Lincolnshire Co-operative

5 Malcolm Dixon 7th Apr 2020

My mum and I were treated very respectfully by Cathy she showed great concern and dignity towards my mums request to give my dad the funeral he deserved. She arranged it as my mum requested, but the changes came one by one as per the government strategy.
We do understand that these had to be adhered to and have great respect for Cathy in the way she explained the changes across to my mum. 
We know you have a difficult job to do and all respect to the staff at the Louth branch dealing with the job in these difficult times. 

5 tina mcnaught 7th Apr 2020

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

5 Bev & Steve Oakley 7th Apr 2020

In these uncertain times, I have to say that we were given the best possible service and attention for Mum even though we had to have so many restrictions in place. Phil and the staff at the funeral home were brilliant, communicating with us every step of the way and making  this very difficult time in our lives, so much less stressful. We knew that Mum was being looked after and treated with dignity and respect and for that, our family will be eternally grateful. 

5 Linda Jameson 6th Apr 2020

Cathy was very professional & extremely understanding, making a very upsetting time more bearable.
Many thanks.

4 Keith Atkins 6th Apr 2020

The service we received was generally excellent, Marie looked after us originally and subsequently Aly, both were very professional and offered good support and advice through a very difficult time and made the process very dignified.

I would have given an excellent had not been the way Linda had dealt with us, she made the process feel impersonal and we felt unimportant .

Thank you Marie and Aly, you are a credit to the COOP

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. 

5 Susanne Farenden 6th Apr 2020

I would like to thank the coop for their help and support in this very difficult time especially because of the current situation with Coronavirus. They made every effort to ensure my fathers funeral was the best we could possibly have at this time. 

5 Fiona Burke 5th Apr 2020

I chose Lincolnshire CoOp because of the countless glowing reviews, particularly of Anna, and to say my high expectations have been exceeded is an understatement! Anna is so gentle, patient and understanding, but then so are any of the team who I have dealt with. Thanks for looking after our mum, and us. Best wishes, Fiona Burke.

5 Cathie Nicoll 4th Apr 2020

Excellent throughout - Aly exceptional in showing compassion showed real understanding towards me and family of what was needed. 

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 Julie Brown 31st Mar 2020

Always thorough but so caring towards the individual.
Responds quickly to messages and put you at ease

5 Margaret Fisher 30th Mar 2020

The Coronavirus outbreak caused havoc with Mum's funeral wishes but with the help and support from David and the team we managed to give her a nice service until we are able to fulfil her wishes with a service at Monk's Road Methodist Church in the future.

Many thanks from Margaret Fisher and her family.

5 Tracey Paine 30th Mar 2020

Unfortunately this is the second time I have had to use your services in under 2 years.
I couldn't rate you high enough with your help, support empathy and professionalism during such very difficult circumstances.
I would highly recommend you to anyone a d thank you for making a very difficult day run smoothly

5 Lesley Roe 30th Mar 2020

Very professional and friendly throughout the process. Unfortunately Coronavirus meant that plans had to be modified and adjusted but everything was communicated to me and I felt supported. Definitely recommended.

5 Michelle Middleton 29th Mar 2020

A very professional service, both dignified and caring. Thank you

5 Janet Appleyard 29th Mar 2020

Could not of done more for us, Michelle was compassionate, professional, you warm to her straight away, like a friend, she what's to give you what you need and want, very caring, thank you all x

5 Carol Sylvia Mills 29th Mar 2020

Supportive kind and understanding under these very difficult circumstances 

5 Sue Morrison 28th Mar 2020

Unprecedented times meant we could not have the funeral we wanted for my Mum. However, even with just 5 of us able to attend, the representatives of Coop funerals gave her and us the dignity and gravitas such an occasion warranted. 

5 Clive Mayes 28th Mar 2020

Due to the current coronavirus epidemic the funeral of my mum was to say the least different but Sue Roe at  Lincolnshire Co-op funeral services dealt with the situation with expertise and sensitivity keeping us informed and organising all the arrangements with regard to the funeral itself taking all the pressure from the family. 

5 Mick Barber 28th Mar 2020

Thank you to all the Lincolnshire Co-op Sleaford Funeral staff for your kind and caring co-operation regarding June’s funeral arrangements. Everything went like clockwork under these unusual circumstances. Once again many thanks.

5 Susan Webb 26th Mar 2020

Excellent service from Alan and all staff at Boston involved with my dad's funeral both beforehand and on the day. We were treated with sympathy and respect throughout the process.

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 Gordon James 24th Mar 2020

I found that the whole approach by this Funeral home helped me tremendously during a very difficult time.