What Do You Do When Your Joint Policy Holder Goes Missing?

Angyal

I took out a joint endowment in 1993 with Allied Dunbar with my ex-partner who disappeared shortly afterwards. I have been paying the monthly installments on my own until I recently decided to stop paying and informed Zurich who had since taken over Allied Dunbar. I also informed them that I wish to close the endowment. I have been repeatedly told that the only way is by asking my ex-partner to sign a Deed of Assignment by Gift. I have explained that I have gone as far as engaging a private detective to try and trace his whereabouts but it makes no difference, they will not change their position. Now I am desperate because Zurich have made a decision to start taking money out of my policy to cover for life assurance that I do not even want! I feel as if I am not being heard and I do not know what to do. There seems to be no system in place to deal with a missing person and yet people sadly disappear all the time. How can this be? Why should the partner left in the policy suffer financially? Is anyone else experiencing this situation? Can anyone offer some advice? Please help!!!

Thank you

DVardysShadow

Difficult one. I would be looking at getting them declared dead. But if you go down this road, bear in mind that all your patios could be dug up.

dunstonh

I feel as if I am not being heard and I do not know what to do.

The problem is that the law is limiting what they can do. So, they don't have the choice to do what you want.

There seems to be no system in place to deal with a missing person and yet people sadly disappear all the time. How can this be?

You can go to court and get it sorted that way. You need to seek legal advice.

Angyal

thank you for the good advice. I am going to see an IFA and I am also booked in to see the Citizens Advice Bureau. I will post any results here when they happen, so that anybody else who finds themselves in a similar situation can benefit in the future.