A NORTH Stradbroke Island man is the latest victim of a failed Alex Gow pre-paid funeral insurance scheme.
Retired plumber Colin Carrett said he was left out of pocket and with no funeral insurance after Alex Gow Funerals cancelled his pre-paid funeral plan without notifying him.
To add insult to injury, when Mr Carrett confronted the company with his fully-paid policy certificate, he was asked to sign a new $3000 policy and issued two plastic tokens allowing him 5 per cent discounts on two funerals.
"I've done a lot of living but I will only die once," he said.
"This is a complete con and two tokens with 5 per cent discounts for two funerals does not amount to a 10 per cent discount for one funeral.
"I was promised a full funeral if I paid my money, which I did, and that's what I want."
The 72-year-old vowed to join another class action in New South Wales against the funeral directors after reading a story in the Redland City Bulletin.
The story detailed a Beenleigh court case this month in which the Queensland-based funeral home was ordered to honour a $50 prepaid funeral plan.
It is understood the ruling could affect 19,500 Queenslanders, including Mr Carrett, who took out similar prepaid funeral plans, 1000 with Alex Gow Funerals and more than 18,000 with Metropolitan Funerals, after World War II.
Mr Carrett was issued a certificate in 1973 guaranteeing him a funeral service, a polished casket and hearse after he pre-paid the full amount of 25 pounds for his funeral.
But he found out his policy was void after ringing the company in 2006 to check on the extent of coverage offered under the plan he took out in 1959.
"My mum made me take out the policy when I was 17 but I rang them in 2006 to check the details and was told there was no policy any more and I was no longer covered," he said.
"They said the money had been used in administration costs but not one word was said to me."
Alex Gow Funerals director Alistair Gow said he was unsure if his company would lodge an appeal until after he had thoroughly read the judgment.
"We've still got a few 'i's to dot and 't's to cross before we decide on that," he said.
