UK funeral prices to be probed

The BBC is reporting that there are to be two separate reviews carried out by the government into the price of funerals and concerns over pre-paid funeral plans.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is reviewing funeral costs, “to ensure that people are not getting a bad deal”. The investigation will focus on funeral prices to ensure that the public are getting a fair deal. The article goes on to state that the average cost of a funeral in 2017 was £3,800.

Meanwhile the Treasury has started a review of pre paid funeral plans following complaints from consumer groups that people are finding they have to pay additional costs not covered in a plan that were originally thought to be included. The outcome could be tougher regulation.

The full article can be read here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44327899

Finders International have their Finders International Funeral Fund to support Local Authorities with the responsibility of carrying out pre-paid funerals. Payments from the fund can be applied for by a Local Authority who has had to arrange and pay for the funeral of a resident with no known next of kin or any assets. The fund isn’t open to the general public, but Finders have had an increase in enquiries from the public for support to pay for Funerals.

Help and advice is available from Quaker Social Action, who have been campaigning relentlessly to highlight the growing problem of funeral poverty.

More details on QSA can be found on their website:

https://www.quakersocialaction.org.uk/we-can-help/helping-funerals/down-earth