Grieving family gets fined 200 euros for overrunning funeral by 14 seconds
Family said: "They ran over by 14 seconds before they could shut the door and got 200 fine.
(Web Desk) - A family held their father’s funeral when a £200 fine was imposed on them for overrunning the time by just 14 seconds.
A mourner on walking sticks took too long to leave the chapel which resulted in a heavy fine by the North East Lincolnshire Council. Funeral services which run over the allocated time face a penalty fine.
Funeral services at the crematorium are monitored from the start to the end to keep the track of time. Widespread condemnation sparked everywhere by this act of the council.
Family got fined not only for leaving late but also for not arriving at the scheduled time.
Family say, “This is not always within our control, we had to wait half way down the narrow road with my hearse, for all the mourners to leave the preceding large funeral.”
As a result, family got five minutes late bringing the coffin at the chapel.
The penalty system has "hit every funeral director in North East Lincolnshire".
Some incur the cost of the £200 penalty themselves, but others do pass it on to the grieving families.
It is understood the family saying farewell to their father finished the funeral service on time, but had a mourner with walking sticks who took a while to walk out of the chapel after paying their respects.
A fine issued to the funeral director involved said the allotted time had been breached by 14 seconds.
Counsellor Keith Brookes, Conservative, said: "It looks as if someone is holding a stopwatch, clicking as soon as someone walks in the chapel and checks the last one to leave."
He said: "I want to make sure we no longer have funerals that penalize families. I have tried to find out how many penalties have been imposed on families that have funeral services at the crematorium, but can’t find out.”
"I want to know how many there have been. It is hitting people at their most vulnerable of their lives?”
"Some funeral directors may absorb the fine but not all of them will. But it seems there is no humanity or sympathy."
Counsellor Brookes said he had been approached by the upset family who had been fined.
He said: "They ran over by 14 seconds before they could shut the door and got £200 fine.”
"Having been to the funeral and trying to get over it they were upset that people came to pay their respects and then realized there was a fine for over running.
"They look at the crematorium in the same way as people look at a church and can’t believe that someone can be so insensitive to take that approach.
"They struggle to think someone was standing, as if they had a stop watch. It has marred it and that will always remain with them."
Counsellor Brookes said: "There are some funeral services at the crematorium which finish before their allocated time. Is North East Lincolnshire Council going to offer a rebate if they finish 10 minutes earlier?"
Details on the crematorium website show each booking costs £620.
North East Lincolnshire Council portfolio holder for environment, transport and energy, Counsellor Matthew Patrick said: "Funeral directors are the ones that orchestrate events and should be respectful and mindful there will be funeral services later in the day.
"Any delay causes delays for later funeral processions which is what we would like to avoid. There is a disincentive for funeral directors to do that and stick to the time slot that is given to them. Any overlaps affect everybody.”
