STAY CLEAR OF AVBOB

I unfortunately had a bury a loved one this past week. Having never had to make arrangements before I chose Avbob to assist me. My first contact with Avbob was to arrange for collection of the deceased from the hospital. I contacted Avbob Randburg and gave them all the details and they arranged collection as requested. They also contacted me the following day to advise that the collection had taken place as promised and I made an appointment for the following day to make funeral arrangement. The appointment time was kept and I clearly stated what I needed to take place in terms of our requirements. Our needs where simple. A plain coffin was chosen as we were having a cremation. No church service and, no flowers. Clothes for the deceased where brought with. I also requested what paperwork was needed from my side and was told that part of the fee to be paid included Avbob taking care of all the paperwork on my behalf. We requested that the coffin be at the chapel in Milpark on the following Monday for the family to come and say our farewell. We repeatedly stated that we did not want a viewing and we just wanted to coffin in the chapel so that individuals could have a private moment with the deceased. On the Monday morning before going to the chapel I phoned to confirm that all arrangements had been made as per our requirements and was assured that everything was as requested. On arriving at the chapel, a bit earlier than our appointment, we found everything all locked up. I had to go to the reception and the very rude, uncaring staff pulled themselves from their seats with huge effort to start getting the chapel door open and the chapel ready. We were then told to stand aside so that the coffin could be brought thru to the chapel. We were then told to disinfect our hands and sign the register. As we had travelled from out of town everyone needed to use the bathroom which was dirty and in a bad state of repair. While some of the guests where in the bathroom I went towards the chapel and noticed the coffin had been left open, not closed as I had requested. While I was looking for someone to close the coffin one of the guests had gone into the chapel as was forced to see our loved one lying in the coffin. This was both distressing and not what had been arranged. We had wanted to remember him as he was in life, not see a lifeless body that did not even resemble the special person that he was. We then had to ask everyone who had arrived to wait while they found someone to come and close the coffin. The staff that came to attend to this were rude and annoyed that they were asked to seal the coffin. This after they had not done what was asked for. One of the men was in dirty stained clothes and he complained in a loud voice about having to assist. They did not even close the chapel door. Closing the coffin took a very long time and this just added to the grief of the family who had come to say their goodbyes. Once in the chapel it was found to not have been cleaned and had a strong smell of death. The coffin was chipped and dented. Not at all pleasant experience at all. Had we known that this was what was in store for us we would rather had just cremated the body without saying our farewell. However the worst was still to come. We have arranged a wake for Thursday and had requested that the ashes be available for the wake. When the arrangements were made I was told that the cremation would take place after our farewell at the chapel as all the paperwork needed would have been completed by then. The death certificate should have been available for collection directly after our farewell at the chapel. This was not the case and I was told that there was a problem with home affairs and that the certificate would be emailed to me by close of business on Monday. We have friends and close family who need to travel to the wake, and will need travel permits, which require a copy of the death certificate, but I cant seem to get a copy from Avbob. I phone every day, twice a day and still no joy. This morning I phoned again and was told that the death certificate had arrived but I would need to wait until later in the day to receive a copy. On enquiring as to when the original would be available I was told that I could send someone to collect it anytime. My driver arrived at Avbob Milpark and was treated with disrespect and rudeness by the staff and made to wait as they are busy. When I enquired as to when the cremation would be taking place I was told that no date could be given as the paperwork has still not been done and I would be told after the cremation was done when the ashes would be available. The person I spoke to was aware that we had requested the ashes be available in time for the wake but was disinterested in meeting our requirements. I am aware that losing a loved one is stressful and emotional to those left behind and while going thru the grieving process one tends to be extremely sensitive when dealing with everything but feel that Avbob have been disrespectful and callous in their handling of our loved one. I realize that they deal with death on a daily basis, and with the Covid pandemic this has increased the daily death rate that they are handling, but could they not be trained to keep their disinterest and uncaring behaviour to themselves and not show their contempt so blatantly. This would not be a job I would chose to do but if this was the only job I was able to get I would like to believe I would show more empathy to grieving families than I received. Anyone who needs to bury a loved one should seriously consider another funeral home rather than Avbob.