Crematorium spelt my father's name incorrectly. What would you do?

od244051

I went to a funeral for a relative and DOB was wrong. The order of service booklet and other things had the DOB in DD/MM/YYYY format. His birthday was October (10) and was listed as Jan (1) - an admin error.

Daughter was upset about this. Her partner said its just an admin error and carried on.

cymruchris

I think there have been ample replies now outlining that you do have the right to request any formal documentation be corrected, but as for compensation, very unlikely. As much as they take care not to make mistakes, things do sometimes go wrong. At a funeral, the last thing you want is to be worried about something like a spelling error, but it does happen. You're there to say goodbye to someone, that's the important thing, you're not there to see how you can make a bit of side income to help pay for the funeral. As long as an apology has been made, and any official communications corrected, that's where I'd leave it. Remember the one that has passed, and move on. 

pollypenny

A middle name misspelled? It's not as if your father was spoken of in the wrong name. Your fuss and mention of compensation is rather cheap, I feel. 

Fireflyaway

I'm sorry for your loss and the mistake that was made. I can understand it might seem a bit disrespectful or careless, but at the end of the day, mistakes are made. The point that stands out to me is the box containing your fathers ashes. Is it a permanent container or will you be scattering his ashes / using another container? If it's permanent I'd ask that they provide a new one with the correct spelling. However if it's temporary I'd let it go. I'd definitely let the funeral director know what happened but asking for compensation feels a bit wrong. What exactly will they be compensating you for? It's already a sad and difficult time so it's probably better to allow your anger to pass for your own wellbeing. 

onwards&upwards

I like the idea of a small donation to charity by way of an apology.  Not greedy, but a recognition that it was an upsetting mistake, and some good will then come of it. 

seven-day-weekend

I would want the permanent details corrected, but would not ask for anything else.

TBagpuss

I agree, this is simple human error. It's understandable that you and other family members are upset, when you are grieving even small things can feel much bigger because you are already emotionally upset. 

That said, compensation isn't going to change that.

It's reasonable to ask that they correct the errors - issue an amended or replacement certificate, correct anything which is going to be permanent etc.

You could ask for a good will payment to a charity, and I think that you could reasonably ask for an apology if you feel that it would help other grieving family members to know that the mistake was acknowledged and corrected. 

pollypenny

At my aunt's funeral in November the vicar continued to refer to her by her first name in spite of her middle name given high profile on order of service, being told she used her middle name and hearing her referred to in the eulogy by her middle name. We found that very insensitive. 

This is the same vicar who be bothered to come for the large amount of food left at the reception ( her great age, friends of same age and bad weather meant small attendance). The homeless of that big town could have done well