Funeral Charges During The Pandemic

elsien

diddily said:

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....

No I'm getting the point. I'm just not necessarily agreeing with it. 
Limos, flowers etc have been an added extra that we could say yes or no to with pre covid funerals. Do you have evidence that your package would normally include those as standard, because if you do then that would merit a complaint.

Robin9

diddly - limo's have never been included in a basic cost - hearse yes but limo's no.  Likewise flowers, announcements in newspapers.   You still have pall bearers as standard.

tommyedinburgh

elsien said:

diddily said:

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....

No I'm getting the point. I'm just not necessarily agreeing with it. 
Limos, flowers etc have been an added extra that we could say yes or no to with pre covid funerals. Do you have evidence that your package would normally include those as standard, because if you do then that would merit a complaint.

It is a really hard time for you, my thoughts and best wishes are with you. 

I lost both my parents within 5 months of each other. If it was me, I would just a settle the bill in full and move on with your life. 

p00hsticks

As others say, when we last had to arrange a funeral the basic funeral didn't include flowers, cars, reception etc - they were all extra choices (apart from the reception, which I've never seen offered as part of a funeral package).  The basic fee was for the hearse, pall bearers, cremation, and standard (plastic) urn for the ashes.

I'm sorry for your loss.

sheramber

diddily said:

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.... 

Do you have a bill that shows you have been charged for them?

SevenOfNine

diddily said:

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....

My condolences.  I'm afraid you may be missing the point in the responses so far.

There will be the same level of administration for the FD. Flowers & wake are not included anyway, neither is someone to officiate at the actual funeral be it a civil celebrant, minister, whoever, nor a limo for mourners, those are separate costs. Pall bearers is debateable, as is the limo for the coffin, both may still need to be used to achieve the level of respect a deceased loved one deserves, but it may not arrive with the same pomp & ceremony as is usual.

Funerals are notoriously expensive, though FD's are held wholly responsible, there are large charges that the local authority levy, paid upfront by the FD & added to the overall funeral costs (our local crematorium charges about £800 for a cremation, then weirdly there's a doctors charge of about £50 - I say "weirdly" because as death has been declared, why is a 2nd charge levied directly prior to cremation/burial???)

Anyway, the invoice from the FD should not just say 'package £4100'. If it does not break down what they supply, PLUS the costs paid on your behalf to others (council, minister, doctor cert etc) so that the funeral can go ahead, then ask for it.

It does still seem a little like losses to covid-19 are ALMOST being obliged to have Direct Cremations as The_Green_Hornet has mentioned, but without the financial saving, but when you have already been prevented from saying last goodbye's to loved ones,  those may feel like a somewhat cold hearted farewell when the situation is already bad enough.

You can have up to 10 mourners, any less 'allowed' needs to be challenged. 

Robin9

Sevenofnine -You can have up to 10 mourners, any less 'allowed' needs to be challenged.   where do you get that from ?
Surely the size of the building comes into it. I have a couple of small crems near me - they have to limit to 3 and 5

lees80

Nan's funeral last month was £4700. Cremation. Private crematorium, not local council. Included 3x Limo's, standard coffin with lining of our choice, embalming, orders of service, celebrant, 2x newspaper notices, flowers (Nan and Mum @ £35 per letter, plus a poppy wreath). Probably a few other bits but can't remember off the top of my head. This was a Saturday service so everything was higher costs than a weekday (cremation £500 more, cars @ £440 each) 

Given what you are getting it does sound expensive, but as others have said depends where in the country you are. We're North West. 

elsien

Robin9 said:

Sevenofnine -You can have up to 10 mourners, any less 'allowed' needs to be challenged.   where do you get that from ?
Surely the size of the building comes into it. I have a couple of small crems near me - they have to limit to 3 and 5

Someone I know has recently passed and the care home have been told by the funeral director only 5 people can attend. They didn't give a reason. 
However Public Health England do not specify a number; the decision is based on how feasible it is for people to stay safely distant.
"To help reduce the risk of spreading the infection, funeral directors and faith leaders are advised to restrict the number of mourners who attend funerals, so a safe distance of at least 2 metres (3 steps) can be maintained between individuals. Only members of the deceased person’s household or close family members should attend funerals. "

sheramber

It has been left to individual  funeral directors as to how many people are able to attend safely. It  depends on the size of the venue to allow social distancing , the  policies put in place by the crematorium and  protecting the funeral staff. 
Funeral directors have asked the government to stipulate a number rather than leave it up to them to decide.