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Independent Funeral Directors launch Campaign against unacceptable commercial practices within the funeral profession

Overseas funeral conglomerate, Service Corporation International (SCI), the largest funeral service provider in the world established itself in 1994 in the UK. By 1997 it had purchased over 750 businesses trading under old family names. SAIF which represented nearly 700 funeral directors in the UK, led the campaign motivated by the prime threat to traditional patterns of care for the bereaved in the UK.

The Loewen Group Inc from Canada and Stewart Enterprises Inc (USA) represented the second and third largest funeral conglomerates in the world.

SAIF's 1997 National President, Mr Andrew Harvey stated the reasons for the campaign:

Retaining the highest degree of profession and ethical integrity at the service of bereaved families
Conserve the traditions and values of generations of funeral directors whose prime concern is to care for families during one of life's tumultuous experiences and reject commercial practices that could take advantage of the bereaved.

Founding President of SAIF, Mr Jeremy West in 1997 at the press launch called for:

1. Single code of practice for the entire funeral profession
2. Transparency of ownership, so that families knew who they were dealing with an Independent Family funeral directors or a PLC owned funeral directors.
3. An end to so called training days for nursing home staff, which SAIF believed were a crude attempt to solicit for business and a violation of the funeral codes of practice.
4. Age Concern to withdraw their marketing of funeral plans, that were 75% owned by SCI and direct mailing of these plans to pensioners and other vulnerable groups
5. SAIF wants the consumer to have freedom of choice to appoint a funeral director of their choice.

Fair Practices Campaign

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