*****ed over by Old Mutual

For almost 10 years I've held three policies with Old Mutual, which I paid over R500 each month. A couple of months ago I lost my job, and I am still struggling to find new employment. I am unable to pay the basic cost of living, let alone any life insurance policies - so in the beginning of August I cancelled my policies (hoping to at least get something back from the money I had invested all these years). It took an Old Mutual consultant a few minutes to sell me on three policies - yet it has taken the company a whole month to confirm that my policies are cancelled. On my online profile, my policies still show ACTIVE. I have sent numerous emails and have asked for the return of some of my investments as I have been forced to borrow money from family to make ends meet.

All I get from Old Mutual are "automated response" emails. Their WhatsApp number and smartphone App is useless in getting any answers. Call their customer service line ***any time of the day (Monday to Friday) and you only get their answering machine saying: "we are experiencing high call volumes" (I have made a recording as proof). I have left my number on several occasions for a 'call back', but since cancelling my policies, I have not received a single call.

I believe Old Mutual and other life and insurance companies are the biggest money-making schemes that exist in this country. They are the reason the rich get rich, and poor people stay poor.