Reading a funeral price list

I have read a great many funeral price lists. They are frequently structured in ways that make comparison difficult, and the terminology varies between providers offering identical things.

This is what to look for.

Ask for it, in writing, before anything else

In several jurisdictions, providers are required to give you an itemised price list, and in some, to give it before discussing arrangements.

Many will only do so if asked. Ask, take it away, and do not make decisions in the room.

Ask for the same from two other providers. Three phone calls will typically reveal price differences that are startling.

The line items and what they mean

Basic services fee, professional fee, or similar. The provider's charge for overheads, staff time, arranging, and administration. Frequently non-declinable, since it covers work that is done regardless.

This varies substantially between providers and it is the item to compare first.

Removal or transfer of the deceased. Collecting the body. Check whether there is a distance limit and what applies beyond it, and whether out-of-hours collection costs more.

Care of the deceased, hygienic treatment, preparation. Terminology varies. Ask specifically what is included and whether embalming is part of it.

Embalming. Should be a separate item. In most jurisdictions it is not legally required in ordinary circumstances. Ask whether it is necessary in your case and why, and be sceptical of a general answer.

Refrigeration or storage, sometimes charged per day. Ask how many days are included and what the daily rate is beyond that, since delays are common.

Coffin or casket. The item with the widest price variation. Ask to see the full range including the cheapest, which is frequently not displayed. In several jurisdictions you may supply your own without a handling charge.

Use of premises for viewing, for a service, or for the family to gather.

Hearse and additional vehicles. Limousines are almost always optional.

Staff attendance at the funeral.

Disbursements. Third-party costs paid on your behalf — crematorium or burial fees, medical certificates where charged, celebrant or clergy fees, flowers, notices, catering, and the grave and memorial for a burial.

These should be listed separately and should be passed through at cost. Ask whether any markup is applied.

What to check in the small print

What is genuinely included in a package. Packages are frequently priced attractively and exclude items you will need, particularly disbursements. A package price that excludes the crematorium fee is not comparable to one that includes it.

Whether items can be declined. In some jurisdictions you have a right to select individual items rather than a package.

Out-of-hours and weekend surcharges.

Mileage charges beyond a specified radius.

Payment terms. When payment is due, whether a deposit is required, and whether disbursements must be paid upfront. Cash flow is a real issue for families, since estate funds may not be accessible for weeks.

Some banks will release funds directly to a funeral provider from the deceased's account before probate. Ask.

The questions worth asking

What is your cheapest option for what I want, including everything?

Which of these items are optional?

Is embalming necessary in this case, and why?

Can I supply my own coffin?

Do you offer direct cremation or direct burial, and what does that cost?

Are there any charges not on this list?

The first question is the most useful and it is rarely asked. Providers respond to it.

Direct cremation and direct burial

Worth understanding as a comparison point even if you do not choose it.

The body is cremated or buried without a service, at a time of the provider's choosing, with no attendance. Ashes are returned or the burial takes place, and any memorial is arranged separately by the family.

It costs a fraction of a full funeral. It has become considerably more common and most providers now offer it, though frequently not in the first conversation.

Many families combine it with a gathering they organise themselves, which is cheaper and frequently more personal than the alternative.

The pressure point

The commercial dynamic here is unusual: an infrequent purchase, made under time pressure, by someone distressed, where economising feels like a statement about the person who died.

Regulatory investigations in several countries have identified concerns about pricing transparency and about the vulnerability of customers in this market.

The defences are simple: get the price list, take it away, get two more, decide outside the room, and bring someone with you who is not bereaved.

That last one is the most effective. A friend who is sad rather than devastated can ask the questions you cannot.

Consumer rights, required disclosures and available options differ by country. Check what applies where you live, and complain to the relevant regulator if you believe rules have not been followed.