Serious allegations against the funeral industry
Practice allegedly rife in industry.
The Record has received disturbing information about an underhanded practice in the funeral service industry. Some service providers in Roodepoort and the surrounding areas are reportedly also in on it.
The practice involves irregular referrals between state institutions such as mortuaries, clergy, matrons at old age homes, paramedics and funeral parlours. But the list is not limited to these.
Basically a funeral parlour approaches one or more of these parties and offer them an under-the-table “commission” if they refer bereaved families exclusively to them. It goes as far as funeral parlour representatives going to pray for the dying in ICUs and taking advantage of the family’s grief to convince them to use their services.
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This practice is unfair to two parties – the funeral parlours that conduct their business above board, and the grieving public. It is unfair competition for those who operate fairly and in the case of the public it increases the cost of the funeral because the “commission” is worked into the price.
This has also been confirmed by a very reliable source within the industry (who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity). She said, “It happens, but is very difficult to prove because there is no paper trail for the commission that gets paid”. Another industry insider said the culprits especially target the very emotionally vulnerable.
He said its best to build a relationship with a funeral parlour before one actually needs its services because this will prevent the parlour staff to inflate the price to cover the commission.
Jack Bloom, MP and DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, confirmed knowledge of the practice.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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