Life Assurance - Payout refused decades ago - Complain?

[Sir Bagalot]

I won't go into too many details but I'd appreciate your views.

I only learnt this week that 26 years ago when my Dad died that one of the Insurers he had a life policy with refused to pay out. Why they refused isn't important, but my Mum never knew of the Insurance Ombudsman so although annoyed by their decision, simply accepted it.

Is it too late to lodge a complaint with the Insurers? If not then no doubt it would go to the Ombudsman as I wouldn't imagine they would change their decision but I've found the Ombudsman fairly impartial before.

[The Leaper]

It's the Financial Ombudsman Service. See their website. You will need to raise a complaint with the insurer and get their response before you can take the matter to FOS.

R.

[Sir Bagalot]

The Leaper said:

It's the Financial Ombudsman Service. See their website. You will need to raise a complaint with the insurer and get their response before you can take the matter to FOS.

R.

Yes, I am aware of that.

Is 26 years after the event too long to raise a complaint?

[TwigtheWonderkid]

You normally have 6 years to raise a complaint. However, under certain circumstances, this is extended to an unlimited time if you weren't aware that you had anything to complain about. You have 3 years to complain once you become aware of a possible historical injustice.

However, as you've described it, I doubt this would apply in your case. Your mother was aware at the time that the claim was rejected, so she knew there was a problem. There is no extension to the 6 year timescale because the victim of the injustice wasn't aware how to complain. To put it harshly, she had 6 years to find out.

So I suspect you're out of luck.