Menu
Login
Two years ago I signed up for a saving plan with Metlife. At the time I was 48 years old and the Wealth Brokers said no problem to take out a 20 year investment to increase my savings over the years and also to pay out when I retire. The initial premium I decided on was said 50% of my salary and when asked if I was able to reduce the premium - I was advised to do so without any hassles after 18 months of paying the premium. I was also advised that my investment portfolio will be monitored by their wealth brokers and changed to reflect the best possible dividends - this did not happen at all.
Now 24 months later I wanted to decrease my monthly premium, this is not possible, well it is but the initial premium of the policy will not change, i.e. I can lower my monthly premium but the difference of the initial premium will be paid from my savings part of the investment and when that cannot cover the monthly installments the policy will lapse without value.
I asked to also receive a partial surrender, which was advised by the friendly call center agent is possible, however just to be told that no partial surrender value is due to me with this amazing policy I have.
Considering I will be paying 20 years into an investment where I cannot change the premium due to not earning enough to pay the premium and I won't be receiving any salary once I retire this is a horrible outlook, since I am saving over half my salary in this investment and will never see the money again.
I have now surrendered this policy and after paying $29, 000 into this investment my surrender value is $16, 000 and $20k will be taken as surrender fee. Who gets this money - is this a bonus payment for their CEO? Do Metlife associates receive bonuses every year from monies that have been paid into investment schemes that will never bear any significant savings for the actual client? And after all of this frustrating dealings and heartbreak, their mascot of snoopy becomes a blood sucking hound after our money without value to anybody but Metlife themselves.
The money I lost is a full year salary in my home country. I hope whoever benefits from my loss enjoys their bonus on other people's expense - how do they sleep at night?
Same thing happened to me. It was with emiratesnbd with a very misleading RM who almost pushed me to sign without mentioning the surrender fee.
I was very clear about liquidity request and he ensured me it's possible. Well guess what. It's not. 2 years now and 24k on their bloody policy all I can get from it is, 16k. I have been promised at least 5% per year and a wealth manager. Well on the 24k it's just 500 usd.
Now, as all of you, I'm seriously considering stopping all this mess and accepting to lose the 8k.its better than loosing more in few years.
In the same boat, I wanted to invest my hard-earned money in mutual funds but did not have time or knowledge to do so. I reached out to my bank and they immediately advised MetLife International Wealth Builder and pushed me into going for 10 years saying 5 years (that I wanted to go for) won't give me much benefit. With 3 years gone now and a little more knowledge up my sleeve, I have realized it is the one of the worst kind of investments because it is not capital protected. I am stuck now and wondering whether to surrender and get peanuts or to stay and start managing my investments on my own as switches are unlimited and the so call fund manager has done zero switches in past 3 years. All who are thinking of investment, please think twice before doing so in this very misguided investment plan.
I was suckered into this deal when I was opening the account at Mashreq bank, and luckily I did not opt for a big premium. Just the lowest possible in order to get the account opened, but now after 2 years (and I am supposed to do another 10) there is absolutely nothing to show for it except loss! Thinking of cancelling it altogether before it gets much worse than it already is.