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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WHEN ARRANGING A FUNERAL |
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Teresa Evans As we are all potential victims to bereavement, I am striving to raise awareness about ones private rights when faced with a death. I consider how the lack of former education about ones rights and responsibilities that address practical issues in the possible eventuality of experiencing a death, has been overlooked by policy makers in government who have over this last century, relied upon commercial practice as that of a funeral undertaker to guide the bereaved. I further attempt, to address the lack of awareness of an individuals legal consumer rights, when purchasing an outside commercial service when arranging a funeral.
By challenging policy makers within government and consumer education systems, I hope to convince them that education about what to do after a death and funeral consumer awareness is as valuable as education of other life and consumer related matters, being especially mindful of the bereaved to sudden death.
The Problems Most of us do not like to think about death. Some believe that by speaking about their death, may inflict a quick departure. Sadly, most people are presented with bereavement should each of us succeed our parent/s and any sibling/s, and with many witnessing sudden death from an array of social circumstances, it is evident that many people are witness to sudden death whether bought to them by personal experience or via the media.
There is a major gap in public and commercial systems that does not make it obvious that there is consumer statutory protection when purchasing services for a funeral. Information is only obvious to professionals or maybe those fortunate, but sadly, having the need to make prior funeral arrangements or when there is a problem such as I have experienced. Having taken my appointed funeral undertaker (currently known as director) to court, 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.
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 sense that a SYSTEM that should be there to rely upon when vulnerable and at need, had remarkably let me down in many different ways. Your rights are the same as any other purchase of service, from dry cleaning to hairdressing etc. and your statutory rights are protected under the Supply of Goods and Service Act 1982.
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 after 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 such as I, and have information which may be of benefit to others, please do let me know. 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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EVANSABOVEONLINE.co.uk |
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Independent Funeral Choice - Sudden Death |
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