Why policyholders complained to the short-term ombudsman in 2023

‘Lack of maintenance or wear and tear’ gave rise to most of the disputes in several categories of insurance.

Fund rapped for not giving a member a hearing before deciding to withhold his withdrawal benefit

The member, along with two others, was criminally charged because of allegedly fraudulent conduct that cost the employer R4 million.

No death certificate, no benefit pay-out for wife

A missing person’s affairs are in legal limbo until a death certificate is issued or the High Court makes a presumption of death declaration.

Wife accused of murder cannot receive a death benefit

‘The bloody hand does not inherit’ is an established common law principle, says the Pension Funds Adjudicator.

Policyholder waiting for funeral policy payout after three years

The FAIS Ombud issues a determination after the FSP fails to follow through on its undertaking to settle the claim.

Employer liable for fund member’s reduced withdrawal benefit, says tribunal

FST does not accept submission that the impact of Covid on the markets absolved the employer of liability for the loss.

Adjudicator calls out employer for abusing Covid contribution concession

Some employers have been deducting higher amounts from employees’ salaries while remitting a lower amount to the fund.

FAIS Ombud told to reconsider complaint against Old Mutual for rejecting liability claim

Tribunal was ‘not afforded the courtesy’ of an explanation for the ombud’s failure to respond to questions from the deputy chairperson.

Conclusions depend on the facts of each case, says FST as it sets aside determination for the third time

Tribunal repeats its previous ‘recommendation’ that the FAIS Ombud obtain oral and expert evidence to resolve the disputes of fact.

Ombud’s facts and findings don’t add up, says tribunal in setting aside property syndication determination

Referring clients to another broker does not constitute advice for the purposes of the FAIS Act.

FAIS Ombud did not deal with experts’ evidence fairly, says tribunal

Another property syndication determination has been sent back to the FAIS Ombud, with the Financial Services Tribunal (FST) stating that the ombud had, among other things, not dealt fairly with the evidence of […]

Tribunal: Adjudicator did not give employer and provident fund a fair hearing

The Financial Services Tribunal (FST) has set aside a determination by the Pension Funds Adjudicator after finding that her office did not serve the complaint on all the affected parties, thereby denying them […]

Don’t put the cart before the horse – Ensure that an insured is appropriately covered

Obtain all the relevant and available information and make a recommendation that is appropriate in terms of your clients’ needs and circumstances. If advisors fail in this basic requirement, the outcome can be […]

Hindsight and Objectivity

The recent Molate determination, in which Discovery Life was held liable for losses incurred after the death of a life assured, again raises the issue of objectivity with the benefit of hindsight. Background […]

Slim vang sy baas

This Afrikaans saying is very apt with regards to a recent Ombud determination in which, for once, the adviser was not held liable for a client’s loss. During January 2012, two complaints were […]