Funerals
Remember, you have certain rights as a consumer that apply when you engage the services of a funeral director.
Your rights
• Services you have purchased should be provided with reasonable care and skill, within a reasonable time and, where no price is agreed, cost no more than a reasonable charge in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Any goods you purchase from your funeral director including, for example any coffin, flowers or memorial, must be of satisfactory quality, fit for its purpose and as described.
• Remember, if you agreed a contract for services away from the business premises of the funeral director, for example in your home, you normally have seven working days to cancel the contract. For more details, including when you can't cancel, please see the information on buying at home: http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/after_you_buy/buying_at_home/returning-cancelling/
• Unfair contract terms – you are not bound by standard terms in contracts which unfairly favour the business. For more information on unfair terms in contracts see: http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/before_you_buy/think_of/unfair-contracts
If things go wrong
What should you do if you have a complaint about the services of a funeral director? If you have a complaint, discuss it first with the funeral director.
The majority of funeral directors belong to one of two trade associations so if you have not been able to resolve a complaint directly with the funeral director it is worth checking whether they are a member of one of the associations. The trade association may be able to help you to resolve your complaint.These are:
• the National Association of Funeral Directors
• the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors
More information on how to make a complaint is available on the Making a complaint pages which includes information on how to threaten court action should your complaint remains unresolved: http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/after_you_buy/making-complaint/ .
Find out more about choosing a funeral
