GMA reported that Sarwara Faruque's family had been waging a nine-month fight to claim the life insurance money she had put away for her children in the event of her death. Faruque worked for 7-Eleven for more than seven years, saving as much as possible for her children's college funds. She also made regular payments into a life [image-nocss] insurance policy offered by 7-Eleven. In the spring of 2007, Faruque was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer and, after a nine-month battle, she died.
When the family tried to collect their mother's $45,500 life insurance policy, the company that handled the policy, Excellerate HRO, denied their claim. According to GMA, the company said that Faruque's policy was cancelled because she did not pay the premiums while out on sick leave.
But Excellerate HRO was wrong, GMA said. There was a clause in Faruque's policy explaining that if she could not work because of a medical condition, she did not have to pay her premiums any longer and would still remained covered.
For nine months, the family tried to get help from 7-Eleven, without success, said the report. The Faruques eventually hired a lawyer.
7-Eleven spokesperson Margaret Chabris told CSP Daily News, "[GMA] aired a story about an issue that came to our attention last fall concerning a former Florida 7-Eleven store employee who passed away in December of 2007. The report...included many inaccuracies. Due to a number of unfortunate circumstances involving 7-Eleven's third-party benefits administrator, 7-Eleven, and the family, there was an unintended administrative delay in the benefit claim process. At the time 7-Eleven was contacted by GMA, 7 Eleven was already working with the insurance company to resolve the situation. When GMA called 7-Eleven about this matter, 7-Eleven apologized for the delay and continued working with the insurance company to resolve the claim, which ultimately was paid in full. 7 Eleven has also reviewed the claims process to ensure that future claims are processed as efficiently as possible."
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