I would like to see hard sell advertising for over 50 funeral plans banned.

[Kaapstad]

As in the title I would like to see hard sell advertising for over 50 funeral plans banned.

My mother is 84 years old and suffers from alzheimer's disease. The problem is with all the hard sell advertising of these funeral plans every time my mother sees it she becomes obsessed with it due to worrying and repeatedly asks us about whether she has one of these plans every couple of minutes. There are weeks where all her time is destroyed by this one question as it goes on and on and on.

I understand there is a need for these funeral plans but I think the companies offering them are deliberately targeting the vulnerable like my mother with their hard sell advertising which is hard to get away from as it is on TV and in magazines which she uses a lot.

I also understand the need for companies offering these policies to advertise but it should be done discreetly and targeted at other younger family members who can decide how to proceed.

My mothers life has become a total misery worrying about these funeral plans.

 

[LabR@t]

Quite agree, start a petition? I will sign it.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Start with contact your MP and https://www.asa.org.uk/

 

[Nevakonaza]

I agree,The elderly should not be worrying about these things,and if they do plan on sorting it out themselves should be up to them when/if they do not forced by worry by these stupid advertisements who care only about the £££.

 

[ron3003]

Another thing to consider before taking out one of these funeral plans is that they're not covered by any kind of FSA guarantee. Should the provider go bust there's no fallback plan to cover you.

 

[The_Abyss]

I sort of agree but think the scope needs to be wider. For example, this year will see legislation banning cold calling for pensions, which in itself is good but doesn't go far enough. The people calling have no interest in pensions, and will quite happily try and sell you the same dodgy investment for your non-pension money.

So I'd rather see cold calling and direct mailing banned for all investment and loan / debt financial services products. With the introduction of GDPR this year there's an excellent opportunity to take some sweeping measures to enhance consumer safety and protect the more vulnerable.

 

[chaparral]

I never seen these funeral plans advertising

 

[Diddums]

I never seen these funeral plans advertising

Spend a weekday at home with the telly on. These and those incessant irritating charity ads.

 

[Randomface74]

Agreed, my gran fell for all sorts of scams in her last few years.
Let us know if you make a petition, I'll sign it.

 

[Diddums]

When our grandparents were younger or our age or whatever I reckon they must've, just like us, thought they were pretty wise and streetsmart. Now many years on and some are having these issues. Makes me wonder what'll get thrown at me when I'm their age. Or if it's even age related.

 

[dowie]

My mothers life has become a total misery worrying about these funeral plans.

Does she have one? Or have you or her made arrangements for one etc..? (I mean you certainly don't need to have one but having some cash set aside etc.. is useful)

I don't think there is any specific need to ban the advertising of funeral plans on TV, when I read your thread title I assumed you were talking about door to door sales people or cold callers or something.

 

[dowie]

I sort of agree but think the scope needs to be wider. For example, this year will see legislation banning cold calling for pensions, which in itself is good but doesn't go far enough. The people calling have no interest in pensions, and will quite happily try and sell you the same dodgy investment for your non-pension money.

Presumably it is some dodgy financial advisors behind these cold calls, AFAIK brokers are already prevented from cold calling (though some dodgy ones used to instead send out targeted mail to shareholders of particular companies offering "free market research on XYZ PLC" which then involved the person also giving permission to be contacted)

 

[CREATIVE!11]

Agree this stuff doesn't need to be advertised....

 

[Andrew_McP]

Daytime TV these days seems to be a minefield for the vulnerable; it's really rather shameful. 'Fortunately' for me, since developing dementia my mother has very little interest in the TV (I wish she would, to keep her occupied!) and she's now beyond any kind of financial decision, so she's not at risk any more.

But I've seen more daytime TV in the last two years than in the previous twenty, and it's been a bit of an eye opener. It's easy to see how many elderly folk end up paying a small fortune in assorted charity donations or insurance, neither of which make sense in most cases.

 

[LabR@t]

When our grandparents were younger or our age or whatever I reckon they must've, just like us, thought they were pretty wise and streetsmart. Now many years on and some are having these issues. Makes me wonder what'll get thrown at me when I'm their age. Or if it's even age related.

You become more trusting with age, apparently.

 

[chaparral]

Spend a weekday at home with the telly on. These and those incessant irritating charity ads.

I only watch sky movies, Netflix videos & amazon videos on TV , Don't really ever watch any normal TV channels

Guess that why I haven't seen them..

 

[Blackjack Davy]

When our grandparents were younger or our age or whatever I reckon they must've, just like us, thought they were pretty wise and streetsmart. Now many years on and some are having these issues. Makes me wonder what'll get thrown at me when I'm their age. Or if it's even age related.

Its certainly nothing new. I remember when I was a kid the insurance man from the co-op came around once a week to collect the money for my grandma's funeral insurance, regular as clockwork for as long as I can remember.

I remember thinking why on earth are people worried about their funerals, I'll not be in position to know anything about it. Still feel that way honestly.

 

[chaparral]

I remember thinking why on earth are people worried about their funerals, I'll not be in position to know anything about it. Still feel that way honestly.

Think some people they worry about who going pay for it..

My father died last year and the funnel Cost 4.5k plus the head stone going cost about 1.5k so about £6000 which me and my family have to pay..

 

[dowie]

Yeah it is a legit thing to be concerned about if you're on a low income as you die and the other big impact on your children aside from your loss, is having to find a few grand to cover the costs.

I remember overhearing some conversation on a train once about some woman talking about her brother complaining about a funeral of one of their parents - gist of it was that she'd been the one to fork out for it and he'd not paid anything yet etc.. If this stuff isn't catered for and there isn't much in the way of assets belonging to the deceased + the offspring are on low incomes then no doubt it probably causes some family arguments.

 

[Werewolf]

Aye people worry about the cost*.

We had to arrange one a few months back and it cost around 4k (nothing fancy, cremation, no headstone), my dad went back into the co-op a few weeks later and bought one of their pre-paid ones as it was cheaper to pay in advance (apparently the co-op pre pay ones are average cost across the country, we're in a more expensive area so it was worth it for his peace of mind).

I do think the TV advertising along the lines of "your loved ones are going to get left with a big bill, you shouldn't do that to them" are aimed to guilt people into buying and not actually aimed at giving good value, and do make the elderly/those with diminished faculties worry more.


*My sister didn't realise people had to actually pay for funerals (even basic ones).