Unable to pay funeral costs at triple fees.

Deep_Ocean

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

The council may charge 3 times normal rates (as is their right as landowner - they have not been secretive about those rates; they are readily available as demonstrated above by the poster who found them easily enough) but I still can't see how that can add up to £7,000 odd pounds - the undertaker should not treble his fees though for services such as coffin, cars etc.

How is the invoice made up? It is usual practice for an undertaker to agree fees BEFORE final arrangements are made.

Just because someone is in their 70s does not make them incapable of handling affairs such as this. I know it sounds harsh but if your grandma is/was not in a position to handle such arrangements why did your mother /other relative not go with her from the start?

The services have been used so the invoice is now due - I would suggest going back to the funeral director if he did not make all charges clear.

The triple fees are added to Interment fees (from £900 to £2,700) and gravedigging fees (from £450 to £1,350).

Yes I agree that it is easy to find if you are looking for it. However when you are told a price and given an invoice, naturally you accept that price. It is not common practice to trawl the internet to double check.

parsons

WhiteHorse wrote: »

Marisco has a good idea there!

If you want to go to the family cemetary but can't afford a proper burial there (or are just plain refused), then get cremated and have your ashes scattered there with or without the Council's approval. You could even have your ashes buried (openly or otherwise) on ground occupied by a relative.

That get's you what you want and shafts the Council too.

Hey I just love your attitude!! Looks like they are looking to make money from anything possible. Doesn't surprise me that they don't charge Ground Rent on the plot!!!

escortg3

very important question. Did you sign the new estimate from the funeral directors.

Deep_Ocean

escortg3 wrote: »

very important question. Did you sign the new estimate from the funeral directors.

If by 'estimate' you mean the first invoice. Yes, that was signed on 21st December. After that was signed we were issued with the printed expenses along with the funeral cortege info. All this was issued before anything was mentioned of triple fees.

escortg3

Deep_Ocean wrote: »

If by 'estimate' you mean the first invoice. Yes, that was signed on 21st December. After that was signed we were issued with the printed expenses along with the funeral cortege info. All this was issued before anything was mentioned of triple fees.

If you didnt sign anything with the higher prices on surely the funeral directors have no acknowledgement that you recieved the new price. I would argue it with the funeral director.

The bill for the cemetery burial fees goes to the funeral director anyway not yourself. try and set up a payment plan with the funeral director. They should be able to let nan pay so much a week or month.

I hope you get it sorted

Deep_Ocean

Thank you escortg3. No, nothing was signed with the higher price on. I have written a lenghty letter to the MP and to the member of the council who reduced my nan to tears. I have explained that I understand that rules are rules, but they should have notified us of the triple fees in the first instance and not after everything had already been set in motion.

escortg3

Deep_Ocean wrote: »

Thank you escortg3. No, nothing was signed with the higher price on. I have written a lenghty letter to the MP and to the member of the council who reduced my nan to tears. I have explained that I understand that rules are rules, but they should have notified us of the triple fees in the first instance and not after everything had already been set in motion.

Well if nothing was signed with the new price on i would argue paying the funeral director. They quoted you a price which your nan agreed to then changed it. Without any signed paperwork i dont think the funeral director has a leg to stand on. Was the funeral director an independant firm or part of a large organisation

Deep_Ocean

Thanks. They are just a small independant firm. I will write to them in the next couple of days.

hellywelly38

How long had he lived outside the district?

Deep_Ocean

Longer than the two years requirement. Maybe 15-20 years. But he lived about 5 miles away from the cemetery. South Staffordshire is a funny layout really, but he lived just over the border in Wolverhampton.