REFUSAL TO PAY AFRICAN LIFE FUNERAL POLICY ***

<p>Many years ago we took funeral policies with African Life which was later taken over by Sanlam.</p> <p> </p> <p>after paying premiums for a very long time, we received letters stating that it had become more cost effective for African Life to make the policies paid up as it was costing them more money to collect the premums than we were paying.</p> <p> </p> <p>The policies were in respect of the main member and in our case the spouse. When the main member died, the claim was paid out. However, as the policy range had been discontinued, the Sanlam systems were not able to pay the claim without making the policy "out of force" on the system. Sanlam staff assured us that when the spouse died we would be able to claim the benefit.</p> <p> </p> <p>When my mother died, we had a huge problem finding staff that were aware of how the policy worked but we eventually found someone that could help us and the policy was paid out after more than a week.</p> <p> </p> <p>Subsequenty, my aunt had died and the same situation occurred. My uncle died about 9 years ago and again Sanlam staff said - no problem, we will give you a copy of the policy schedule. When the spouse dies we will pay the claim. AGAIN, Sanlam is refusing to pay the claim.</p> <p> </p> <p>i am told ridiculous stories about waiver of premium which was not applicable as would be noted by the staff if they bothered to investigate the claims. Both main members were older than ae 70 when they died and the claims were paid.</p> <p> </p> <p>i have even had the staff member inform me that they would be prepared to pay me the surrender value of the policy of around R2000. The policy is a funeral policy and has never even had a surrender value!!!</p> <p> </p> <p>African Life sold huge volumes of these policies and I cant help to wonder how many claims they have rejected that should have been paid and the suffering that was caused to the people that were counting on the payments to bury their loved ones. I know that this has caused by family excessive heartache and frustration. Insurance policies are supposed to be a sure way of providing for the event of a death, however, it seems that if you have had a policy for a long time and the insurance company discontinues the plan type, the policies become worthless and the payments made for many years are simply wasted. </p>