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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WHEN ARRANGING A FUNERAL |
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Teresa Evans
Many would not like to think so, but we are all potential victims to bereavement. I am striving to raise awareness about ones private and consumer rights if/when faced with a death.
In knowing ones rights, it helps to understand ones options to make an informed decision to who will care for the deceased and in making arrangements for a funeral that extend beyond the need to using the services of a funeral undertaker (currently known as a funeral director).
My campaign is diverse, but focused on dispelling the ‘assumptions’ that people are aware of their rights and I am particularly mindful of the public that may be bereaved to a critical incident which quite often has resulted in a violent death.
I aim to convince the relevant public officials, that education to know what to do in the event of a death is, as valuable as the education afforded to us about many other private and, consumer related issues pertaining to life.
The Problems
My own experiences and subsequent, researched enquiry, leads me to believe that there has grown an almost nonchalant, somewhat desensitised, attitude of public officials holding ‘assumptions’ that the bereaved that find themselves in a critical circumstance, whilst trying to make sense of an unexpected demise, will have the ‘opportunity’ to explore their lawful private and consumer rights when caring for their deceased and making arrangements for a funeral.
There is also evidence to suggest that public officials have relied upon bodies of the funeral trade for direction, when preparing literature for publication that is considered to advise the bereaved in addition to making assumptions, that the funeral undertaker will provide the bereaved with personalised support and guidance. There is evidence to suggest that this has sometimes resulted in the bereaved being misguided, coerced and taken advantage of, which I equate to abuse.
With the vast majority of people purchasing the services of a funeral undertaker, it is now time to give proper consideration to the most vulnerable – those who are forced to use this service. In law they are the ‘consumer’, in real term, they are the bereaved, and far more vulnerable than a mere consumer purchasing general goods and services.
Whilst there is some published information on personal rights and support available to the bereaved, this has to be sought out and may only become more obvious to those sadly facing death and planning and arranging a funeral, plus professionals working in a funeral and bereavement environment.
Having brought a claim for damages for Breach of Contract against my appointed funeral undertaker, I make suggestions about dealing with such a purchase of service, as this is what you are doing when you appoint a funeral undertaker/planner.
Your rights are the same as any other purchase of service and goods, from dry cleaning to hairdressing etc. Statutory rights are protected under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 / the Sale of Goods Act 1979 / the Supply of Goods and Service Act 1982 / the Unfair terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 and in general contract law, but funeral contracts are more specially dealt with. It has recently been brought to my attention that there exists a common law whereby it can be considered a civil and criminal offence to commit an indignity upon the dead, or prevent a decent burial (please refer to Contract section)
The Milton Keynes Citizen News (2007), reported my own unfortunate experience, to be one of the most remarkable ever to be heard in Milton Keynes County Court http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/How-could-they-do-this.3216039.jp
I believed that I lived in a society that had a lawful democratic system, to protect the vulnerable public when at need, but I sense that the ‘system’ remarkably let me down in many different ways.
You will also find information about how to avoid funeral undertakers altogether, in acting independent of a funeral undertaker, should you feel inclined to. I tracked down many helpful individuals and organisations, and provide information about some of them, that will assist you in arriving at an informed choice, of what happens and what to do in the event of a death.
I hope that the following information depicts that my interest is both public and commercial. I need to hit it home, that no one, other than the bereaved person, should be able to make a critical decision on their behalf and that they are in themselves, the independent funeral director!
I am a bereaved mother and not a professional. I have never created a website before, so I will welcome any ideas for improving the layout and wording. More importantly, if you have been through an added traumatic experience when using the services of a funeral provider, and have information which may be of benefit to others, please do let me know. This website was created to express some of the concerns that I experienced, as I consider them to be relevant in the public’s interest.
I hope to maintain this site until I am confident that the necessary changes that I am campaigning for, have taken place and I offer its content, in a somewhat rebellious, but without prejudice view. Please read on ………..
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Independent Funeral Choice - Sudden Death |
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