co-operative funeralcare are a disgrace

Equaliser123

Takoda wrote: »

Wouldn't be at all surprised if you don't WORK there too. Lot of that about on here lately. :rotfl:

Try and remember that someone who has used a funeral service has clearly had a bereavement. Your post reeks of insensitivity, speculation and callousness.

I have no doubt that you are not big enough to offer an apology to the poster who you are insulting, but it would be totally due.

bluebluecow

Prays for all. Just to say that my parents are both C of E vicars and the one Funeral Directors that are rude and demanding are the ones francised to the co-op group, My mum and dad recomend the local indepenent one, who is brilliant. Just thought Id point out that they are rude to he clergy too. They tend to book the slot at the crem befor even getting a vicar and my parents look after 9 churches so very busy

Liz

Irons2

Takoda wrote: »

Yes, at the Aldershot branch you were singing the praises of. Very common on MSE - recommending somewhere you have an interest in.

Someone complains about a shop or service and then a new user suddenly pops up to recommend it.

HTH

Not sure my comment and BNo excuses would be seen by all as a recomendation - but hey - perhaps this site should be renames
"TakodaThe Expert" - you seem to know everything.;)

My wife posts on this site most weeks and pointed this item out to me as she knows how pleased we were with the co-op and thought it unfair and a little biased. So I registered and commented.

Is a newbie not allowed an opinion?

swampduck

We are due to bury my Brother-in-law tomorrow - originally the family had gone with Co operative Funeralcare.
His sister had gone to Funeralcare the two days after he had died and was told that because nothing had been paid i.e. 50% that she was not allowed to see him.
But when the family realised how much it would cost - we had to shop around (distasteful though it sounds) as he had made no provision for his funeral costs.
On talking to the new funeral directors it would appear that they are having to take this stance because of the many funerals that have been carried out and then not paid for (after all you have had the service and they can hardly remove the body from the grave because the family cant or wont pay up!).
But my own experience of funeral directors dictates that the independent ones offer the best service but as with all things we all have our own opinions.

Swampy

mrcoxexcel

To be billed the day following a funeral as I was this week means that it was posted on the day of the funeral. Insensitive to say the least. Then to fail to reduce the bill by the promised 10% because I am a member is equally poor. Overall - I would never use the co-op again and will leave instructions in my will accordingly!

purplepardalis

The Co-op branch I used for the funeral of my baby son were brilliant. And they didn't charge a penny for any of their services. I think it's wrong to say the whole business is awful.

col32

Hi all. I've been searching online for Co-operative Funeral Services because I'm in the middle of making a complaint to them, and wondered if anyone else had experienced similar problems with them.

My Mum died in March. She was 66 and her death was sudden and unexpected. As an only child, I was the one left picking up the pieces. I can only say there's nothing that makes you feel like you've grown up like the death of a parent, and the tasks that inevitably follow, such as arranging a funeral and clearing the house.

I chose the Co-op on the recommendation of my Uncle, as they'd done my Grandma's funeral which he arranged. I have to say, the undertaker who came to my house was lovely, explained everything, and showed the right amount of caring and empathy.

One thing I wanted to be clear on before I started the emotional job of going through all the details, was the cost of the funeral. I asked if the fee could be taken from the estate - I knew Mum had willed everything to me, and that once I'd sold her house I would be able to pay. The funeral director said that was fine, and that they did this a lot. She told me that once I received the invoice, I should forward it to the executor, or the solicitor dealing with probate. She said that I might get reminder letters, but not to take much notice because they were automatic.

The funeral went as arranged and everything was fine. I received the invoice and sent it to my solicitor, who in turn wrote to the Co-op explaining who he was, and confirming that the payment would be sent once probate was granted and the house was sold.

In the meantime, I managed to sell my Mum's house, and it was just a case of waiting for probate to be granted before we could go ahead with the sale.

I had received a couple of reminder letters from the Co-op, but what I didn't expect was a letter from the local court telling the Co-op are taking me to court over unpaid funeral expenses. I'm trying to drag it out because I'm on the verge of completing the sale on the house, but the upshot is that I could end up with a CCJ because the Co-op reneged on their word.

The stress of dealing with this is taking it's toll, and I am emotionally drained. A distressing experience has been made so much worse by the lack of understanding from the Co-op. A debt specialist at the CAB told me that the Co-op are notorious for doing this, which is partly why I'm making the complaint.

When you're faced with the task of arranging a funeral for a loved one, you're emotionally vulnerable, and you trust the funeral director to be aware of that. It seems the Co-op only care about getting their money.

mikemaple

So sorry you had to go through all this - it was bad enough when at a recent funeral they were running 25 mins late and relatives and hearses were all backing up.

Interestingly Which just did a review of funeral directors and was disappointed to say the least with some of the practices going on..

Anyway - it may be worth trying these - if they are a member of a trade association.

They arbitrate etc in funeral disputes.

http://www.idrs.ltd.uk/?p=35&parent=33&lang=e

jeaniethefairy

anniered wrote: »

Thanks for all your messages I would like to point out when stating the co-operative group are a disgrace I am only giving my experience of the treatment I received. I received extremely bad treatment from branch level to manager, regional manager and customer service manager and was even treated dismisively by the head office. So I would assume that all the levels of this company have a very bad work ethic and therefore I use my experience to warn others not to use them.
I have since my mums funeral found a lot of other people who have had bad experience with this company and also feel that they have tried to dismiss their complaints and disrespect their families.
All I wanted was to warn others so it does not happen to them or their loved ones.

You don't have to apologise. After what you went through the Co-op should be making a public apology. People who have criticised you for posting what you did are insensitive and clearly have been lucky enough not to be treated so badly! If it ever happens to them, I'm sure they'd feel the same as you and want to warn other people about Co-op funeralcare.

paddyrg

^^ Do you realise this all happened 3.5 years ago?