Debt collection agencies

[astraldream]

After four weeks off work due to work related stress i was told that rules regarding clients accounts had changed.

I work in the funeral industry and clients normally as a matter of course sign to say they will pay the outstanding account in 28days.

Now generally people regardless of their financial situation manage to pay i think its a matter of pride with regards to the type of det it is.

On occasion when the 28 days is up and 3 reminder letters have been sent i contact them to find out whats going on and in some situations a payment plan is set up with us.

I have now been told we will now not accept a payment plan but will sent straight to a DCA.

I love my job, i find it really rewarding but the company and in fact the industry in general when it comes to the big bosses is awful.
I hate the fact the people that have just lost someone and now need to find approx 3.5k for an average funeral within 28 days.
Who in the real world has access to that type of money even with the social fund the max they will pay is 1400 for a cremation and 2100 for a burial.

Is this even legal to not allow clients arrange payments with instead of referring the debt?

Im not convinced its a company directive but an idea the area managers have dreamt up?

[ODC]

Re: Debt collection agencies

Personally I think its disgusting. I worked as a professional Funeral Director for over 15 yrs and 99.9% of people paid their Funeral Accounts. We were always prepared to make arrangements with clients who couldnt afford to pay in full. What I used to hate were solicitors who held on to money for months, even years while claiming to be settling estates. THey knew full well that the Inland Revenue and the Funeral Director were the first two accounts to be paid out of any estate

ODC.
Dip.F.D., M.B.I.F.D.

[astraldream]

Re: Debt collection agencies

Personally I think its disgusting. I worked as a professional Funeral Director for over 15 yrs and 99.9% of people paid their Funeral Accounts. We were always prepared to make arrangements with clients who couldnt afford to pay in full. What I used to hate were solicitors who held on to money for months, even years while claiming to be settling estates. THey knew full well that the Inland Revenue and the Funeral Director were the first two accounts to be paid out of any estate

ODC.
Dip.F.D., M.B.I.F.D.

Absolutely, most people beg, steal or borrow to pay the debt off as a matter of honour.

Is it lawful to refer the debt straight away? I'm not sure if its my area manager who has made the decision and not the company.

[labman]

Re: Debt collection agencies

This is something I know nothing about.

Out of morbid curiousity, what would happen if one were to say, "Sorry, I can't afford to pay, so my dad can't have a funeral."

They can't force you to go into debt irresponsibly. They surely can't force you into a position where you might be made bankrupt.

Presumably there is a law somewhere stating dead people must be buried or cremated?

[astraldream]

Re: Debt collection agencies

This is something I know nothing about.

Out of morbid curiousity, what would happen if one were to say, "Sorry, I can't afford to pay, so my dad can't have a funeral."

They can't force you to go into debt irresponsibly. They surely can't force you into a position where you might be made bankrupt.

Presumably there is a law somewhere stating dead people must be buried or cremated?

Truthfully i tell people to shop around as we are at least 1k more than other funeral directors.
In the case of someone having NO money at all i think the council would arrange a public funeral.

[ODC]

Re: Debt collection agencies

There are plenty of ways to save money when arranging a funeral. Grants are available from the Social Fund towards the cost of a funeral provided the person making the arrangements is in receipt of a qualifying benefit. Funera Directors charge far too much. The mark-up on coffins alone is around 5-600%

[astraldream]

Re: Debt collection agencies

There are plenty of ways to save money when arranging a funeral. Grants are available from the Social Fund towards the cost of a funeral provided the person making the arrangements is in receipt of a qualifying benefit. Funera Directors charge far too much. The mark-up on coffins alone is around 5-600%

Absolutely. Our cheapest is 350....costs us........17 to make.

Anyone have any ideas with regards to the original question are they allowed to send the debt straight to debt collection or are they obliged to work out an agreement if the client wishes to?

[ODC]

Re: Debt collection agencies

I'm surprised at any Funeral Director with half a brain doing this. The adverse publicity they will generate when the likes of The Leeds Losers start threatening some old widow who living on a pension

[astraldream]

Re: Debt collection agencies

Bump..can anyone help with this? Just had a client on asking for help with his account i want to help him and tell the managers the new rule is unfair.

Rang the OFT but they wasnt much help

[ODC]

Re: Debt collection agencies

What is the company policy for accounts which go to a solicitor and are tied up for months. Did it mention debt collectors on the client confirmation.

[astraldream]

Re: Debt collection agencies

They havent mentioned about when it goes to probate, but i suspect they will allow this.
It makes no mention of DCA on the payment policy.

I have now rang
OFT
Financial Ombudsman
Legal Ombudsman

and the NAFD where i was put through to a voicemail

[bluebottle]

Re: Debt collection agencies

Hi Astral Dream,

Do you know if the funeral director you work for is a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) or Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF), who have codes of practice dealing with this?

If is was Co-operative Funeralcare, I would be very surprised as they are, in my experience, very sensitive and have made arrangements for those on limited income to set up a payment plan in order to settle their funeral account.

I am aware of an American company that owns a number of UK funeral directors, but I am unable to comment on them as I haven't had dealings with any of them.

To answer Labman's query, there are laws that govern the disposal of corpses and it is an offence to prevent the proper burial of a corpse, not report a death and obstruct one of H.M. Coroners.

One other point of interest is that when the police deal with sudden deaths, they are acting on behalf of and under the direction of the local Coroner, not the Chief Constable or local authority.

I am sure ODC will correct me if I am wrong in this respect, but it might not be a bad idea to discreetly make enquiries with NAFD or SAIF about your employers attitude, if they are members of one or both of these trade bodies. Pose as a customer.

Bluebottle.

[ODC]

Re: Debt collection agencies

I am amazed that any respectable FD would go down this road before attempting to come to some arrangement with the client. The adverse publicity it would generate alone would harm his business. I don't think too many people could pay for a funeral right away unless they had insurance.

[bluebottle]

Re: Debt collection agencies

I am amazed that any respectable FD would go down this road before attempting to come to some arrangement with the client. The adverse publicity it would generate alone would harm his business. I don't think too many people could pay for a funeral right away unless they had insurance.

I've just spoken to two friends of mine who are professional funeral directors like yourself. They couldn't believe what I told them and they share the same views as yourself. The management of this funeral directing firm seem determined to put it out of business.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Debt collection agencies

There are plenty of ways to save money when arranging a funeral. Grants are available from the Social Fund towards the cost of a funeral provided the person making the arrangements is in receipt of a qualifying benefit. Funera Directors charge far too much. The mark-up on coffins alone is around 5-600%

Any idea on whence to get a coffin, or should one make one's own?