New legislation will lead to greater transparency and clarity over funeral costs
September 16th is an important date for our industry! It’s the day when funeral directors and crematorium operators will be required by law to provide greater transparency and clarity over funeral costs.
It’s something the industry has been working towards for a while and will bring it into line with the way we already operate here at WRR Pugh & Son.
We welcome the changes and strongly believe it can only benefit people faced with the often distressing prospect of making final arrangements for a loved one.
How did it come about?
The new legislation follows an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over concerns that many people were not being treated fairly when it came to funeral costs.
The CMA found that there is a heavy reliance on the funeral director when it comes to making arrangements and that it is vitally important that a trust should exist whereby people know exactly what they are paying for and how much it will cost.
What does it mean?
From September 16th all funeral directors and crematorium operators must:
● Display a standardised price list at their premises and on their website.
● Provide the headline price of a funeral.
● Include the price of individual items involved in a funeral.
● Detail the cost of certain additional products and services.
● Include information of any deposit.
● Provide payment options and any additional charges which may apply to late payments.
Why is it important?
Bereaved families are often making funeral arrangements at what can be one of the most distressing times of their lives and it’s easy to understand how they may not be at their best in terms of looking at and understanding the financial implications.
It’s important that families are treated fairly, know exactly what they are paying for and are confident that what they are being asked to pay is reasonable. A lack of transparency makes it hard to compare costs and choose the right available option.
Prices vary significantly for services provided and people have to know that they can trust the funeral director to give them clear advice about the end cost - something we are sure these changes will go a long way to ensuring.
The most important thing through the whole process is that the deceased and their families are treated with the utmost respect and care at all times and this includes a clear and transparent pricing process for what will be one of the most expensive purchases many people will ever have to make. Which is why we strongly support the raising of these standards within our industry.
