Funeralcare screwupdate
Margaret Miller, of Dundas Road, North Berwick, passed away last Monday, aged 88, having paid her local Co-operative Funeralcare branch two-and-half years ago to be buried in the same grave plot as her parents, Andrew and Margaret Miller, in council-owned North Berwick Cemetery.
However, following her death, her relatives were told by Co-op staff that East Lothian Council had ruled there was no space in the lair for a third burial and Margaret was allocated a new plot in the recently opened extension of the cemetery.
But her family were determined that the pensioner's final resting place would not be in the new section of the cemetery, branded "inappropriate" by Margaret's nephew Kenneth Miller, and took the last-minute decision last Thursday not to go ahead with her burial - scheduled to take place the next day.
Find out what happened next here.
However, following her death, her relatives were told by Co-op staff that East Lothian Council had ruled there was no space in the lair for a third burial and Margaret was allocated a new plot in the recently opened extension of the cemetery.
But her family were determined that the pensioner's final resting place would not be in the new section of the cemetery, branded "inappropriate" by Margaret's nephew Kenneth Miller, and took the last-minute decision last Thursday not to go ahead with her burial - scheduled to take place the next day.
Find out what happened next here.
Labels: Co-op
posted by Charles Cowling at
09:23
8 Comments:
Whilst not being a particular fan of the co-op, who do seem to have more than their fair share of cock-ups, I can't really see how they can be hung, drawn and quartered on this one.
When you take instructions from a family, there is usually a gap of a day or so, even more where a weekend gets in the way, before the burial authority gets it's act together, and rings the alarm bells. Until then, an undertaker has to rely on the accuracy of the information given by family members, albeit in good faith, though obviously combined with local knowledge.
A distressing time for the family, but this really could happen to any undertaker, anywhere in the UK.
I agree with anon. Could have happened to any of us. Give us more wrong body stories Charles..
I don't know - a bit of checking at the time of the purchase of the pre-pay wouldn't have hurt.
However, I am concerned that families are expressing a "general level of satisfaction" about the new site. Is general high enough?
I'm with X. Piry here, and I'd go beyond 'checking . . . wouldn't have hurt' to say that checking is an essential part of responsible contracting by anyone who wants to be seen as a 'professional'. How onerous can it be to make a call to the Council's cemetery department?
Most people -- regardless of whether they are women or 85 years old -- have very little idea how our body-disposal systems work, so it is not proper for FDs to assume that a customer has full information and understanding.
Day in, Day out. Another co op scandal.
Keep them coming.
I agree with anon. Really good thoughts......... This is wonderful article of funerals. Keep up the Good Work......
scandal once again for co operative funeralcare as 11 urns containing ashes ( cremated remains ) were recently found dumped on wasteland near darington.
I nor any of my family will ever use them again.
This company should hang their heads in shame!!!!
Thank you for this, Anon. Readers, here is the link to this story: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/4558043.Anger_as_human_ashes_dumped/
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