Debt collection agencies

[CleverClogs]

Re: Debt collection agencies

If is was Co-operative Funeralcare, I would be very surprised as they are, in my experience, very sensitive

Not always. Link

On July 21 2011 Sonny, the stillborn baby of Sandra and Sai Lao, was cremated. The Laos were distraught when they were told. They denied having signed the cremation forms. Co-op funeral director David Durden said no, they had, claiming they were so distressed they must have forgotten. Durden was taken to court, found guilty, fined £400, and ordered to pay £15 victim surcharge and £350 court costs.

[ODC]

Re: Debt collection agencies

A family run funeral director is more likely to think of his reputation than some of the big players

[bluebottle]

Re: Debt collection agencies

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

Hi Clever Clogs,

Coffins have to conform to a certain specification, depending on whether it's for burial or cremation, and the requirements of local authorities.

A burial casket or coffin has to be in timber, although I have seen wicker coffins. The furniture (handles and nameplate) is usually made from metal.

A cremation coffin has to be made of a combustible material conforming to Environment Agency requirements as regards emissions. The furniture is made of plastic.

All coffins are lined to prevent leakage of body fluids and all you need to hold it in place is a staple gun. The upholstery is held in place with staples, too.

You can buy coffins kits (base, sides and lid). Put "Funeral Furnishers" or "Funeral Caskets and Coffins" into Google.

If the deceased is fitted with a cardiac pacemaker, this needs to be removed prior to the funeral. The reason for this is that, when subjected to high temperature, they explode. This was discovered when a corpse, fitted with a pacemaker, was cremated at Solihull Crematorium and the pacemaker exploded, demolishing part of the crematorium in the process. The incident gave a completely new meaning to the phrase, "Going out with a bang".

The incident you refer to about the Co-operative Funeralcare funeral director I am very familiar with as this happened in Plymouth. One of David Durden's colleagues, whom I shall refer to as Peter, I have had dealings with on a number of occasions through my chairmanship of a charity involved in Primary Health Care, and he is very sensitive with relatives who are having problems financing a funeral. This happened with a friend of mine who died suddenly and his widow didn't have enough money to meet the funeral account in full. Peter set up a credit account so that she could pay it off over a period of months. Peter also directed the funeral of a life-long friend of mine who died from bowel cancer just before Christmas 2011 and his sensitivity was commendable. I have heard others speak highly of Peter.

If I have got anything wrong, I am sure ODC, who is a professional FD, will correct me.

Bluebottle

[ODC]

Re: Debt collection agencies

Coffins do not need to be made of Timber. Our local crem does a nice line in cardboard coffins. Obviously pacemakers only need to be removed for cremations. It's quite acceptable to bury someone with a pacemaker. There are very few metal handles on coffins nowadays even for earth burials. The majority are now plastic so that's why you rarely see anyone lifting a coffin by its handles.

[charitynjw]

Re: Debt collection agencies

Not always. Link

http://www.bitterwallet.com/zombie-a...the-dead/43157

[astraldream]

Re: Debt collection agencies

Its a large funeral directors and i agree a small directors wouldnt dream of something like this.

The co-op are getting just as bad tbh last week i had someone come in saying that because they were applying for the social fund they wanted 2k upfront before they would even pick the deceased up from the hospital.
I have heard this a few times since from other clients in other branches. Disursements before the funeral are the norm but in my area its usually no more than 900 which is payable anytime before the funeral.
The company i work for and co-op are similar we are around 1k to 1500 more than local funeral directors.

[ODC]

Re: Debt collection agencies

If someone told me the Social Fund were paying towards the cost of their Funeral I would do my very best to save them as much money as possible by advising them of the cheapest options available. It should be possible to arrange a respectable funeral within the guidelines of the Social Fund. Not everyone needs a solid oak coffin and £ 250 floral spray. The Caring Co-Op have a strange way of running business

[astraldream]

Re: Debt collection agencies

For a cremation a basic, (limited service package) with disbursements is 2964.
On a means tested basis the most the DWP will pay on cremation is 1400.
So where does the remaining 1564 come from? I work full time and would struggle with that never mind someone on benefits.
All NAFD have to provide a limited service package although (i think) it doesnt state how much that limited service package is it just has to be cheaper than the normal service.

[ODC]

Re: Debt collection agencies

The DS will pay £ 700 towards the cost of a Funeral plus disbursements. For a cremation this includes the cost of cremation and the doctors fees. A simple coffin suitable for cremation can be had for less than £ 100 so that leaves the FD £ 600.

I found that by helping people out it always paid dividends in that you had a customer for life and the help you gave was appreciated by them and others who spread the word. If people were upfront with me about their financial situation I was always able to work something out.

[astraldream]

Re: Debt collection agencies

The funeral costs here are twice that measly 600 left.

Like i say with our limited sercive package it leaves a remainder of 1564 after the DWP payment. Its awful

[CleverClogs]

Re: Debt collection agencies

On the other hand, the next of kin could do the job themselves for much less.

[ODC]

Re: Debt collection agencies

On the other hand, the next of kin could do the job themselves for much less.

Easier said than done mate. There is a bit more to it than buying a coffin and burying it

[CleverClogs]

Re: Debt collection agencies

Why bother with a coffin?

Just slit open the abdomen to allow gasses out, then weight it and dump it at sea.

[ODC]

Re: Debt collection agencies

As I said its not that simple. There is only one place in the British Isles where you can bury a body at sea and even then you will need a Home Office Licence

[Angry Cat]

Re: Debt collection agencies

Easier said than done mate. There is a bit more to it than buying a coffin and burying it

Quite!