Funerals chief demands action on ‘sales bullies’

THE chief executive of Britain’s largest funeral provider has slammed pressure-selling in the market and demanded the Government tighten regulations.

Co-operative Group boss Steve Murrells spoke out following an investigation by The Mail on Sunday which last week revealed evidence of salesmen bullying pensioners they rang from a call centre of the firm Plan My Funeral Avalon.

Murrells, who recently lost his own wife to cancer, condemned the ‘fast buck’ salesmen in the funeral trade. He said: ‘Any fly-by-night can get in. The market needs a complete review from top to bottom.’

Avalon, which has used John Cleese in its TV adverts, has now shut down the call centre. There is no suggestion that the comedy star was aware of any wrongdoing.