After 13 years of membership no cover for my son when he needed it...

<p>I have been with discovery health since 01/01/2004. Every single month my fees are paid, however being self employed i went though a difficult time during July, August and September of this year.</p> <p>I made it my priority to get my premiums up to date. July I paid, August I couldn't. On the 7th of September I paid July then again on the 04th October i paid a double payment to get the premiums up to date. Please note that no correspondance was received from them to say that there was a problem.</p> <p>Now at the end of Oct I get a refund into my account for the three months i paid as my policy lapsed on the 7th of October, but yet my policy was paid up to date on the 04th of October.</p> <p> </p> <p>No email or call from them to inform me that it has lapsed no communication from them to say a refund is being deposited into my account. Nothing whatsoever.</p> <p> </p> <p>Needless to say seeing that i went threw a bit of a financial crises during July, August and September the refund was gobbled up by other debtors.</p> <p> </p> <p>I have 5 kids. My eldest broke his wrist on Saturday the 29th of October really badly and we had no cover. </p> <p> </p> <p>I phoned discovery only to find out that it lapsed in error and that i need to pay back the refund plus October to get my policy reinstated.</p> <p> </p> <p>They also admitted that no correspondance was sent to me from there side in order for me to know whats going on.</p> <p> </p> <p>I would like to know the following:</p> <p>• I chose to pay my Discovery premium above other debtors that i owed as this was priority for me seeing that i have 5 kids.</p> <p>• Discovery chose to do a refund into my account without my knowledge and for no apparent reason as payment was done prior to the policy lapsing.</p> <p>• Now that money is gone ( R9000 plus)(because of debit orders that could have waited because to me they where less important than discovery) - not because i didn't provide but because of an error on discovery's side.</p> <p>• i have contacted Discovery and was told yes it was an error, but for me to get it sorted and my son to a decent hospital i have to pay the refund plus another month. ( R12 500)</p> <p>• How is this my problem. You where paid and you refunded me in error. I had the funds, but because of your "error" i must find these funds somewhere and in the meantime my child is in agony.</p> <p>• Please note that although the funds was pd up to date my services was suspended for the whole period in other words i must pay for months i did not have discovery health.</p> <p>• i have said that i can pay Oct and November premiums, but this is not good enough.</p> <p> </p> <p>I am really really dissapointed in Discovery Health for being treated in such a manner. I have referred numerous family and friends to you. I have been with you for 13 years, but still you will not assist me although i was not in the wrong.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>