Advice Issued by the SNU
Repeal of the Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951
Mediumship and Consumer Protection Law
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Events held in Spiritualist churches where the general public are asked to pay an entrance fee, even though these may be a normal part of a churches’ programme of religious activities, are likely to be subject to the provisions of consumer protection law. As such we must ensure that the public is not misled into making payment to attend church events and that vulnerable people are protected. If a member of the public were to attend an event, not knowing what happens, he might find the experience satisfying, disappointing or disturbing. If disturbed, taking this to its extreme, he might claim to have been psychologically damaged, he might consider a claim for damages! Therefore, to explain events and to warn vulnerable people, the SNU has issued guidelines and produced disclaimer notices. |
From May 2008 the provisions of the Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951 were removed and mediumship came under consumer protection law. Consumer protection legislation now protects people who pay to receive mediumship services. If payment is required then it must be explained what people are paying for and people must not be harmed by what they experience. |
Evenings of Mediumship, Psychic Art & Demonstrations of Trance Mediumship
Most people paying for entry to an Evening of Mediumship or similar event will know full well what they are paying for and are not likely to have been misled into making payment or harmed by the experience. However churches should consider following the advice as below:
- Before any such demonstration the SNU's model disclaimer should be read to those in attendance.
- A short and simple explanation should be given of what will take place and the principles on which such communication operates.
- Churches should be careful about what is included in notices advertising the event: do not include extravagant, false or misleading claims about the medium(s) involved or make any guarantee about the outcome of the evening. Evenings of Mediumship should be advertised as such and not for example, Evenings of Clairvoyance, as the medium may not be clairvoyant, thus breaching consumer legislation.
- A ticket should be issued to every person attending with the SNU's Model Disclaimer printed on the reverse.
- A copy of the Union's Model Disclaimer must be placed on the wall in a prominent position where it can be seen on entry to the church.
A4 Poster - laminated - Disclaimer Notice (Included in the disclaimer Pack, £5.00)
(to be displayed with the church where evenings of mediumship or similar events are held - recommend you order a few for display and spares)
A5 Disclaimer Notice - laminated (Included in the disclaimer Pack, £5.00)
(notice for reading out before evenings of mediumship or similar events. - recommend you order one and spares)
Small Notice Cards/Tickets - laminated (100 for £5.00)
(Returnable cards you can use as entry tickets that have our disclaimer notice on them - comes in packs of 100)
Private Readings
If someone pays a medium for a private reading but deems it to be "defective" or claims to have suffered some psychological or other harm as a result of the reading, then it could potentially lead to a prosecution or a civil action for damages.
Most people paying for a private reading know what they are paying for and are not likely to have been misled into making payment, or damaged by the experience. But there are a number of precautions which our churches are advised to observe.
- A reading should not be given to a legal minor (under 18) because they cannot legally be a signatory to any disclaimer.
- Churches must be careful about the integrity of the mediums engaged for private readings.
- Money must not change hands from sitter to medium: fees must be paid direct to the Church, which is responsible for engaging and paying fees due to the medium.
- Devices such as crystal balls, tarot cards, etc. must not be used, as they are not considered an accepted form of spirit communication.
- The medium must not give his own counselling or advice; he must stick only to what comes from spirit.
- A copy of the disclaimer notice must be placed on the wall in a prominent position.
- The sitter should be asked to sign the Union's Model Disclaimer to certify that they accept its conditions as governing the service being provided.
- If the reading is being recorded the Church or medium should consider making and retaining a second copy of the reading for evidential purposes, with the consent of the sitter and on an undertaking that it will not be disclosed to any third party: this precaution is in case the sitter is affected by the content of the reading and may consider a form of litigation by way of complaint.
- A medium providing private readings may wish to consider taking out indemnity insurance to cover them against criminal prosecution or prosecution for damages.
A5 Disclaimer Notice - laminated (Included in the disclaimer Pack, £5.00)
(notice for reading out before a private sitting - recommend you order one and spares)
Two-part Tickets (50p per pad)
These pads contain 100 private sitting tickets with a disclaimer notice printed on them. The sitter signs one copy and there is a no-carbon-required copy for the medium.
Workshops, Teach-ins and Seminars
SNU churches often put on workshops, teach-ins and seminars on Spiritualist matters as part of their normal programme of religious events and these may include psychic activities on a one-off basis. Normally the general public are invited to attend for an entrance fee.
Most people paying for entry to this type of activity know what they are paying for and are not likely to have been misled into making payment or to be harmed by the experience. For teach-ins, seminars and the like, where there is group participation in the form of talks/lectures, discussion, questions and answers, the scope of complaints about provision of unsatisfactory services would appear to be limited.
However, especially with workshops, care needs to be exercised, as participants may well be invited to undertake forms of meditation or spiritual practice and work in an altered state of consciousness. Churches must be aware of the possibility that some individuals attending such activities may be vulnerable and they should consider enquiring, particularly of those new to churches, whether they know of any medical or psychiatric reason why they should not participate in activities. The following guidance has been issued by the SNU.
- Churches should be careful about what is included in notices advertising the event: do not include extravagant, false or misleading claims about the tutor(s) involved or make any guarantee about the outcome of the event.
- A pre-printed form showing the Union's Model Disclaimer should be signed by everyone attending upon entry.
- A copy of the disclaimer notice must be placed on the wall in a prominent position.
- Before any such workshop begins the Union's Model Disclaimer should be read to those in attendance.
- A short and simple explanation should be given of what will take place and the principles on which such workshop operates.
- Churches are also advised to check with their insurers about such proposed activity if there is any concern about indemnification against liability claims arising from the event.
A4 Poster - laminated - Disclaimer Notice (Included in the disclaimer Pack, £5.00)
(to be displayed with the church where workshops and seminars take place - recommend you order a few for display and spares)
A4 Disclaimer Notice and Attendance Signature List (Included in the disclaimer Pack, £5.00)
(notice for reading out before workshops or similar events, and a list requiring students' signatures - recommend you order one per workshop and spares)