American General Life Insurance Reviews

I made a phone call on Oct. 1, 2012 to cancel my policies through my agent (Daniel **) and had to leave a voicemail. He called once and left me a voicemail to return his call - I did ... voicemail again anyway. I assumed the policies were cancelled and the monies would not be automatically deducted from my account (Wrong). It has taken three phone calls and one to the agent. The agent said he had given me a number to call to cancel which he did not. He should have cancelled and dealt with it, not me. I was told by someone in Houston, TX that I had to write the company to be reimbursed. It took 15 minutes by phone to set up these policies and over three weeks to stop them. I will not recommend this company or Matrix Direct Insurance Services to anybody.

Someone forged my name on an accidental death policy of $50,000 and made themselves the beneficiary. I called and reported the incident and was told that there was nothing that they could do as long as the payments were being made. Policy number: **, Pamela **, beneficiary is Mary **. Also, this same person had two policies on my grandson (without my daughter's permission) who died in an horrible car accident at the age of four months. She collected on the policy and did not pay a dime towards the burial. I later found out that she has several insurance policies on other people and I am not sure that they are aware of it.

I got a policy with American General Life. They gave me a price then at the day of signing and it was higher. Then they took out two payments for my husband and one for me. When I called to get the extra payment back, they refused and were mean and nasty to me on the phone. After 3 months, I just let it go. I got cancer about a year and a half later. I was told I would only lose the amount I took. Then they told me if I took $6,000 of $150,000, I would lose everything. And most of them were very nasty on the phone when I called to check on my claim. But when I filed the claim, I was lied to and told I would get at least $75,000 because I had cancer and that's the coverage I would lose.

Never trust your agent. My sister and I were told that our father's funeral was taken care of and to go ahead with the funeral. We went ahead with a full funeral, because our agent said that our father was covered. About a month later, we got a bill for $5966.00 from the funeral home. As you can see, our father was not covered! If we had known that he was not covered, we would have had him cremated and would not have had this big payment to worry about! So please do not trust anyone! Everyone must check all your insurance papers involving American General accident and life policies! I think that we all should come together and create a lawsuit against (AGLA), these lying thieves and crooks!

I’ve had a policy with AGLA for over 10 years. I found out that I’m disabled. I was advised that due to my disability, my premium should be waived, but every time I call AGLA about my waiver, I get the runaround. I’ve faxed them my papers from my doctor. I’ve sent them everything they’ve asked for, to no avail. I’m just trying to get my policy waived.

I have a POA for my brother who had four policies from AGL, and started the first policy in 1951 ($250.00, I decided to cash in the policies for his burial fund in a savings account). I too mailed the forms from the website. They were wrong. I faxed the forms AMG sent, but they never received them. I mailed another set of forms. They didn't like them either. I mailed another set of forms. Well, this started on 12/28/2011. I have received three of the checks, but the harassment I have had to go through was unbelievable. The customer service in TN and Texas was nothing but rude and they could care less. I filed a complaint with TN state ins, but they would not reply to my complaint.

My 10-year term life insurance policy was up this year. The premium for the policy was $1300.00 annually. We just received a bill for a $16,000 annual premium with no notification that the policy was terminating. I called for an explanation and was told that the policy increased because of my current age. I asked if a notification of the policy status had ever been sent and they stated that it is operational policy to send that notice two months after the new premium is due.

My mother purchased whole life policies for herself and my dad in 1985, in which they have paid the same premium for all those years. In 2009, I was contacted by letter from AG Life & Accident. It stated that my father's premium was being raised from $91 a month to $2161.09 for 16 months, and then to a reduced maximum guideline premium. This is in order to guarantee the death benefit of my father's policy or the policy would lapse. I was also given other options, which were absolutely ridiculous. I don't understand how this could have happened with a fixed premium. All I know is that we got screwed.

I have been trying to complete the paperwork for 3 weeks to cash in a life insurance policy. It took two weeks for the paperwork to arrive from TN to FL. In the meantime, I printed forms from the Company website, which are not the correct forms. No one notified me. I called Customer Service on 8/8/2011 and was told that the forms received were incorrect. I then faxed copies, but the fax number that I was given was incorrect. Another call to Customer Service produced a supervisor who gave me the correct fax number. He recommended that I also mail copies of the paperwork to Customer Service. The address he gave me was different form the self-addressed envelope that was provided.

My mother was mentally ill and I purchased an insurance from American General. It was sold to her as if she was opening a life insurance policy. However, she was sold an accidental insurance. My mother was not given an explanation of what's the difference or what type of insurance she was getting. My mother let all her other insurance close because she assumed she had the proper life insurance. When I spoke with the consumer affairs department she hurried and refunded the little money my mother put in the policy to another person's account. She did this once I told her I was going to get a lawyer.

Changed Life Insurance Company through my financial advisor. I completed forms to cancel my current and to set up a new account with a new company (better pricing). The original form was mailed from to American General Life to cancel my policy on 3/28/2011, so it's safe to say they were notified of the change by the first week of April.

I have bought 3 different insurance policies over the years and American General Life and Accident is a company I would recommend to everyone. I have had claims paid out to me with no problems and my agent is super fantastic. I find it incredible that people whining about this company are folks who have no clue how insurance works. Read your policies! If you are the beneficiary and you think you are owed money, make a copy of the policy and send it in to the corporate office. My friend sold insurance for years and told me that so many people have polices that are inadequate but they bought it because it was cheap or they had medical issues and no one else would touch them or they bought policies that increased a few years due to attained age. If you think a policy is paid up, make certain that it is indeed paid up! In addition, if you have a really great agent, a yearly review is mandatory! This is done to ensure that the policy still works for you but most folks don't want to spend a few dollars more, even though it is better in the long run. AGLA is a great company! No company is without flaws.

This is a sample of the letter that was sent to customer service. To whom this may concern; My name is Tammy *** and I am sending you this letter because I was informed by my agent, Johnnie Tang at the Pleasanton California office, that my payment for my life insurance policies were not received at your office by the due date intended. Please be aware that I have had these policies since 2004 and I have always paid on time without any interruptions in payment. I was quite surprise to hear that my payment was not received almost a month later after payment was due. I received no notice in the mail or even a phone call by my agent Mr. *** regarding this matter. I consider myself a well establish customer with your company with no history of delinquency in payments.

"My name is Tammy *** and I am sending you this letter because I was informed by my agent Johnnie *** at the Pleasanton, California office that my payment for my life insurance policies were not received at your office by the due date intended. Please be aware I have had these policies since 2004 and I have always paid on time without any interruptions in payment. I was quite surprise to hear that my payment was not received almost a month later after payment was due.

In response to Karen of Woodbridge, VA, just from the brief description you gave, your mother likely had a ten year term. A lot of term policies give you the option of keeping it on an annually renewable basis at the end of the term. The rates are very high because typically people will only keep the old policy if they don't have other insurance options. I suggest reading the contract to see what type of policy she has, and then contacting her agent or customer service. A local agent is the best person to help you determine what options are available.

My mother had an insurance policy with this company for 10 years. She paid them $90 a month. In 2009, she turned 80. Six months later, this insurance company raised her monthly rate to $906.94! What options do we have to pursue this? She paid out a lot of money only to be charged a monthly amount that was more then the money she gets a month. She had to let the policy drop.

In 1988 a week after my husband and I gave birth to our oldest son, we started a life insurance policy for each of us. We never missed a payment. In 2000 when we're divorced, I kept payments on my policy but, my ex-husband dropped his (that should not have any effect on mine). As of this date (late October 2010), my sons are grown and I wanted to cash in my policy. I figured I've been paying on this policy for over 20 years. There should be a nice sum in there. Wrong! I'm being told I only have $1,500. I am going to receive back! I've paid in more than 10 times that much over the years! I've complained to my agent but, he didn't seem to care at all, as he chewed his lunch, smacking his lips loudly in my ear. All he said was, "oh well, that's what 'they' tell me is in there." I've struggled as a single mom to make these payments every month. I thought I was doing the right thing to proved for my family!

I was listed as the beneficiary on some life insurance policies, but have been defrauded out of the money on both of them. For years, the company denied that I was even the beneficiary. Now in the last few years, they have used the court issues an excuse in not settling them up with me, knowing darn good and well that I have been continued to be denied the due process of law. Also, knowing darn well that they have never provided the actual policies to the courts or anyone else that has requested them.

My mother, who is now deceased, had insurance with this company for years, so when she died, I had to cash the policies in to pay for her funeral. The company did not pay all the monies that was owed. They said three of the policies had been without value 10 or more years. So I was going through some of her papers and found that she was still paying on the three policies. That was no good. So, how can that be? I would love for them to pay up, can you help me and the receipts are from 2000, 2004, 2008, 2003, 2007, money order receipts from 2007,2006 so please help me to get what belong to her. Thank you.

I bought an air purifier unit from Country Aire, with 3 months no interest. The contract I signed stated that I owe no interest until February 23, 2010. March came, and I received no bill in the mail, so I called Country Aire, which informed me that they financed my loan out to American General Finances. I obtained their number and called them, and I was told that they sent the bill to the wrong address and that they will fix it.

Well I took out a rider accident insurance for myself and my son and I found out just recently I have been paying for his for seven years that he hasn't been covered, no one contacted me. I haven't seen an agent until just recently and that was only because I called the Warren, PA office. I think they should have been in touch with me so I figured I have paid over $400 for something that wasn't even valid.

I have had a life insurance policy with American General Life and Accident since 1977. Recently I found out that someone took out a loan on my policy, who was not authorized to do so. I contacted American General to get copies of the documents and spoke with a Beth **. I have yet to receive copies of the loan documents to prove that I did not take out this loan and it is fraudulent. I continue to contact Ms. ** and get an answer of they are waiting on customer service to retrieve the documents. It has been well over a month at this point. How long does it take to retrieve copies of these documents? I want this rectified immediately. I want to know who took the loan out and why they allowed this to happen without my consent. This has caused interest to eat into my life insurance policy which decreases the value. Whoever took the loan out has not paid on the loan.

Jewel ** was questioned about diagnosis with breast cancer. She informed me and said I will not be able to because I didn't tell her about the diagnoses before, so I couldn't collect. I also told Chris ** my situation. How are you supposed to know that you are going to have cancer years later? She did not try to work with me or reason with me about another policy. I am legally blind and I feel as if that made a difference. Cancer is not an easy thing. I have told Ms. ** about the cancer. This is not a matter, this is very serious. I now have breast cancer and no policy to cover it. I have been with the company for over 10 years and I'm still not able for the prepaid burial.

On 3/7/09, the agent representing Independent Life Insurance Company came to my mother's funeral for my brother, my children and myself to sign off on cash out claims for policies my mother had and paid for years; those type of policies that can be cashed or turned over into child's name once he/she reaches age of majority. The individual was not very professional and left before we all got there, telling my bereaved brother it would be approximately two months before we could do anything or hear from him.

I have life insurance policies with AIG. I wanted to cash out one of the policies. So one day, coincidentally, before I could call AIG, they called me and told me that I had a policy that I had lapsed and it was a whole life policy so money was owed to me. I told the agent I knew it and wanted to cash it out. He came, brought the forms and convinced me to take out more life policies. I signed the cash out forms and waited three weeks; no money or check was sent. Then the agent came back and said that I must have signed the form wrong. Still, there was no check; he came back and said his boss would have to call me before the form could be sent. The boss never called.

For two years, our cancer policy has increased without any notification to us; it just drafted without our being aware of it or budgeting/planning for it ($100 a month; a 33% increase). Both years, we have been told that a letter was generated. Two questions: Was this amount allowed by the commission and 2nd, why the same story for two years in a row? We had no opportunity to accept or decline the increase.

My mother Virginia Branford who is 80 has a policy with this company which my dad,who is now deceased, purchased in 1988. Since I now handle my mother's affairs I checked on her policy. To date she has paid $7714.41 on a $5,000 policy. And the company says I must pay for another 10 years or surrender the policy for $2,388.12

Purchased a life insurance policy in 1959 for son the policy was for $400.00. The company was formerly National Life and Accident Insurance Co. AIG has been collecting on this policy and has failed to give me a receipt for payment of June 3rd, 2003. The payment was $20.76.

My mother isnt really good on computers so she asked me to e-mail you and tell you what happened to her. Apparently there was a class action lawsuit filed against American General life and Accident Insurance Company which she has numerous life policies through. She recieved a classaction notice in the mail and assumed she would get a settlement. She asked her agent (Ann Southern) if she needed to send the paper back in. The agent told my mother that she didnt need to send the paper back in. American General LifeShe was kind of agitated and was ready to leave when my mother asked her that. Now, one of my mothers friends is recieving periodic settlement checks, this lady did send her form in, and my mother feels cheated by this company once again. My mother is in belief that this agent lied to her. What can she do?

I am writing on behalf of my father who elderly and a poor historian. He has been paying a premium as given on quarterly statements since 1985 have never missed a payment.Now effective 2001 the amount that they have been paying for the last 15 years was not the cost of the insurance. American General LifeThey raised the premium 3 times the original premium amount only after they said that what they was paying was not the cost of the policy and that the cash value of the policy have been used up. Walter Whetstone the agent sold them this insurance . I believe that something deceptive and fraudulant has happen. What has happen to all the money that was paid over the years. And now that he is elderly they have raised the cost to make it almost impossible for them to keep the insurance that they have been faithfully paying on time. Could some one investigate this?