rheggie Heggie

I reached Pension Age in April 2023. I was advised of the ability to make voluntary NI contributions to boost my pension. I spoke to DWP who confirmed I had unpaid years from 2012/13 through 2022/23...10 years total. I was advised that a partial payment for 44 weeks in tax year 12/13 and full payments for years 13 to 19 totalling £5,642.60 would increase pension to maximum. I was given an 18 digit code and paid the amount advised. Subsequently my pension payments increased a small amount. Many phone calls to DWP and HMRC have resulted in me being told that the payments for years prior to 2016 were for "non qualifying " years and I should check my NI payment record. This shows all the respective years as being "Full" with no mention of them being "Non Qualifying". I was told that the incomplete years 2019 to 2024 would be qualifying and that I should have made my Voluntary Contributions to those years and not the earlier ones that I had. As I say, my NI record shows the years in question to be "Full" so I don't understand why they are not counting. Can the supposed non qualifying year payments simply be transferred to the later "Qualifying" years or do I need to claim a refund and re-apply. I was contracted out when working but stopped in 2012. Thank you.