disappointing

Well first of all my mom took out policies for us 3 kids so when we finish school there will be money,the time when she wanted to claim her money maturity date suppose to be, she found out that the agent made it for 20 years instead of 10years what person goes to school for 20yrs anyway she continued with the policy which had to end 2012. My mom died in a car accident in 2008 I went 2 metropolitan they ask me the papers acc numbers an death cert I gave it nothing happened,I then went to another branch that lady tells me that we the kids had to continue paying the acc, we weren't even working!!!!! How the hell, she say if we don't pay it will lapse an we will lose the money so thts what eventually happened now I want to know what happened to all that money my mom paid over the years its just gone. So how can u trust these life insurance people but I decided I'm going to take it further coz thts my moms money they messed up