Free Death Benefit Upgrade

clivejo

Firstly Id like to explain the situation. My father passed away in March 2010. A few weeks later while I was checked his emails, I found an email dated the day before he passed away. It stated that the "Free Death Benefit of £1000" had expired on 4-Feb-2010 and to click on a link to extend the cover for another year. I contacted the company Unite T&G Family Protection/Union Income Benefit to let them know what had happened. They told me that because the free upgrade had not been extended that a claim would not be successful. What Id like to know is how is it "fair and reasonable" for a person with terminal cancer to check his emails and extend the cover, while under heavy pain medication and frequent hospital visits?

McKneff

This is wrong, please just move on and let your dad rest in peace.

Given the circumstances at the time, they probably would have refused his request to upgrade anyway.

Are you sure this 'freebie' wasnt for 'accidental' death.

clivejo

McKneff wrote: »

Are you sure this 'freebie' wasnt for 'accidental' death.

The email says : "This upgrade ensures that your family will have £1000 to cover funeral or any other costs in event of your death from natural causes"

I appreciate that you think I should let it go, but I know that my father would not have been happy about this. I think its very unfair and by drawing light to it, in my own way, its a tribute to my father. If something is wrong, try and fix it.

From my own perceptive, I also pay into insurance policies on the understanding that the pay out will be of benefit to my surviving family members should I die. Surely, this is the point of such schemes! I know Id be very angry if my wishes are not carried out on some technicality which is beyond the control of the people I want to protect.

ACG

Its not a technicality... his cover ended. He had an option to extend and didnt take that up.

There are no rules that state if your not medically sound it will automatically extend. They have to have your fathers authority to extend the cover (ie - take money from his bank account). That wasnt done and so cover ended.

There is nothing wrong that has happened here.

If i took out term assurance for 10 years and passed away 10 years and 1 day later - thats my tough luck... or my beneficiaries depending on your outlook.

As has been said, there is no way this will ever get overturned, stop wasting your time.

McKneff

But it isnt a 'technicality' The cover ceased. Your father would probably have had a letter/letters running up to the end of the cover reminding him to renew and he maybe decided not to because of the cancer.

Just as an aside, when was your father diagnosed with the cancer and when did the policy start.

If it started after he had been diagnosed with cancer and he hadnt told them they would have probably refused any claim anyway.

In any event, I think you are flogging a dead horse.
Sorry it it isnt what you want to hear but..............

clivejo

I believe the cover was a 'free' benefit of the union membership. He was a member for a few years before he was diagnosed and was still employed by the company.

I'm not trying to flog the horse. I cant do anything about it anyway. I'm just saying I dont think it is 'right or fair'. if this message only serves as a reminder for other people with the same 'benefit' to renew it on time then that's my reward.

rs65

What has been said is correct but I wonder ....

If this was a free benefit, why did it have to renew. If it came free with Union membership would it not apply for as long as membership was valid. Why did he need to extend?

Why was it an upgrade? Upgrade from what?

Any Unite members here who have this?