Why aren't funerals made affordable by government?

Answer 1

In most countries the funeral industry is wholly unregulated. This leaves the bereaved vulnerable to manipulation and abuse. In some countries, such as america, some states have reasonably strict 'guidelines' regarding the industry, especially in relation to quotations of costs. However, there's a great deal of anecdotal evidence of those laws being circumvented.

In numerous countries, such as Denmark, the funeral services are indeed set by the government. In the United Kingdom, whilst the funeral and services are under the guidance of a funeral director, the cremation and crematory chapel is often owned and run by the local council. However, there are still some independent crematories and cemeteries.

There are countless stories of the larger organisations hiding behind former family owned and trusted names, where no reference is made to suggest they're now part of a national or international group. In these circumstances, the employees are forced to participate in courses on 'up-selling' pressure selling, option selling, and ancillary services, some of which pay hefty commissions to the funeral arranger. Another big revenue producer is the pre-paid funeral, where an individual pays for their entire funeral up-front. Sadly, when a number of years pass and the time arises to use the pre-paid funeral, the funeral service tells the family that there are not enough funds to cover the cost of the funeral and therefore must be paid by the family.

Similar to the airline industry fifty years ago, adept businessmen who understand the benefits of entertainment, and honorariums continue to court local and state officials, thus preventing tangible action upon the corrupt funeral industry leaders.

Thankfully, there are more kind, sincere, honest, and trustworthy funeral directors than there are corrupt ones. However, it's a thin line of reality of what goes on Behind the Scenes and what the bereaved believes.

Some corporate funeral groups buy up literally every single funeral home in an area, plus the buy outright the cemeteries, and then they buy the limo services and even the florists in a 50 mile radius. When that happens, despite the fact all materials, documents, and contracts reflect an independent business, the contracts are the same and the pricing is the same throughout every outlet. And when this happens, they can control what everyone pays.

One of the most distressing 'truths' when dealing with these 'façade' funeral services is what happens to a loved one. Rather than being provided safe-harbouring, care, and attention by the home you believed they were being taken to, the deceased is shipped away - sometimes up to 70 miles away, to a 'processing' centre. There is nothing personal, whatsoever, by that end of the business. No one knows, nor cares, about the life of the flesh before them. They know nothing, nor care about the life-stories, or families left behind. It's all so personal that distraught employees who quit their jobs, describe the places as similar to an abattoir!

There needs to be regulation and there needs to be compelled honesty. And many countries are now stating there needs to be criminal records searches and licensing for all employees of the industry.

Funerals in the United Kingdom cost on average seventy-to-eighty percent less than they do in america. However, the average cost of a funeral in the UK has almost doubled in the past 36 months. This is directly attributable to US originating firms who bought up numerous independents across the country, and used the same strategy as used in the states. They quickly learned that Britons have little interest in being over-sold items which are simply unnecessary in the arranging of a funeral. Britons remain quite practical when it comes to arranging a funeral. A simple particulate board coffin, no embalming, no make-up sessions, pink track lights, or frilly linen coffins and pillows for the deceased, no posh steel-gauge caskets, where the sales person promotes daft things such as 'perpetual preservation, moisture-proofing, 800 weave linens, spring mattresses, porcelain lined caskets to guarantee not only no moisture, but insuring no vermin. And finally, no locks and keys, concrete vaults, etc.. It's Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust, as simple as that.

The time is coming when this industry will be regulated, if not to protect families, then to protect the environment from toxic chemical pollution of subterranean water tables from embalming fluids, plastics, and waste materials.

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A large chunk of the cost of cremation in the UK is not fees to American firms, but high fuel costs pushed up further by mixture of EU and UK rules. These enforce higher than necessary temperatures and pre-heating hence much greater gas consumption; and the fitting of more sophisticated flue-gas filters etc. (I learnt this from a relative in the 'trade', but a local-council not commercial-company employee.)

Two other funeral methods are used now in the UK. "Woodland burials", not necessarily in a forest but using a lined wicker coffin, are popular now. A maritime equivalent is used but rarely as there is only one licenced area for it in UK waters. This uses a special, porous and non-preserved plywood coffin weighted with concrete, lowered gently into the water from a boat; and as in the woodland burial it allows decent, respectful and sensitive disposal of the body without then obstructing Nature's part in things.

I have know three people - one a relative - given a woodland funeral but not the sea version. I gather there is another, new, method called Racematising, which synthesises the alkaline reactions used by bacteria naturally. The residue is similar to cremation ash, so can be scattered in the same symbolic way. I have not heard of it being used in this country though.