@BrikoX
These are not "poor industry practices." They are design features.
A similar thing happened with my father's life insurance after he died, aged 43, in 1977.
His insurance company (Norwich Winterthur) took over a year to pay the benefit to my mom.
The only thing that kept our family housed and not sliding into poverty for that year was the whip-around organised by the unions, all of them, at the place where Dad worked.
Join your union, and be active in it. You never know when you'll need them.
@zerogravitas There are only two types of billionaires. Arseholes and Pricks.
@Nath One of the excuses when introducing ATMs was that it was cheaper to provide the service. They either lied then, or they're lying now. I know which option I prefer. Fark 'em. Fark 'em all.