Action 9: Woman left with empty bank account after insurance company makes payment error

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An 83-year-old woman was desperate for help after a mistake by her insurance company left her with no money in her bank account.

Margaret Harris has $4,500 in life insurance policies and always had her $26 monthly premiums drafted from her checking account.

Last November, she said the drafts went haywire, with Pan American Life taking out weekly payments totaling $525.

"They were just taking it out so often, I don't know what they were doing," Harris said. "They just messed up my whole account."

Harris said it wiped out her checking account.

"I didn't have any money to pay my bills, and so I was overdrawn," Harris said.

After she complained, Pan American wrote her a letter promising to refund the $525, but sent the check to the wrong address.

Harris has had no luck getting them to reissue the check.

"I'm an 83-year-old woman, living on a fixed income. I need my little bit of change," she said.

Action 9 wasted no time calling Pan American Life because Harris desperately needs this money.

The company responded with an email apologizing for the delay.

A spokesman told Action 9 they're taking action to ensure Harris receives her refund and thanked Action 9 for bringing it to their attention.

Within days, Harris was holding her $525 check.

"Without you, I wouldn't have gotten it," she said.

Harris has stopped the drafts and instead will send in her payments to prevent this from happening.

WSOC