Scrutiny and Transparency in the Funeral Industry
Organising a funeral when you’re going through one of the toughest times in your life – the death of a loved one – can feel like a lot of added stress. To help lessen the burden, it’s best to work with caring, personal funeral directors that have your best interests at heart. Unfortunately, the funeral industry has been under scrutiny for as long as we can remember, thanks to pricing that is often less than transparent from a number of service providers.
This has led to many complaints from grieving people that have ended up paying above their expectations, at a time when they’re most vulnerable. There have been calls to turn this around, so people in Australia can feel confident that they’re choosing a funeral provider they can trust.
Calls for greater transparency in the funeral industry
We’ve seen the operations of a number of other funeral providers in the area. Often, funeral companies won’t provide pricing on their website, over the phone or in writing. Instead, they request that the potential customer comes to visit them in person – making it easier for the provider to lure in an already vulnerable person, at a time when they’re dealing with high levels of grief.
It’s natural for families to make arrangements in a rush; they don’t shop around and they settle for the first price they’re offered, assuming this is the industry norm. The problem is that too many providers are not transparent about their costs, and they add on a disproportionately high service fee to the other essential items such as transfers, certifications and coffins or cremation fees.
In this stressful time, families need support. If they’re not provided with an upfront, itemised bill, then they might not think to ask for one – which is how many funeral providers increase costs unnecessarily. It’s important to remember that you have the right to ask for an itemised bill (a cost breakdown), according to the Australian Consumer Law.
Instant quotes from Affordable Cremations
At Affordable Cremations, we pride ourselves on honesty and transparency. We’re there as a guidance for the people that choose us during this upsetting time, and we offer simple and affordable options for families across New South Wales.
Our direct cremation pricing is available on our website with an instant quote function. We do this to prevent any pressure to commit to a company without knowing your options. You won’t need to visit us in a funeral home or be “sold” to. You can simply get a quote online, email or call us and we’ll talk you through the process and provide a clear breakdown of our costs.
Get in touch
If you’d prefer a family-run funeral provider that offers simple, fuss-free funerals in NSW, get in touch with Affordable Cremations. We make the entire process easier for you, with no surprise costs or the need for you to visit us. Just Contact us to discuss your options.