Lincolnshire Co-op Tritton Road Funeral Service

5 Gillian Ponting 3rd May 2020

Respectful....dignified....simple and caring.My family felt comforted by this quiet and empathic service.Thank you

5 Robert Bratley 2nd May 2020

During what are difficult times, everyone looked after us well.
Stuart the funeral director along with his team dealt with everything with great dignity and respect for Mum.

Thank you to you all.

5 Simon Gladwin 27th Apr 2020

Such nice people who all went the extra mile to make sure everything went as it should, their advice was always good and accurate. I would prefer not to have to use them again, but in reality I will.

Thank you

4 Tony Durant 12th Apr 2020

Under the current circumstances of the Covid-19 Virus, the overall service of my mother's funeral was very good and I would certainly recommend them for future reference. Mr Tony D from Lincoln

5 tina mcnaught 7th Apr 2020

All the team at Lincoln branch are fantastic. Big hugs to Tracy & Sue for all your help.

5 Stephen Fields 6th Apr 2020

Even during these difficult times, a fault less service was provided my all staff that we dealt with. 
Our sincere thanks and gratitude for all that you did. 

1 Bryan Kraty 3rd Apr 2020

Many, many issues and a complaint letter sent to head office!

Re:  Barbara Batkin Funeral  - Lincoln (Arr/Sun No: 00079559)

We have a number of issues concerning standard of service provided by Lincolnshire Co-op Funeral Services for the funeral of Barbara Batkin which are set out below.

I recognise that this funeral contract, executed on 3/3/20 for a funeral on March 30th, was being conducted against a backdrop of changing COVID 19 advisories and legislation.  The coroner’s office also requested a post mortem to be conducted.

In this respect under the contract your duty of care to your clients includes ”Providing you with service communications so that you receive a full and functional service. Updates and notifications about changes to our services.” Most of our issues concern a general lack of or timely communication by our assigned funeral Director, Stuart Bell, from the Tritton Road office in Lincoln.

Following signing of our contract with you the following service to be provided or organized were cancelled or not delivered as required.

Church memorial service was cancelled 
• We only got to hear about this through an email we sent at 12.15. According to Stuart Bell his offices knew at 08.00. Why were we not informed directly?
• This means that the estimated fee of £320 should be adjusted as only graveside prayers were said and no church used.
• Service sheet estimated cost should be cancelled as not provided and advised not to go ahead

Communication
• Little advice given by Stuart Bell during the period of making the funeral arrangements, we continually had to chase him for information.
• Due to the coroner requesting a post mortem we were continually calling Stuart to find out if this had been done and when Barbara would be returned.
• Once Barbara had been returned nobody advised us so that we could go ahead with the family notifications. We only knew she had returned at a meeting on March 19th with Stuart Bell at Tritton Rd. as he went to check.
• See also Jewelry and clothing below.

Notice in Paper
• The notice was put into the echo without being given my final wording and not telling me that this was going ahead, such that family members actually read it in
the paper prior to my own notice being sent out.

Jewelry and Clothing
• On Saturday 28th March we tried all day to get hold of Stuart Bell by phone, mobile and email to confirm that specific items of jewelry and clothing to be removed and
replaced with others.

No confirmation was received so we had to call the Duty Funeral Director on Monday and email the office. By 10 am on day of the funeral at 12am we had still
heard nothing. Once again we had to chase the office for confirmation. 

We had two sleepless nights over this.

Embalming
• Due to the time taken for the post mortem and Barbara to be returned and embalmed, I sent an email on March 23th to Stuart to advise that this, scheduled for the next day, was no longer to go ahead. Again, no confirmation that this went ahead. 
The estimated cost for admitting into care needs to be changed
Wake
• Advised after notifications had been sent to persons to attend the funeral that we would not be given a room to hold the wake despite being told by Stuart that all
receptions already booked would go ahead. 
Any estimated cost for this needs to be cancelled.

Limousine
• Limousine was cancelled. Any estimated cost for this needs to be cancelled.

Flowers
• We were advised that no flowers were available, despite us obtaining bouquets from another florist two weeks after we placed the order with Coop. Stuart advised that artificial flowers would be put around coffin at no cost.  Any estimated cost for this needs to be cancelled.

Pall-Bearers
• Finally, two pall-bearers did not turn up for the burial and two council workers have to stand in to bury mum. 

Photograph provided of this in original letter.


• Coffin should have been laid at the top of the grave for the service and then lowered into the grave afterwards. This did not happen, we were not told anything prior, but Barbara was lowered straight into the grave and the service then took
place afterwards. This was extremely upsetting.

• We fully expect that a suitable downward adjustment to the estimated professional service fee of £1,350 be made for this and communication failures.

Donations
• As yet, no notification of donations made to The Grove as requested. We await details as we know that donations have been sent.

5 John Taylor 31st Mar 2020

From the start when my late wife Marie and I decided to use the Lincolnshire COOP to conduct both our Funerals we were treated with respect and dignity, Not knowing that within five years, because of my dearest wife’s cancer and sepsis, she would be taken from me, despite the coronovirus  problem, and everyone in Isolation the event was videoed by the crematorium and friends, neighbours and family were able to watch the service in safety.

4 Lynsey Rudge 31st Mar 2020

Given the circumstances of the awful situation with the corona virus it was the best it could of been under the circumstances. All staff were amazing and very supportive. Even helping making a cast of my dads hand.  I was saddened that my dad wasn’t carried into the service and wheeled in on a trolley but again I’m sure the situation with the covid -19 prevented that. I would highly recommend the co op funeral services to anyone that should require it.

5 Philip Denton 24th Mar 2020

The team at Co-Op handled our Funeral in their usual competent manner. Nothing was too much trouble for them and they undertook all of our wishes to a tee. Have absolutely no qualms about recommending them to others who require this service.

5 Jennifer Davies 23rd Mar 2020

Me Stuart Bell was extremely helpful and always available to answer questions and give guidance. The staff at Lincoln coop were extremely helpful too. 

5 Janet Lumley 22nd Mar 2020

Caring and professional.  I was more than happy with the service I received.

5 Phillip Bradley 13th Mar 2020

Everything went very smoothly before and on the day of the funeral. Thank you

5 Jane Thomas 10th Mar 2020

Excellent

5 John Maughn 3rd Mar 2020

I rate the Lincoln Co-operative Funeral Service for my wife Margaret as Excellent. Many thanks.
John Maughn

5 Cheryl Keeley 29th Feb 2020

Everyone involved were very professional and they cared about doing everything we wanted for our sister. I have used these services before for other family member and I also have my own funeral plan with them. I would recommend them to others.

5 Derek Orford 24th Feb 2020

Sympathetic, clear process and evrything went to plan. Thank you.

5 Ruth Grice 18th Feb 2020

excellent service thank you

5 Theresa Jane Wilson 18th Feb 2020

Everyone concerned with Phil’s service from that first awful phone call to the very end have been very helpful. Special thanks to David Gault and Andrew Key. Would recommend them. Thank you 

5 Linda Rippin 17th Feb 2020

From our first point of contact the Co-op were so professional and compassionate, guiding us through each stage. An outstanding service throughout.

5 Linda Marley 16th Feb 2020

Everything went very well. Couldn't fault anything. Not our 1st funeral with the coop & we have never had a problem. Recommend them 100%

5 Linda Pilgrim 8th Feb 2020

Excellent service. Helpful and sympathetic.  The care we received as a family was second to none.  

5 Gloria Churchill 7th Feb 2020

The day run smoothly and everything was well organised. I was extremely pleased and would recommend you to anybody.

5 Anthony (Tony) Robinson 2nd Feb 2020

Very professional, caring and all
Requests completed to perfection. Thank you all. Kindest regards. Tony and the family.

5 Catherine Paul 1st Feb 2020

Nicola and others, made this experience beautiful. Thank You