Unacceptable business practice by Discovery Life

<div>I purchased a second hand policy some 13 years ago via my broker. Discovery accepted the cession and debited my account. I then ceded the policy to my child. This cession was also accepted by Discovery. Recently I heard that the life insured on the policy had deceased. I put forward the claim to Discovery via my broker just to be told that they cannot pay my claim reason being they cannot confirm the death. Note, I have no contact with the life insureds family. My question is, how does a company as big as Discovery take cessions?, not be able to confirm claims? further does not advise its clients at the outset of situations like this.? why take the cession, collect the premiums and then find problems when it is time of a claim?</div>