Starting/Juvenile credits and eligibility to pay class 2 voluntary NI for years worked abroad

I've just noted an inconsistency between mine and a relative's NI record and I have 3 NI credits in the tax years when I turned 16, 17 and 18 whereas my relative does not have any such credits. My relative (now in her late 40s) moved abroad immediately after school and university and had never worked in the UK prior to this, and then returned to the UK in late 2010 which is when she first applied for an NI number for her first job in the UK. Her specific situation appears to have made her ineligible: (i) to receive 3 years' starting/juvenile credits, just because she applied for her NI number after 6 April 2010 (ii) to pay voluntary NI contributions at class 2 rates for the years she worked abroad, just because she had never worked (whilst studying) prior to leaving the UK Is this correct on both fronts? If so, it's a double-whammy given that she won't qualify for the full state pension if she simply works until her retirement age due to insufficient years remaining, and so the only way to make up the shortfall is to pay voluntary NI contributions at class 3. Seems very harsh, especially for such immaterial and arguably irrelevant points (not working prior to leaving the UK / applying for NI number after 6 April 2010). Look forward to your response!

Hi Intalex,
The rules around starting credits/juvenile credits changed from 6/4/2010.
The relative in question should contact us in writing with their circumstances to see if they fit into one of the small number of exception categories.
For voluntary contributions while abroad our leaflet NI38 contains the information (available via this link Social Security abroad: NI38) but the criteria states: 
You can pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions if you’re employed or self-employed abroad if:
-    Immediately before going abroad, you were ordinarily an employed or self-employed earner in the UK.
As in the first scenario, the individual directly affected should contact us to discuss their options.
Thank you.

Thank you HMRC Admin 20, I will ask her to write to HMRC NI team.