Nine funeral schemes under investigation

The Financial Services Board (FSB) has warned the public this month against nine firms selling funeral policies that may not be underwritten properly.


By law, businesses offering such products have to provide proof that they are underwritten by a registered long-term insurance company. The nine under investigation were given 10 days to respond but they have either failed to respond or to confirm that they are underwritten by a registered long-term insurance company.


The FSB are warning the public against doing business with the following entities: Faizel Dollie Funeral Home, Clarinise Funeral Services, Abomelezi Funeral Services cc, Speelman Family Funeral Home, City Funeral Fund, Holy Cross, Maphutha Dihuswana Funeral Group, Tshwaragano Funerals and Omega Funeral Services.


The FSB said it can’t guarantee that policyholders will get their benefits when they are due as they are not underwritten by a registered insurer. “Policyholders also have an option to cancel their existing policies with the said entities and take new policies  with reputable/ registered entities, but they will be subjected to the new waiting periods, meaning that the cover will not be active immediately,” explained a spokesperson from the FSB.


The FSB added: “When taking out a funeral policy, consumers must ask the company if it is registered with the FSB and confirm the information they are provided with the FSB before taking out a policy.”


Policyholders must also receive a copy of their policy document, which must bear the name of the long-term insurance company which is underwriting the funeral policy. Companies offering policies that are not underwritten in such a way could be subject to a fine or operators could be imprisoned upon conviction.