Appalling Pathetic Service

Approximately, +- 10 years ago my dad passed and it was only about a year or so after his death that we were notified of his unclaimed benefits with the above mentioned institution.

Although, I must admit it also took my sisters, who are also beneficiaries to the fun a while to gather all the required documents as we are all in different parts of South Africa.

Between last year and the year before, we managed to gather all the required documents with an exception of one which happens to be a short ID (ID book before the green barcoded one)

Our problem started when we were handed a document with all the relevant documentation we required to submit a claim, we were told that we needed to provide either the short ID or proof thereof which has proven to be a major problem.

We went to home affairs who advised that this ID no longer exists, we then went back to MFIBA to advise of this, they sent us back to home affairs saying that we can just use the death certificate in place of the short ID.

When we got back to their offices we were then given a different story saying that if we do not provide the short ID they cannot pay the claim as the onus is not on them which I can understand but they have displayed no interest in trying to assist us in getting this claim paid, one would swear that they are using the short ID as an excuse to not pay the claim.

To date we have spent close to thousands travelling back and forth, making copies, you name it trying to get the matter sorted.

Surely, in todays day and age their is an alternative for them to pay this claim as it is close to R80 000.

At this point in time I am willing to take the matter to the Ombudsman as I am appalled at how this has been handled.

I hope that this reaches someone in their head offices that can help settle the matter.

Regards, GP Thomas