|
This page reproduces text from a leaflet issued by the Office Of Fair Trading
Rights and options
The main requirements in England and
Wales are that :
1. The death is certified by a doctor or coroner and
2. Registered with a Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths and
3. The body is either buried or
cremated.
Ø
You
do not have to have a funeral ceremony.
Ø
Any
ceremony does not have to take place in a crematorium or place of worship.
Ø
You
do not have to use a religious minister.
Ø
You
do not have to use a funeral director.
There are more options concerning
the content of a funeral ceremony and its duration than many people realise.
Woodland burial and other green options are increasingly available.
The majority of people choose to make their arrangements through a funeral
director. But some people see 'do-it-yourself' funerals as more personal and
less expensive. If this approach appeals, and you have time to research and
prepare, enquire at the cemeteries and crematorium department of your local
authority for guidance. You could also get information from the Natural Death
Centre. Some funeral directors are willing to help with such funerals.
Choosing a funeral director
Funeral directors will manage funeral
arrangements and give advice and support. Check if the funeral director you
choose belongs to a trade association. This requires them to provide full
information about their services and prices.
These factors may influence your choice:
Ø
Location
of the firm's premises.
Ø
Range
of services provided.
Ø
The
way you are treated by the staff.
Ø
Cost.
Ø
Recommendation
of those who have used the service.
Ø
Ownership
(small family business or large firm) .
Ø
A
simple funeral
Most people would probably require
the funeral director to
provide the following services as a minimum:
Ø
Make
all the necessary arrangements.
Ø
Provide
appropriate staff.
Ø
Provide
a suitable coffin.
Ø
Transfer
the deceased from the place of death to the funeral director's premises.
Ø
Care
for the deceased prior to the funeral.
Ø
Provide
a hearse to the nearest cemetery or crematorium.
Funeral costs
Costs for the same services may vary
considerably from one funeral director to another. You may wish to get more
than one quote to compare costs. ‘Disbursements’ are fees paid to others,
e.g. for crematorium, minister, doctors’ certificates, newspaper
announcements, flowers etc. Ask
the funeral director for a written quotation detailing all these fees.
Funeral payments are normally recoverable from the deceased’s estate.
Remember the cheapest service is not necessarily the best value.
Financial help
If you arrange a funeral you are
responsible for paying the bill, so check where the money will come from
first.
If you are finding it difficult to pay for a funeral that you have to
arrange, you may be able to get a Social Fund Funeral Payment providing you
or your partner receive one of the following:
Ø
Housing
benefit.
Ø
Council
tax benefit.
Ø
Job
seeker’s allowance (income based).
Ø
Disabled
person’s tax credit.
Ø
Working
family’s tax credit.
Ø
Income
support.
Complaints
Most funerals are conducted well. But
if you have a justified complaint, you should contact your funeral director.
If you are not satisfied with the response, you can complain to whichever of
the three trade associations listed below your funeral director belongs to:
The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD)
www.nafd.org.uk
The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors
(SAIF)
www.saif.org.uk
Funeral Standards Council (FSC)
www.funeral-standards-council.co.uk
|