Distinct Cremations welcomes CMA efforts to keep sector prices low

Distinct Cremations has welcomed the Competition and Markets Authority’s efforts to keep funeral costs low for the benefit of bereaved families. 

The government department’s latest review, which was released earlier in February, found that funeral directors operating more than five branches charged customers just over £2,700 for funeral services between September 2022 and August 2023 on average. 

While this sum was found to be 4% higher than the previous year, the CMA found that it represents a decrease in real terms, once the higher rate of inflation is factored in. 

However, Distinct Cremations managing director, Steve Wallis, has expressed disappointment at the number of funeral directors who are not complying with the CMA’s measures to keep funeral planning accessible.

According to the CMA, it has stepped up its enforcement to tackle non-compliance with its initial Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021. This comes as the authority has received evidence that just under 250 funeral directors are failing to comply with the law. 

The non-complying funeral directors have “failed to display the necessary pricing information for funeral or crematorium services”  in branch and online.

Wallis said: “It’s disappointing to see there are still funeral directors who are not complying with the Competition and Marketing Authority’s remedies. Funeral directors must modernise and embrace the authority’s remedies and changing consumer preferences.”