NM
Nomsa M

1 reviews | Active since Jun 2013

24 Oct 2019, 10:46

Unfair treatment from Discovery Life worsened by ********** deductions

I have had a Discovery Life policy since 2009. Last year I got to a point where I felt the premiums were becoming too high for a death benefit, so I call Discovery in April 2018 to reduce my premiums. I was convinced by the Financial Advisor to rather modify my policy and make it more beneficial to me during my pension years and after death. In January 2019, I agreed to take the proposed option and a nurse came over to do blood tests. A few weeks later I was simply told that my cover was denied. I responded to Discovery and requested reasons for declining my application, which they indicated was an iron deficiency. I challenged their decision because I have had anemia since I was small and an iron deficiency should have been detected in 2009 when my iron was tested, I also requested a copy of my results as these were not sent to my doctor. For the next few months I harassed Discovery for my results until they were sent to my doctor. After my doctor checked and confirmed my suspicions that my iron levels couldn’t possibly be the reason for them to decline me, I went back to Discovery and requested that they review my application. They then demanded I see a Haematologist at my cost to convince them that I was fine. When I refused to pay for extra tests, citing the fact that these were not the standard tests Discovery prescribes when one applies for life cover, they still insisted and agreed to pay for the Haematologist’s consultation fee. They then subjected me to a battery of blood tests to check other things they had no business checking. Eventually they said I still need to see the Haematologist and agreed in writing to refund me for the consultation fees of R1200. I went to the doctor they chose in the beginning of August and to date, my request for a refund has fallen on deaf ears. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Discovery then approves my application with a lot of exclusion, demanding that I get retested in a year. Oh, but it doesn’t end there, they give me a quote of R2469.47 in September 2019 which I reluctantly agree had some points of clarity, but when the financial advisor returns with the forms for me to sign they indicate that the first premium will be R2709.55 instead of the quote of R2469,47 which I had agreed to. I specifically told my Financial Advisor that I would not agree to an increase being effected even before I pay the first premium and I did not accept the quote. However, to my surprise, on the 4th October, Discovery deducted R2723.31 from my account without my consent. I immediately brought this to the attention of my Financial Advisor, sent him proof and demanded that this payment be reversed. On the 7th October I was told to send a statement as proof, which I refused to do because I had already sent them the SMS notification. Since then I have not heard anything from Discovery to suggest that they intend to refund any of my monies and I am afraid that they will again deduct money from my account without my permission. It feel like Discovery is punishing me for challenging their initial decision to decline my application. Someone please help me.

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Replies (1)
Discovery Life
Discovery Life's reply24 Oct 2019, 11:53
Official
Dear Nomsa M

We acknowledge receipt of your post and thank you for raising your concerns with us. 

Kindly note that an email in this regard, will be forwarded to you shortly. 

Regards

Precious
DISCOVERY LIFE