Discovery Life Fails to Pay!

I would like to share my awful experience with Discovery Life after the untimely death of my husband in June. My husband was killed in a car accident on 4 June 2024. My husband’s broker contacted me on the 5th of June to ask me to make payment of the 2 outstanding premiums, which payment I made immediately. The broker registered the death claim on my behalf and Discovery Life sent a letter of rejection to the broker on the 4th of July 2024. The broker never informed me that he received the rejection letter and whenever I contacted him, he asked me for more time. At one stage he told me in so many words that there is an 80% chance that Discovery would pay my claim. Eventually on or about the middle of August, the broker confirmed that the claim had been rejected due to the fact that policy was suspended at the time of my husband’s passing.

The 1st arrear premium was to be debited on 1st May, which was a public holiday. Discovery’s policy wording stipulates: “One premium: Discovery Life will grant a period of 30 days for you to settle unpaid premiums”. Discovery Life then attempted to debit X2 premiums on 1st June, which was a Saturday. These X2 premiums were not successful. “Two premiums: If premiums are still not settled, Discovery Life will grant an additional 30 calendar days, for you to settle unpaid premiums and cover will be suspended”.

The policy was essentially 35 days in arrears, which was not 60 calendar days.

I made payment of the arrear premiums on the 5th of June on instruction of the broker. I received an e-mail from Discovery Life at close of business on the afternoon of 5th June 2024, confirming that the policy was suspended. The policy had not previously been suspended. The suspension mail came through on the 5th of June 2024, after having made payment of the arrear premiums by 08h30 that morning.

I am now a widow, with 2 dependent children and no life cover, which we would have been and are dependent on. I feel that Discovery Life have ****** the money that my husband worked so hard to be able to afford for many years. Whenever a premium failed on his side, he always rectified it. I have no legacy to leave behind for my children. I am bitterly disappointed in both Discovery Life and my husband’s broker. Would not recommend them.