02/08/2008 16:35 - (SA)
Life assurer took 11 years to pay out on claim
Nhlanhla Ncaca
IT has taken too long, but African Life Assurance will finally pay out the benefits owed to the beneficiaries of a deceased policyholder.
Lehlagare Masemola and Isaac Leutle of Lebowakgomo, Limpopo, can sleep a bit easier after Hotline stepped in to assist them with an insurance claim.
For almost 11 years the two cousins struggled to claim their benefits from the insurance company, and when it became clear that they were fighting a losing battle against the insurers their uncle, Pule Radingwana, asked Hotline to assist.
African Life Assurance has since promised to release the funds on receipt of outstanding documents.
A happy Radingwana could not contain himself when Hotline shared the good news.
“It is hard to believe that the funds will finally be released. I have been trying to assist the beneficiaries all these years to claim the money.
“But we did not win the battle. We will submit the documents as a matter of urgency,” said Radingwana.
The late Mashupe Masemola took out a Protector Plus Plan 3 with African Life Assurance.
The cover commenced in March 1994 and Masemola was paying monthly premiums of R60.
He passed away in September 1997 and after his death his wife, Sophy Masemola, submitted an insurance claim.
The insurers informed Masemola that she was not the nominated beneficiary. They explained that she was nominated as life assured only for the funeral benefit.
Leutle, the deceased’s nephew, who had been raised by Masemola, and the deceased’s son were the only beneficiaries.
But African Life Assurance would not release the benefits.
Radingwana explained that Leutle’s claim was repudiated on the basis that his first name had been recorded incorrectly.
“We did everything possible to have the claim settled. Nothing helped, until we wrote to Hotline,” said Radingwana.
Hotline referred the complaint to Ronald Kete, marketing and communications manager at Sanlam Sky Solutions, formally African Life Assurance.
Kete confirmed that Masemola and Leutle had been nominated as beneficiaries and that Masemola’s widow was nominated as a life assured for the funeral benefit.
Kete said his company had not received claim forms from Leutle. He added that after Masemola’s death his office received a letter from the magistrate’s court requesting that the son’s proceeds be paid to the guardian fund.
“But there is no evidence or record proving that this was done. As the nominated child is now of age, we can pay his portion directly to him.
“The balance will be paid out to Leutle,” said Kete.
He asked the family to submit a death claim application form, certified copies of the nominated beneficiaries’ identity documents and bank statements indicating that their accounts were active.
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