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| Hull funeral home inquiry: 'I spent £2,700 on a fake funeral policy' | Hull funeral home inquiry: 'I spent £2,700 on a fake funeral policy' |
| (2 months later) | |
| Rachel Marshall (left) said her mum, Rita Goldspink, paid £2,700 for a funeral plan | Rachel Marshall (left) said her mum, Rita Goldspink, paid £2,700 for a funeral plan |
| Rachel Marshall (left) said her mum, Rita Goldspink, paid £2,700 for a funeral plan | |
| Buyers of funeral plans from a Hull funeral home already at the centre of a police inquiry said they have been told their policies are non-existent. | Buyers of funeral plans from a Hull funeral home already at the centre of a police inquiry said they have been told their policies are non-existent. |
| Rita Goldspink and Kevin Newton paid about £2,500 each for plans bought from Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in 2018 and 2012 respectively. | Rita Goldspink and Kevin Newton paid about £2,500 each for plans bought from Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in 2018 and 2012 respectively. |
| Each has been told separately that there is no trace of their policy on the third-party insurer's database. | Each has been told separately that there is no trace of their policy on the third-party insurer's database. |
| Legacy funeral home has been contacted for comment. | Legacy funeral home has been contacted for comment. |
| Two people have been bailed in a police investigation of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors that began on 6 March, following a report of "concern for care of the deceased". | Two people have been bailed in a police investigation of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors that began on 6 March, following a report of "concern for care of the deceased". |
| Rachel Marshall, from Hull, said the pre-paid funeral plan for her mother, Rita Goldspink, 76, had cost £2,700 in April 2018, six months after Legacy had organised her father's funeral. | Rachel Marshall, from Hull, said the pre-paid funeral plan for her mother, Rita Goldspink, 76, had cost £2,700 in April 2018, six months after Legacy had organised her father's funeral. |
| Police have been investigating Legacy Independent Funeral Directors | Police have been investigating Legacy Independent Funeral Directors |
| Police have been investigating Legacy Independent Funeral Directors | |
| After news emerged of the Humberside Police investigation, Ms Marshall said she contacted the insurer and discovered they could not find "my mum's name on their database". | After news emerged of the Humberside Police investigation, Ms Marshall said she contacted the insurer and discovered they could not find "my mum's name on their database". |
| She said she was later told by the insurer that she should have received a welcome pack containing details of the plan shortly after purchase. | She said she was later told by the insurer that she should have received a welcome pack containing details of the plan shortly after purchase. |
| "My mum was absolutely devastated and I was in total shock," said Ms Marshall. | "My mum was absolutely devastated and I was in total shock," said Ms Marshall. |
| "All that money is gone. | "All that money is gone. |
| "I'm gutted and have started to realise through conversations [with others that] there are more of us with these fake policies." | "I'm gutted and have started to realise through conversations [with others that] there are more of us with these fake policies." |
| Kevin Newton, 69, also from Hull, said he was "mortified" to learn that his pre-paid funeral plan, which had cost him £2,239, was similarly untraceable. | Kevin Newton, 69, also from Hull, said he was "mortified" to learn that his pre-paid funeral plan, which had cost him £2,239, was similarly untraceable. |
| He said when he bought the third-party policy in 2012, he had received written confirmation and a receipt from Legacy. | He said when he bought the third-party policy in 2012, he had received written confirmation and a receipt from Legacy. |
| Shortly afterwards a pack had arrived in the post, which he had believed contained official documents about his policy. | Shortly afterwards a pack had arrived in the post, which he had believed contained official documents about his policy. |
| Kevin Newton said he received written confirmation and a receipt from Legacy | Kevin Newton said he received written confirmation and a receipt from Legacy |
| Kevin Newton said he received written confirmation and a receipt from Legacy | |
| However, after his family raised concerns with him last week, Mr Newton said he had phoned the third-party insurer and was told there was no trace of the policy. | However, after his family raised concerns with him last week, Mr Newton said he had phoned the third-party insurer and was told there was no trace of the policy. |
| His daughter Kerry, 35, said: "It's absolutely shocking because it's a lot of money for my dad to fork out and it's not like he can [afford it] again. | His daughter Kerry, 35, said: "It's absolutely shocking because it's a lot of money for my dad to fork out and it's not like he can [afford it] again. |
| "I know my dad's done it so me and my brother don't have to worry about him when the time comes. It's just devastating. | "I know my dad's done it so me and my brother don't have to worry about him when the time comes. It's just devastating. |
| "It's unforgiveable." | "It's unforgiveable." |
| 'Are they there?' | 'Are they there?' |
| Another woman from Hull, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she "can't get [her] head round" being told there was no record of her £2,500 pre-paid funeral plan, bought from Legacy in 2016. | Another woman from Hull, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she "can't get [her] head round" being told there was no record of her £2,500 pre-paid funeral plan, bought from Legacy in 2016. |
| She said she had bought the plan after using the company to arrange the funerals of both her parents, who had died three weeks apart. | She said she had bought the plan after using the company to arrange the funerals of both her parents, who had died three weeks apart. |
| She too had believed a pack she received was evidence of the third-party policy. But she discovered last week the policy did not exist, the woman said. | She too had believed a pack she received was evidence of the third-party policy. But she discovered last week the policy did not exist, the woman said. |
| "Initially... all I was concerned about was my mum and dad. They're supposed to be buried together in the same grave. I hope they are but I just don't know now. I'm thinking: are they there? | "Initially... all I was concerned about was my mum and dad. They're supposed to be buried together in the same grave. I hope they are but I just don't know now. I'm thinking: are they there? |
| "But now - finding this policy is worthless - it's just a cherry on the icing, really. I'm completely shocked. | "But now - finding this policy is worthless - it's just a cherry on the icing, really. I'm completely shocked. |
| "I mean, I'm still more troubled about mum and dad at the moment. But I know I'll never get any answers on that." | "I mean, I'm still more troubled about mum and dad at the moment. But I know I'll never get any answers on that." |
| Kerry said she felt her family's trust had been "abused" | Kerry said she felt her family's trust had been "abused" |
| Kerry said she felt her family's trust had been "abused" | |
| The BBC has seen documents given to all three families who bought the plans from Legacy. | The BBC has seen documents given to all three families who bought the plans from Legacy. |
| It is unclear whether Legacy submitted the filled-in application forms to the insurer. | It is unclear whether Legacy submitted the filled-in application forms to the insurer. |
| In a statement, the third-party insurer, Ecclesiastical Planning Services, said: "This is a deeply distressing incident for the families affected. | In a statement, the third-party insurer, Ecclesiastical Planning Services, said: "This is a deeply distressing incident for the families affected. |
| "We are unable to comment on individual cases but we are working with families who contact us to establish if they have a plan with us." | "We are unable to comment on individual cases but we are working with families who contact us to establish if they have a plan with us." |
| All three families said they had "lost trust" in the financial sector, particularly in the funeral industry, and have called for tighter regulations. | All three families said they had "lost trust" in the financial sector, particularly in the funeral industry, and have called for tighter regulations. |
| The woman said: "I think anyone setting up a funeral business should have some sort of qualification or have been trained. And there has to be regular inspections." | The woman said: "I think anyone setting up a funeral business should have some sort of qualification or have been trained. And there has to be regular inspections." |
| Ms Marshall urged anyone who had bought a pre-paid funeral plan to "check your policy". | Ms Marshall urged anyone who had bought a pre-paid funeral plan to "check your policy". |
| "More or less everything goes on trust," she said. | "More or less everything goes on trust," she said. |
| Floral tributes and candles outside the Hessle Road premises | Floral tributes and candles outside the Hessle Road premises |
| Floral tributes and candles outside the Hessle Road premises | |
| Few details about the police investigation have been revealed but a quantity of ashes and 35 bodies were recovered from Legacy's Hessle Road premises and taken to another mortuary. The families involved have been contacted, Humberside Police have said. | Few details about the police investigation have been revealed but a quantity of ashes and 35 bodies were recovered from Legacy's Hessle Road premises and taken to another mortuary. The families involved have been contacted, Humberside Police have said. |
| A 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position. They have since been released on bail while police inquiries continue. | A 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position. They have since been released on bail while police inquiries continue. |
| The force said its dedicated helpline numbers, external remain open. | |
| Visit BBC Sounds for audio updates on this story | Visit BBC Sounds for audio updates on this story |
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| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Hull | Hull |
| Financial services | Financial services |
| Money | Money |
| Cost of Living | Cost of Living |
| Humberside Police | Humberside Police |
| Insurance | Insurance |
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