THE LONG CON - IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Discovery Life is a company that loves your money. For nine years I dutifully paid premiums into a life/disability policy. Hundreds of thousands of Rands to protect me and my family from any unforeseen calamity. Unbeknown to us, there was already a huge problem with our policy. Stupidly trusting our broker was part of the problem. When we signed up, we were helped to complete an application form which was completed by our broker. We answered truthfully to the questions asked and were assured that no further information concerning our medical history was necessary - great, we were now covered for life changing afflictions and my demise. Forward 9 years, when in the interim I have contracted a severe arthritis in my fingers. So severe that an Arthritis specialist has written a letter explaining that the disorder have made it impossible to continue working in my field as a Tourist Guide. I contacted my broker to discuss the possibility of a claim and it was decided that we should go ahead as they could see no reason to decline the claim. How wrong we were. For almost a year now we have been trying to establish what went wrong. Discovery are claiming "non-disclosure" is the reason for their refusal to honour the agreement. My argument that, firstly why would I hide any medical condition from them, knowing that this would cancel the policy. Secondly, why was I not warned that in the event of a claim, Discovery would conduct a forensic audit of my medical history, by either Discovery or my broker? On asking Discovery these exact questions, I was informed by a Mr. Kelvin Carles that Discovery were disinclined to reveal this, as it was bad for business and that 'it will put people off' signing up for insurance. I immediately got hold of a lawyer and approached the Ombudsman to see what my options were. A year later and nothing has been resolved to my satisfaction. No communication from DL or my broker to find a way forwards. The Ombudsman has actually just ruled in the favour of DL. All that money I paid in has ended up in the pockets of one of the worst rated companies on Hello Peter. My next stop is Special Assignment, Carte Blanche and the newspapers, as I think it it important for any prospective customer to know what they are dealing with. My advice to you - stay very far away from DL and anybody who is associated with them. Let's hope that this letter precipitates the Death of Discovery Life.