Funeral Charges During The Pandemic

diddily

I have just arranged a funeral for my aunt, a Covid victim.No limo's, no flowers, no pall bearers, no reception, just 3 family members, £4100.Sadly a friend also died last week, and his wife was charged the same.The Funeral Companies are charging the same "package" rate, even though they are not allowed to provide all the services.

Browntoa

The base costs are more or less the same even if it's only 5 people allowed to attend sadly

elsien

Surely the amount depends on what you choose?  And where in the country you are. 
Basic package with fancy coffin, flowers and car etc being extra on top. The reception has also never been part of the funeral director package with the funerals I've been involved with, they are generally arranged and paid for completely separately.

eskbanker

diddily said:

I have just arranged a funeral for my aunt, a Covid victim.No limo's, no flowers, no pall bearers, no reception, just 3 family members, £4100.Sadly a friend also died last week, and his wife was charged the same.The Funeral Companies are charging the same "package" rate, even though they are not allowed to provide all the services.

It's obviously not a time when anyone feels much like shopping around or haggling, but if you have clear evidence that a package price isn't changing when its contents demonstrably are then that's worth a complaint to the funeral company.

colsten

£4,100 doesn't sound too out of the ordinary though it depends where in the country you are to some extent. 

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/how-much-does-a-funeral-cost

diddily

In normal times , yes, average price, but these are not normal times.If you read my post you will see that all the usual services are stripped out but the price remains the same.Very hard to haggle/complain when you are grieving.

Robin9

The cremation costs are the same, the FD costs in arranging the funeral, paperwork, doctors fees, death certificates, taking the deceased into their care  and preparing for cremation, coffin are all the same - the  taking of the deceased into their care  and preparing for cremation may even be more.

elsien

diddily said:

In normal times , yes, average price, but these are not normal times.If you read my post you will see that all the usual services are stripped out but the price remains the same.Very hard to haggle/complain when you are grieving.

But you mention things that aren't the usual service without an extra charge, even before Covid19. 

Thrugelmir

My mothers funeral was more than that. The flowers being paid for by the family separately. Likewise reception (wake) was paid for by the estate. The limo and pall bearers are actually only required for a short period of time. 

diddily

I think everyone is missing the point here.During the Covid pandemic you are not allowed limo's, pall bearers, flowers etc etc .....but you still get charged for them....

The_Green_Hornet

The Co-op Funeral Care web site is still offering Direct Cremations for £1,310 if you want to cut costs (£1,230 in Scotland).