Why do funerals cost so much

And, yes, urns that can handle the remains of a pound dog will support the ashes of many human bodies. With funeral homes, it pays to compare costs. Prices can vary dramatically from town to town, even county to county.

Bottom line? A little research could save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. One thing that can make funerals so expensive is package pricing, but nobody says you have to buy the package. In fact, funeral homes are prohibited by law from bundling their pricing — they must provide an itemized list of services when requested. With such a list, you can pick and choose, building a budget-friendly alternative funeral service rather than a package deal. The Government and a competition watchdog are to launch joint investigations into whether people are getting at fair deal on funerals, amid concerns about soaring costs.

These figures do not include discretionary extra costs, which can add thousands of pounds to the cost of a funeral. Funeral poverty charity Quaker Social Action QSA told The Guardian back in that families had sought their help after being pressured by other funeral directors to pay for extra services. We therefore think it is important that - at what can be a particularly challenging time - the process is made as easy as possible.

Where many communities were once served by small mom-and-pop funeral shops, the death-care landscape has been transformed by shareholder-driven companies. Service Corporation International is the largest funeral services provider in North America, with over 1, funeral homes and cemeteries in its portfolio, accounting for roughly 16 percent of the overall market share. Instead of lowering prices as it has scaled, SCI prices average 47 to 72 percent higher than those of its competitors, according to a report coauthored by the Funeral Consumers Alliance.

But reining in these profit-driven companies has proven difficult, as their practices are often supported by local statutes. In the s, the Federal Trade Commissions instituted its Funeral Rule , which requires that funeral service providers offer prospective customers accurate, itemized prices. Part of the problem is that many people feel that the sticker price of a solid mahogany coffin or a ceramic urn reflects their love and respect for the dead.

And even if they wanted to find a cheaper alternative, with so many Americans unable or unwilling to plan for their death, families are often left to organize and finance funerals under duress.

Today, the federal government, as well as many state and local agencies, provides some assistance to families who might otherwise struggle to bury their kin. But these funds are not always accessible, and reimbursement is typically meager. While FEMA has provided burial assistance in the wake of natural disasters before, the pandemic relief effort is of a different magnitude.

But by doling out aid without any attempts at environmental, economic, or other reform of the funeral industry, the program effectively subsidized it. We failed. How much does a typical cremation cost? If you have recently lost a loved one and it was their wish At an already difficult time, the last thing on your mind should be the financial anxieties planning We list more than 3, funeral directors across the UK and list estimated starting prices.

Find a funeral director in your area. A Direct Cremation is an alternative to the traditional funeral. This involves the cremation of the deceased without a funeral service. Need some free advice? Contact our team of advisors on Call a member of the Funeral Choice advice team on The Funeral Director fees quoted do not include third party costs often called disbursements. The Funeral Director will guide you through your options.

These costs are:. In addition to the disbursements you may want to discuss optional costs with your Funeral Director - these could include:.