This started right before my husbands memorial. I get a call from MetLife looking for my husbands long deceased son. They tell me he's the bene. I say, "first of all he passed away nearly 12 years ago, but that is irrelevant. I am the bene. I can tell you precisely when it was changed, and when it was later confirmed as my husband was filling out all of his "exit" (retirement) papers." They say no, no record. I freak out, hyperventilate, cry, etc. Called our atty who calmed me down by saying, "just get certified death cert for Steve, and it'll revert back to the estate." So....I call MetLife today saying I had the death cert, and need the address of where to send it. The lady tells me, "Well that won't help. There is a "contingent" bene whom we are still looking for." They cannot tell me who that is, nor can they tell me how long they are required to look for that person before I can apply for a claim to it. OMG! OMG! OMG!!!!!!!! I do not have the paper work from DH's retirement. We sustained damage due to a broken pipe behind a basement wall, not noted until things were ruined, black mold, etc. GMAC paid a claim on the damage so I at least have proof that we sustained loss through a catastrophic event. I have searched through so much paperwork that we had UPstairs trying to find just anything I can. I found a statement from Fidelity where my DH had hand written the name and extension of a rep when we had to call because our pin didn't work to let us check up on benes on line. They had to ask security questions and were able to read off info on their end since we had to wait to get a temporary pin by mail to change our password to the benefits site. In that call the rep confirmed that I was the beneficiary of everything. 401K and life insurance. One month later Fidelity turned over the administration of life insurance to Metlife to handle so supposedly our info has transfered twice. From GM benes, to Fidelity benes, to MetLife. Somewhere in there things got screwed up in the records. BUT THEY RE PUTTING THE BURDEN OF PROOF ON ME!!!!!!!
Sorry Diana - maybe your attorney can intervene. It stinks the way they do not hesitate to take your money but are oh so slow in paying out. Will be praying you get this settled with not much more stress.
Please try not to let it get to you. You have enough to deal with and you know that getting so upset won't make it go any differently - they could care less if you are upset. Please try to keep the faith that it will work out in the end.
New Realm, Breath Girl Friend, I am sure you don't need their screw ups right about now. But you know you will get thru this, your attorney will make sure of that. It will all be ok, The one thing I wonder is, can your atty at least put a "HOLD" on benefits being paid out if they were to find this contingent benefactor? till at least you have time to get your ducks in a row from their news of searching for your deceased step son and this un-known contingent? I would get on that first thing, that way they can't say Oh we already did a pay out. Other than that, I am clueless as to these things. Just want you to Breath! Don't make yourself crazy just yet. Of course they closed their doors hours ago, so it just keeps everything in an upheaval but you need to rest for tonight. There is nothing you can do tonight but make yourself sick. Just get a nice glass of wine and drink up, OK a Bottle, Then at least try and close your eyes and get some rest. Best of Luck! Rk
Just another thought, Did you try calling GM or Fidelity? I would make them track down the paper work, I don't give a flip if they turned over their administation of Life Insurance or not. They are the ones that haven't gotten the correct paper work to MetLife. They got to have it somewhere. Get on them as well. But for tonight, get some rest!
Wow, so sorry to hear. When my mother died, she had MetLife, & they were great. They paid out right away. I made a mental note at the time to get MetLife. Sounds like you have some detective work to do, as suggested by Rk. I am wishing the best for you.
Diana, I am so sorry you are dealing with such a mess at this time. Even though I am not surprised with the way GM has messed up things. I am dealing with GM/Delphi taking away salaried retirees Medical & Life Insurance benefits. As bluedaze suggested take some time to breathe & let the lawyer help.
Do you know for sure that MetLife called you the 1st time. I hate to say it but there are a lot of scammers out there who prey on families who have lost their loved ones.
New Realm, i cant help but feel for you too. i guess its wishing toomuch that you and DH made COPIES of important changes like that?? i would never do anything without a copy for myself these days, listening everyone????? a while back we had a thread that was about just this thing. making sure your policies/wills were updated with the correct info. this happens alot when folks remarry and the old policies stay in tact, imagine a new wife getting nil cause th old wifes name is on as befenficiary.. i do think it maybe a tough road here to prove unless you have something in writing of changes. if the insur co has a contingent beneificiary that may be the one they will want to pay. i am not sure what an atty can do unless he can account for the paper trails. this is so horrible, i have also been in this predicament as well. seems i always have one on one experience in this stuff happening. when we changed beneficiaries this time round i made sure i had copies of them signed and dated. also metlife wouldl have sent a 'confirmation' letter to your DH noting they received the change notifications. hopefully your atty will be able to pull some strings but it will take some time with back/forth paperwork. good luck, diana, i know its crushing news. divvi
My attorney doesn't even know yet about the "Contingent" beneficiary. It's still before office hours here, so I hope to reach the attorney today. The insurance comminsioner also says that unless I find paperwork to support my side it can be difficult. Problem here is not knowing WHO this mystery benefactor is. They may be dead. They may be someone Paul hasn't even known for 28 years. Who knows? He was single at the time. If it was his ex-wife who he MAYBE was dating at the time (I don't think so though) she has gone through so many name changes....I don't even know what it is now. Nevertheless, I think she would have been listed as primary, not the contingent. This is NOT making any sense to me. The expenses are going to be astronomical, but there is a principle to this. I WAS TOLD, by a Fidelity Net.benefits rep, when we were unable to access the benefits site, that I was the 100% beneficiary. Only a month later is when Fidelity then turned over just the LIFE insurance benefit to Metlife to completely administer. And no, I didn't pay attention to mail that might have told us they made the change in administrators. And no, I didn't recently check to see I was beneficiary. After all, I was told I was just last March, and I think I've bee a little busy in the last year. This is nuts. Commish says being his wife for nearly 20 years, and having two children by him AFTER the last update Met has on record, does NOT guarantee me anything. I think that is BULL!!!!
the problem now is most likely fidelities paperwork has been electronically transferred info to metlife a while back when they overtook the life insur dept. not sure but they may 'microfish' docs in storage that may be of benefit to you. like banks do with old checks. i would think all the info would have to be stored like any dept for at least 7yrs or more. your atty will know in your state. he could supoena the stored docs from fidelity possibly if they were stored and could show any changes done PRIOR to shifting the dept to metlife.. but this would take time-dont get excited til you speak with this atty about the new info surfacing. they can tell you what your options are at this point. more than likely the 'beneficiary' change paperworks were in fidelitys possession and done by them before they were taken over by metlife. i would go to fidelitys files. i hope it works out for you soon -divvi ps good news is this benefactor is dead the monies will go to your DH estate and then be divided among his current wife and children. if they are not dead, they will hold things up until the prove it one way or another they HAVE to make sure the have the correct beneficiary before handing over any funds.
diana, i did a little checking and in my NON professional opinion of course, your atty should be able to obtain microfilm or microfiche records for your DH transactions and files from fidelity (or metlife now) -like all entities that deal with consumer payouts or monetary transactions they are required by law to hold in fact all necessary documentations for such from periods that can range from 2-7+yrs. i remember a case DH had where he supoened this microfiche info -of course you have to pay for the info and th atty to get that info but its at least some recourse for you to pursue to try to prove your end of it with the beneficiary info. i would think they would be compelled to retain beneficiary info most definatley on stored imaging - when you speak to your atty ask about microfiche records from fidelity and or metlife to obtain copies of those documents.. if they say they dont have info your atty should then check with the dept of insur in your state. and ask about possible violations persuant to laws reguarding 'record keeping" for these companies?? i hope this can help you. not a legal professional just trying to say what i'd do in your shoes..
Divvi - since you have a legal background due to helping husband, here is a question. My sister did a reverse mortgage on her house about 3 years ago. She just found out she has been paying $80 a month for life insurance on her and her husband. He died a year ago (she has not notified the bank yet). We were talking last night and wondering if they would pay out on the life insurance from her husband's death? This would be so good cause then she could pay off the reverse mortgage which has an adjustable rate.
I told her she needs to get a copy of the policy and take to her attorney.