 100% marketing, a lesson I learned when I emailed the fund months ago asking about their approach to the Gaza conflict. I attached two offical UN reports about the conflict, one that determined that a genocide was being committed and one that named companies profiting off that genocide, and asked HESTA if they were aware of the reports and how those reports affected their investment decision making. I asked for specific information referencing their responsible investment policy.
I was ignored, and after weeks of no response, despite a follow up email and a formal complaint made by me over the phone, and weeks spent more waiting for a response for that, I finally got a first and “final” decision by HESTA which was just a generic email about where to find their policies and a hand wave about their fiduciary duty to members (apparently they don’t have a duty to advertise truthfully to members).
Don’t go with this fund if you have any ethical investment concerns, it’s empty marketing, with the exception that they will use your money to vote women into higher paying roles, merited or not, at companies they have a shareholder votes in. That’s what they mean by “super with impact”. And the customer service is awful. Keep in mind my generic “final” response came after being shut out of the online member portal for seven weeks after they decided to do an upgrade which was barely announced, and then another two months of being shut out as the upgrade didn’t work for everyone and there were IT issues that had to be resolved (with no communication or apology from HESTA at all).
I had problems logging in so I called Hesta. Over 2hrs on hold and I finally get someone on the line. But apparently they cannot hear me and hang up. 2 days trying and I get the same problem. I will just take mu supa elsewhere.
Hi Sinai We believe our team has since been in… Read more
Title: Absolutely Disgraceful Service – HESTA Should Be Ashamed I’ve been trying to get a simple super transaction statement for employer contributions (2025) from HESTA for over two months now something I need for my citizenship application. Instead of helping, they’ve wasted my time with call waits of over 2 HOURS (see attached screenshot yes,… Read more
2 hrs 41 mins on one call).
Every time I call, I’m either left on hold forever or the call drops. No call back, no email, nothing. It's like they want you to give up. This isn’t just bad service it’s pathetic and disrespectful.
I’ve never experienced such a useless and unresponsive super fund in my life. For an industry handling people’s retirement money, this kind of treatment is absolutely disgusting.
I hope the government audits this fund thoroughly. I’ll be switching to another provider immediately and I suggest everyone else do the same if you care about your time and sanity.
Avoid HESTA like the plague.
Hi there We are sorry to hear about your… Read more
Emails ignored. Deposits can’t be found. When they say will phone you back they don’t. 8 emails to them and no action. Very upset. They are no help. Just keep saying “ Hi Gillian Thank you for your email. Due to the number of requests submitted during the limited services period, processing times may be delayed. Please rest assured we’re doing… Read more
our best to assist every member as quickly as possible.
And nothing gets done. There is a wait time of 90 mins. Then cut off. And no way of contacting them on weekends. With issues they are having you would have tho I it’s 24 hr emergency work around the clock. When couldn’t access account for 2 months I deposited money to account details have always used for them. And they say haven’t received ? But won’t help. Have they changed details ? Where is the money. So upset.
Update Have been trying since May to get answers. No answers given. Wanted to mediate before uploading review. But sadly no response. Have reported to AFCA. Had cost me $20 to track funds with amp. They say money deposited hesta can’t confirm.
Hi Smith We’re very sorry to hear this. Please… Read more (+1 reply)
After over 90mins of holding time over the phone , hesta decided to hang up on me. It is impossible to talk to anyone, better move your money else where.
Hi Simson Thank you for taking the time to… Read more
Latest follow-ups
A Word of warning if you need to access TPD or income protection then they are a nightmare to deal with, unfortunalty my case looks like it is heading towqards the insurance ombudsman
Follow-up · Still waiting for the claim to be settled. One road block after another
Hi Angelo We appreciate you taking the time to… Read more (+3 replies)
I completed my tax return today and found that Hesta has not reported all my additional contributions despite issuing notice of intent. I am left with an additional tax bill penalties and a late tax return. I made a formal complaint to Hesta and the… Read more
AFCA. HESTA has not apologised for the huge error or promised to amend it and have just said they will respond in 45 days. Don't deal with these cowboys. They charge a 1% management fee which is outrageous for the worst possible service.
Follow-up · I had some follow up questions asked by readers. I "chose" Hesta like many people as it was my default employers fund. I originally just left in the balanced fund. When I came to look at my annual statements I wondered why I was making very little returns even though the stock market was doing well. I found out the poor performance is that… Read more
after three days of getting messages saying that they will escalate to a senior member of staff no… Read more (+7 replies)
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I consolidated my super to Hesta in 2022 since then my returns has been skyrocketing:) then recently I put a request to transfer some of my funds into my SMSF and the transfer was done within 4 days literally. So happy with Hesta :))
Follow-up · Online tools is very easy for a brief overview using phone app, for more detailed penetration into your performance use actual login. My default balanced growth investment option gives a healthy returns. Consolidating: My recent partial super transfer to my SMSF was 3-4 day super easy process.
Positive reviews
I have joined Hesta many years ago and they have delivered excellent results with great returns. It is so easy to withdraw for living expenses and for the upkeep of my porperty. They have always being very helpful on the phone when I needed questions answered.
We have been with HESTA for a number of years, easy to contact for questions regarding your super and reasonably easy to make withdrawals electronically. It’s always less than 5 business days to get your money
Noted a previous post that stated they received a withdrawal within 24 hrs. This is not the case. Payments might be made in up to 5 working days if the paper work is correct according to the representative I have just spoken to. No emails are sent by them to acknowledge your request or to inform you on any progress. After talking to the mediation team. The payment was processed quickly with no problems. Show details · 1
Negative reviews
Their system continues to have major problems. I just got an email asking me to respond to them by email at an email address that does not exist...hesta@hesta.com.au ...this had been a monitored email, which I have used before, even though it was hard to find it,,,but has been the only way to contact them properly in writing by email which is… Read more
very important. I replied as they asked, and got an immediate reply saying that email address is not monitored... For years their IT changes have been very problematic, I guess that is where they spend all the fees they collect, just doing IT changes that dont work and repeating that. Are they forcing us again to use the AI contact me options. We have the right to email contact and they are denying this to us..
Hi Kate We're very sorry to hear that you've… Read more
Hesta has an adequate investment strategy compared to the competition. However, you will be totally exposed in a crash. Hesta is slow to respond to anything that happens in the markets. Communicating with Hesta is deliberately obstructed and slow. I am trying to get my money out to leave the country and it is surprisingly slow and uncertain. I'm 70 years old and entitled to withdraw my super even if I chose to remain in Australia.
Hi Peter Thanks for getting in touch with us… Read more
If I could give them zero i would. All of them are Incompetent and the worst customer service i have EVER come across. As a nurse I will be sure to tell everyone I can how pathetic and unbelievably bad they are. STAY AWAY FROM THEM.
Hi Carolyn We are sorry to hear this and we’d… Read more
Recent reviews
A miracle has happened! Logged in my request for payment claim from my account, it was done yesterday around 10:30. I received an instantaneous email to confirm request arrived at Hesta, today, Sunday, at 13:52 received an SMS to say that the fund payment has been made. I am aware that it will take several days depending upon the bank transfer. … Read more
Have never had service like this from HESTA and have been with them for over 20 years! Late last year waited 59 days for funds to be released for hardship payment, not sure what has happened, BUT PLEASE KEEP IT UP. THANK YOU HESTA/
HESTA Financial Adviser Michael in Adelaide was extremely knowledgeable & helpful with my transition into retirement, for which I am extremely grateful. I would absolutely recommend getting transition to retirement from HESTA.
Find out how HESTA Super Fund compares to other Industry Super Funds
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I needed to access my superannuation for dental work. I am able to do this now due to being 60. HESTA have been so member friendly and accessing my funds was easy. Thank you HESTA.
Very poor service from Hesta. My wife asked them a very simple question online in regards to her Non Concessional cap using the Bring Forward rule. She was fairly confident of the answer but just wanted to check to be sure. What she received back made no sense at all. Seems whoever replied had no idea of the difference between concessional and… Read more
non concessional contributions. She contacted them again for clarification only to be given even more nonsense. This time the responder had confused the tax paid on a previous concessional payment as the payment itself falsely claiming my wife had lodged an NOI for that figure. Sorry this is just complete and utter garbage.
How can anyone rely on an organisation that is providing such misleading and incorrect information to their members ?
Now she has raised a complaint but has received the customary "we'll reply in 45 business days" response.
Such delays just add salt to the wound and should not be tolerated by any member.
edit: We let this review go to mediation with HESTA rather than publish outright but the only thing my wife has received in the last week has been more platitudes about how important her business is to them and how they will look into the problem immediately - ha !
Hi there We're sorry to hear you're… Read more
My wife is in late 70’s and I am over 80yrs old. Because Super didn’t come in until the 1990’s we do not have a great deal of money. Initially we had an investment advisor and that lost us some money. We changed to HESTA and they provided good advice and allow you to adjust investments to suit your needs. They have made us feel confident in our investments and a safe place to invest our money.
Awful. I am appalled with hesta. I wish i can swap super fund. I have opened a TTR account and i was meant to be paid yesterday, somehow i didnt get paid, and everytime i call they keep telling me to wait 24hrs. 24 hrs has past, i called they keep telling me the same thing. Wait another 24hrs. They couldnt even tell me why i didnt get paid. Its… Read more
not like im asking hesta for money, im merely asking for my own money to be given to me. And yet HESTA IS PLAYING GOD WITH MY MONEY
Hi Diane We’re very sorry to hear that you’ve… Read more
Recently did the process of rolling over my balance to a SMSF. It was pretty much seamless. Whole thing took 3 days and the money was in my new account. Staff were excellent. UNLIKE my husband’s experience with Australian Super. He started before me and is still trying to get his funds out. Multiple long phone calls and requests for extra paperwork, etc etc. very stressful process. Also they have appalling reviews on Product Review.
NEEDED to urgently access super after being put off from work and with HESTA it couldn't have been easier. I am still waiting for money from another fund by comparison, a week after I already have the deposit in my bank from HESTA. Very happy customer.
customer service is appalling on every level promises of getting back to you on a complaint within 45 days are rubbish,you have to be proactive yourself to get an answer There communication to their customers does not exist My advice is to lodge a complaint with australian financial complaints authority,then they might listen have been a member for over 30 years,if i had my time again ,i would have joined another super fund Poor show HESTA
Hi Paul We're very sorry to hear you've had… Read more
I sent multiple emails requesting a simple name change and received nothing but automated replies. After more than a week, there has been no update and no response from a real person. This level of incompetence is unacceptable for a large super fund trusted with people’s retirement savings. Other organisations updated my details within minutes.… Read more
For a major super fund, this is shockingly inefficient and raises serious concerns about how member accounts are managed. Absolutely unacceptable service.
Hi Rita We’re very sorry to hear that you’ve… Read more
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Hi there We're sorry to hear this and we'd… Read more