Funeral costs are higher than consumers expectWhich? shows funerals are costly for the bereaved

30 May 2010

Organising a funeral can be much more expensive than you'd think, Which? research has found.

A survey of 2,386 Which? members showed that 45% of those who had organised a funeral in the past two years spent more than £3,000, with 10% spending over £4,000. 

The majority of funerals were paid for through the deceased’s estate. However, in 16% of cases, the funeral cost was met by a family member.

These findings are published in What To Do When Someone Dies, a new book published by Which?.

Coping with bereavement

The research also revealed that organising a funeral can be confusing as well as expensive for the bereaved - 37% of those surveyed came across rules and regulations that they didn’t know about. 

Organising a funeral for the first time can be especially daunting – 90% of the members who had never organised a funeral said that they'd appreciated guidance on what's involved.

Anne Wadey, author of What To Do When Someone Dies, said: 'The death of a loved one is something that many of us are reluctant to think about, but the majority of us will have to cope with it at some point in our lives. 

'Not only do many people not know where to begin regarding the formalities, they can also feel intimidated and anxious by the risks of not doing things properly.

'Having some guidance on how to register a death, or how to sort out the financial affairs of the deceased, can help the bereaved feel a little more in control of an unfamiliar situation, while also experiencing emotional turmoil and distress.'

Get help with funeral planning 

What To Do When Someone Dies costs £10.99 from the Which? online bookshop or from all good bookshops. 

See the Which? Funeral plans review for advice on pre-paid funeral plans.

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