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[tigers_gonads]

With the impending higher gas prices, I decided to use a little extra income I have and signed up for a over 50's life insurance policy as a bit of extra cover so the wife can set fire to me when i'm brown bread 
As a part of this deal, after 3 months I was to receive a Love To Shop gift card to the sum of 120 quid.
Last week, I received half the letter (left hand side) along with a apology from Royal Mail.
The right hand side of the letter containing the card had been torn away and the card obviously spirited away by some thieving little scumbag 
Rang Sunlife's customer care and was politely told that since I had received half the letter, there obligation was for filled and I can quietly go and go forth and multiply 
Knowing a little about these cards, I know that they have to be registered first before you can access to money requested they call up the card serial number and have it blocked to no avail ........... they just wasn't interested   
To Royal Mails credit, they opened a case, closed it within 24 hours and sent me a cheque and apology for 20 pounds (which is the most compensation that comes with a letter) leaving me 100 quid out of pocket 

Any idea where to take this next ?

[STEMO]

If you've only paid three months, tell Sun Life to wedge it (you can cancel any time) and go somewhere else. I know you have to pay in for a certain amount of time before you can claim, so you're put back three months, but hey ho.

[STEMO]

Opti will be along to tell you these policies are daylight robbery.

[Doctor Gollum]

They are.

Your first couple of years 'contributions' cover the cost of the free gift and the cost of running the policy. The rest of your payments will be lucky if they make 3%.

I would go as far as to suggest that you would probably make more selling Costco bog roll on Faceachebook market place. 

[STEMO]

They are.

Your first couple of years 'contributions' cover the cost of the free gift and the cost of running the policy. The rest of your payments will be lucky if they make 3%.

I would go as far as to suggest that you would probably make more selling Costco bog roll on Faceachebook market place. 

WTF are you on about? 
It's not a with profits policy, it a 'pay till you die and we'll give your missus a few bob' policy.

[Doctor Gollum]

Exactly. Pay £5 a month for, let's say, fifteen years. Her indoors would be lucky to see two grand out of it, at best.

As a sensible example, Aviva offer over 50's whole life cover.

Pay £100 a month (£1,200 pa) for 30 years (£36,000).

How much do you think they will pay out?

Answer is £26,000 and change.

Stick £1,200 a year under the mattress for 21 years and you will be no worse off.

If you can, get Term Life rather than Whole life. It won't pay out after a certain age, the premiums are significantly lower

[Viral_Jim]

Not sure how they think they've fulfilled the gift, which was a gift card yes, not half a letter and a disingenuous apology from RM.

[STEMO]

Exactly. Pay £5 a month for, let's say, fifteen years. Her indoors would be lucky to see two grand out of it, at best.

As a sensible example, Aviva offer over 50's whole life cover.

Pay £100 a month (£1,200 pa) for 30 years (£36,000).

How much do you think they will pay out?

Answer is £26,000 and change.

Stick £1,200 a year under the mattress for 21 years and you will be no worse off.

If you can, get Term Life rather than Whole life. It won't pay out after a certain age, the premiums are significantly lower

You're totally missing the point. It is not a savings account, it is a life insurance account. The £5 a month in your first instance would pay the two grand after twelve months, that's a fair old return on the sixty quid you paid in.

[Doctor Gollum]

Or you can live to 90 and still only get two grand. Which is somewhat less of a deal.

[Rangie]

The purchaser would get nothing , it is simply a guaranteed amount of money towards a funeral if required by the insureds family, my mother had one with the same company as she didn't want to burden anyone with her funeral costs.

[STEMO]

Or you can live to 90 and still only get two grand. Which is somewhat less of a deal.

Again, you're missing the point. If you, or the ones you leave behind, can't afford a funeral, this takes away that worry should you die. If you live till 90, you will have paid in more than you get out, but that's a chance you take for peace of mind.
I took out a Sun Life plan about 14 years ago. It will take another 10 or so years until I'm out of pocket. I'm not hoping to die before then so I can feel pleased with myself that I didn't get conned. 

[Doctor Gollum]

They don't just leave you in the chair in the corner

https://farewill.com/articles/what-happens-if-i-cant-afford-a-funeral

[STEMO]

They don't just leave you in the chair in the corner

https://farewill.com/articles/what-happens-if-i-cant-afford-a-funeral

So you'll expect your ma to get you buried on the social if none of your relatives can afford it?
That's what happens after they've asked your kids, your brothers and sisters, your aunts and uncles, etc.
Give it up, your clutching at straws....again.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

If you know you are on the way out then buy a policy.

If you expect to live more than a few years then  don't.

Both my parents had a policy. From memory the total payout was around £2500......the amount paid in premiums about four or five times that.

 

[STEMO]

If you know you are on the way out then buy a policy.

If you expect to live more than a few years then  don't.

Both my parents had a policy. From memory the total payout was around £2500......the amount paid in premiums about four or five times that.

Nonsense.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Or you can live to 90 and still only get two grand. Which is somewhat less of a deal.

Again, you're missing the point. If you, or the ones you leave behind, can't afford a funeral, this takes away that worry should you die. If you live till 90, you will have paid in more than you get out, but that's a chance you take for peace of mind.
I took out a Sun Life plan about 14 years ago. It will take another 10 or so years until I'm out of pocket. I'm not hoping to die before then so I can feel pleased with myself that I didn't get conned. 

I'm surprised you have a break even point of 24 years. Because most people drop dead well before then  meaning the company will lose money on the majority of policies.

4-7 years is more the norm.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

If you know you are on the way out then buy a policy.

If you expect to live more than a few years then  don't.

Both my parents had a policy. From memory the total payout was around £2500......the amount paid in premiums about four or five times that.

Nonsense.

Just like a fruit machine the company wins far more times than it loses. This is how they stay in business.

Some people will 'get lucky' but the majority won't.

[STEMO]

If you know you are on the way out then buy a policy.

If you expect to live more than a few years then  don't.

Both my parents had a policy. From memory the total payout was around £2500......the amount paid in premiums about four or five times that.

Nonsense.

Just like a fruit machine the company wins far more times than it loses. This is how they stay in business.

Some people will 'get lucky' but the majority won't.

Get lucky by dying, ffs 

The amount I pay each month means it will take 19.7 years before they make a profit from me. You tight bastard.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

If you know you are on the way out then buy a policy.

If you expect to live more than a few years then  don't.

Both my parents had a policy. From memory the total payout was around £2500......the amount paid in premiums about four or five times that.

Nonsense.

Just like a fruit machine the company wins far more times than it loses. This is how they stay in business.

Some people will 'get lucky' but the majority won't.

Get lucky by dying, ffs 

The amount I pay each month means it will take 19.7 years before they make a profit from me. You tight bastard.

It was 24 years a minute ago.

Either.....you did well to get such a good deal .......or you are crap at maths.

There is a reason why these over 50 scams are pushed so vigorously. They  make lots of money for the company.

Personally I think there are better ways to invest money.

[STEMO]

If you know you are on the way out then buy a policy.

If you expect to live more than a few years then  don't.

Both my parents had a policy. From memory the total payout was around £2500......the amount paid in premiums about four or five times that.

Nonsense.

Just like a fruit machine the company wins far more times than it loses. This is how they stay in business.

Some people will 'get lucky' but the majority won't.

Get lucky by dying, ffs 

The amount I pay each month means it will take 19.7 years before they make a profit from me. You tight bastard.

It was 24 years a minute ago.

Either.....you did well to get such a good deal .......or you are crap at maths.

There is a reason why these over 50 scams are pushed so vigorously. They  make lots of money for the company.

Personally I think there are better ways to invest money.

I did a quick guesstimate before, the above figure is accurate. They make their money from investing what you give them, not necessarily from you. Tight bastard.

[Rangie]

We've had two pay out for two funerals in the last two years  brother in law & the wife's cousin both died before 60 years of age & neither left provisions for the costs which amounted to around  £10,000 for both & that wasn't being extravagant admittedly both were in the London area . Nobody else in the family offered any financial help towards this we have just been reimbursed for the second one ( wife's cousin) so provision for a funeral is a good idea I believe.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

If you know you are on the way out then buy a policy.

If you expect to live more than a few years then  don't.

Both my parents had a policy. From memory the total payout was around £2500......the amount paid in premiums about four or five times that.

Nonsense.

Just like a fruit machine the company wins far more times than it loses. This is how they stay in business.

Some people will 'get lucky' but the majority won't.

Get lucky by dying, ffs 

The amount I pay each month means it will take 19.7 years before they make a profit from me. You tight bastard.

It was 24 years a minute ago.

Either.....you did well to get such a good deal .......or you are crap at maths.

There is a reason why these over 50 scams are pushed so vigorously. They  make lots of money for the company.

Personally I think there are better ways to invest money.

I did a quick guesstimate before, the above figure is accurate. They make their money from investing what you give them, not necessarily from you. Tight bastard.

I don't have the time or inclination to bandy words with gobby scouse centenarians.

If it works for you, I'm pleased.

[Doctor Gollum]

We've had two pay out for two funerals in the last two years  brother in law & the wife's cousin both died before 60 years of age & neither left provisions for the costs which amounted to around  £10,000 for both & that wasn't being extravagant admittedly both were in the London area . Nobody else in the family offered any financial help towards this we have just been reimbursed for the second one ( wife's cousin) so provision for a funeral is a good idea I believe.

A couple of grand won't touch the sides then...

[Sir Tigger KC]

We've had two pay out for two funerals in the last two years  brother in law & the wife's cousin both died before 60 years of age & neither left provisions for the costs which amounted to around  £10,000 for both & that wasn't being extravagant admittedly both were in the London area . Nobody else in the family offered any financial help towards this we have just been reimbursed for the second one ( wife's cousin) so provision for a funeral is a good idea I believe.

A couple of grand won't touch the sides then...

Yep you're lucky to get much change from £4-5000 for even a simple funeral these days.

[Shackeng]

Save a bit by choosing cardboard coffins which we will have, as did my mother.

[STEMO]

Save a bit by choosing cardboard coffins which we will have, as did my mother.

And hope it doesn't rain as your being carried from hearse to service. 

[dave the builder]

how much is a roll of black dustbin liner bags these days 

[STEMO]

how much is a roll of black dustbin liner bags these days 

You should know, builders fly tip enough of them 

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

We've had two pay out for two funerals in the last two years  brother in law & the wife's cousin both died before 60 years of age & neither left provisions for the costs which amounted to around  £10,000 for both & that wasn't being extravagant admittedly both were in the London area . Nobody else in the family offered any financial help towards this we have just been reimbursed for the second one ( wife's cousin) so provision for a funeral is a good idea I believe.

A couple of grand won't touch the sides then...

It will with my funeral plan.
Have my carcass sent off to be burnt. If anyone wants the ashes for some strange reason, they can go and collect them from the Crem.
Shouldnt cost more than a couple of grand.
Having attended numerous funerals, from my friend when I was 10 years old * to my Dads six years ago, I fail to see the point of them, other than income for undertakers and an excuse for a good piss up.

* In the good old Irish tradition, this included waiting in line to have a look at him in his coffin, which was a tad traumatic for a ten year old kid

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

We've had two pay out for two funerals in the last two years  brother in law & the wife's cousin both died before 60 years of age & neither left provisions for the costs which amounted to around  £10,000 for both & that wasn't being extravagant admittedly both were in the London area . Nobody else in the family offered any financial help towards this we have just been reimbursed for the second one ( wife's cousin) so provision for a funeral is a good idea I believe.

A couple of grand won't touch the sides then...

It will with my funeral plan.
Have my carcass sent off to be burnt. If anyone wants the ashes for some strange reason, they can go and collect them from the Crem.
Shouldnt cost more than a couple of grand.
Having attended numerous funerals, from my friend when I was 10 years old * to my Dads six years ago, I fail to see the point of them, other than income for undertakers and an excuse for a good piss up.

* In the good old Irish tradition, this included waiting in line to have a look at him in his coffin, which was a tad traumatic for a ten year old kid

These days many people prefer not to see loved ones after death. Dead people rarely look like they do on TV. It's a personal choice with no right or wrong answer.

Personally, I do.

Both my parents.......both Mrs Opti's parents......plus my older brother, a couple of years ago.

[ronnyd]

Said goodbye to my lovely Mum when she was being removed from her bungalow on the day of her death.  . Went to see my SIL in the chapel of rest and was very upsetting for SWMBO. She had been hanging about a bit due to her sudden death, which required an autopsy. Poor lady didn't look good.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Said goodbye to my lovely Mum when she was being removed from her bungalow on the day of her death.  . Went to see my SIL in the chapel of rest and was very upsetting for SWMBO. She had been hanging about a bit due to her sudden death, which required an autopsy. Poor lady didn't look good.

Yep...as if often the case.

My MIL died on Christmas day 12 years ago. Because of the holiday period we couldn't arrange the cremation until the second week in January.

We were with her when she died but Mrs Opti wanted to see her  mum again shortly before the funeral service. Big mistake. I won't go into detail but the sooner a body is buried or cremated the better.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

In Ireland a person is normally buried within three days of death. Most of the old traditions around death have slowly disappeared, but not that one.
My Mum died on a Thursday morning and was buried Saturday morning. Similar story with Dad.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I have seen several people in their coffins (and a few who havent got that far yet) and if they ever come to mind, the first image I have is of the dead body.
For this reason I chose not to see either of my parents after they died.
My older sister though turned my Mums time of lying in the chapel of rest into a bloody circus. Just one of the many reasons I have for hating the bitch.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I have seen several people in their coffins (and a few who havent got that far yet) and if they ever come to mind, the first image I have is of the dead body.
For this reason I chose not to see either of my parents after they died.
My older sister though turned my Mums time of lying in the chapel of rest into a bloody circus. Just one of the many reasons I have for hating the bitch.

As I say, there is no right or wrong, just personal choice.

[tigers_gonads]

Well that one went off on a tangent didn't it 

Basically its a 4 grand pay out on death for 15 quid a month.
If I live past 79 then I loose 15 quid a month till i'm dead.

Was more interested in how I could get Sunlife to cough up the money owed though ??

[Doctor Gollum]

If you mean the voucher, then that depends on the wording...

We will send you...

Or

You will receive...

That you received some of the letter suggests that they sent it

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Can they see if the voucher has been used?

When there is doubt about who received what there is such a thing as 'good will' where they give you the benefit of the doubt and cough up.

[Doctor Gollum]

If the most redeeming feature of the policy is a voucher, that speaks volumes about the product. 

[tigers_gonads]

Can they see if the voucher has been used?

When there is doubt about who received what there is such a thing as 'good will' where they give you the benefit of the doubt and cough up.

That was my thinking.
I know these cards need to be activated via a website of phone call.
Not really pushed them over it yet.
Down at the van for a few days.
Might fire off email next week and push a little harder.
The policy itself isn’t a bad deal.
For many reasons the men in our side of the family don’t seem to make it much past retirement age so it was just a extra few quid for our lass.

[tigers_gonads]

If the most redeeming feature of the policy is a voucher, that speaks volumes about the product. 

The redeeming feature IS the payout.
But at the end of the day, if someone says you can have 120 quid, I expect it.
Not some half baked excuse because they can’t be arsed to type in a serial number and find out where or maybe who spent it

[Doctor Gollum]

If the most redeeming feature of the policy is a voucher, that speaks volumes about the product. 

The redeeming feature IS the payout.
But at the end of the day, if someone says you can have 120 quid, I expect it.
Not some half baked excuse because they can’t be arsed to type in a serial number and find out where or maybe who spent it

That presumes that they know the serial number of the card they sent you.

And, in case you missed it, the card wasn't free