Widower says council 'not playing fair' over cremation fees during Covid-19 crisis

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Widower says council 'not playing fair' over cremation fees during Covid-19 crisis

Postby dutchman » Fri May 15, 2020 6:35 pm

Services have been greatly reduced, but fees remain the same

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A Coventry man who lost his wife to cancer has called on the council to show “a bit of goodwill” by lowering cremation fees for residents during the coronavirus.

Official figures show more than 33,000 people have died with Covid-19 in the UK but excess deaths caused indirectly from the virus means the toll is likely to be higher, with some funeral directors saying their workload has doubled as a result of the pandemic.

Restrictions on social distancing during funerals are designed to keep staff and mourners safe, with mourners previously limited to six in Coventry and ‘live streaming’ advised.

Regulations were eased slightly today following new Government guidance meaning 16 mourners can now attend services at Canley.

Cremations are also reduced from 45 minutes to 20 minutes to limit the time spent in the company of people from other households.

But it means people have not been able to give their loved one the send-off they would have liked.

Neville Wilson, from Wyken, has criticised Coventry City Council for “lacking compassion” by not lowering cremation fees during the crisis.

Mr Wilson lost his wife Doreen at the age of 68 from lung cancer on March 20 and was billed a standard £885 for her service at the council-run Canley Crematorium on April 3, although he said both he and the funeral directors who organised the service were turned down by the council in their calls to lower fees in light of the reduced service during the virus.

Mr Wilson, 66, said: “If they are going to reduce the service from 45 minutes to 20 minutes the amount of money should be pro-rata.

“I have challenged it with the funeral parlour and they have challenged it with the council but the council do not want to know.

“To me they are abusing people’s grief which is not on.

“My wife was very popular and she has a rather large family who would have normally been there.

“Sadly it was the worst funeral I have ever been to.

“We only had a 20 minute service instead of 45 minutes. You cannot bring flowers so we had her coffin with no flowers.

“There was one person on the gate counting to ensure there was only so many people going in.

“It is not about the money but you would expect a bit of goodwill.

“There will be some poor people who cannot afford it with what’s going on – they are not playing fair.”

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Re: Widower says council 'not playing fair' over cremation fees during Covid-19 crisis

Postby dutchman » Thu Jul 09, 2020 3:34 pm

Funeral costs rise despite 'pauper' ceremonies

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The cost of cremations in the UK has continued to rise despite reduced services on offer during the pandemic.

Two thirds of councils have continued with price increases of up to 16% from last year, while limited numbers of mourners can attend shorter ceremonies to maintain social distancing.

A quarter of authorities have frozen prices, while seven have cut costs on the grounds of compassion.

One widower said a lockdown service for his wife was like a "pauper's funeral".

Neville Wilson's wife Doreen died of lung cancer in March and her funeral took place during lockdown.

Only five mourners could attend under the government guidelines on social distancing.

The funeral procession was a hearse only, without floral tributes and the family had to go in their own cars.

While the service time was reduced from 45 minutes to 20 minutes, the fee charged by Coventry City Council was not.

"It felt unbelievably bad," said machine engineer Mr Wilson, aged 66.

"It felt like a pauper's funeral. It couldn't get any worse if we'd tried.

"I then started some investigation myself as to which councils were and which councils weren't [freezing costs] and I thought if some councils are doing it, why aren't Coventry council doing it?"

Widower Mr Wilson (pictured top) said current costs were heaping extra grief on families during a difficult time.

"My two sons are still extremely angry. And also so are my wife's family, they're very upset that they couldn't attend. I really wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy," he said.

"Horrendous is the word."

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