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Cost of dying hits £3,307 spain

Daily Mail -Reporter

The cost of dying has soared in the past five years, with an average burial now priced at £3,307, according to research.

Cremations are cheaper, but they have also risen - by 61 per cent to £1,954 - a survey of 100 funeral directors revealed.

They blame a shortage of burial plots and the vast array of expensive coffins now on offer.

Bereaved relatives and friends should check exactly what is included in the price of a funeral "package" before making a booking according to survey co-ordinator Paul Dwyer.

'It's a purchase most people make under distressed circumstances and so they are less concerned about comaring prices as they might well be in the normal run of life', he said.

'We are encouraging people to question funeral directors to get a more accurate indication of what the finalised bill will be, which at the moment is not often not the case.' A shortage of burial plots has pushed up overall price around some urban areas.

Researchers were quoted &pound6,140 for a burial in London's Southgate compared with a cheapest at £1,797 in Manchester.

The most expensive cremation price give was £3,200 by a funeral director in Luton compared with the cheapest at &pound1,371 in Ipswich.

Seven out ten funeral directors did not include the cost of a grave in their burial quotes, while one in three did not routinely include the cost of the cremation itself.

Coffins varied in price from £300 for a basic model to £2,850 for a customised Autumn Oak casket.

Mr Dwyer urged funeral organisers to ensure they pick a coffin which fits their price range. 'The coffin is a area of controlable cost', he said. 'If you want to go to town you can, but if you want something that will do the job with dignity then it is an area where you can save money.'

The findings of the 2006 Survey of Funeral Costs, commissioned by insurance company American Life, are based on quotes given by 100 funeral directors accross Great Britain.

Mystery shoppers from Gilmour Research reported an 'invariably' professional and sympathetic attitude from the funeral director questioned.

But they found the component parts of the funeral service were rarely given in the price quote, making it difficult to get an accurate final cost for the service.

The burial and cremation prices quoted in the survey include the combined costs of a basic coffin, use of a chapel of rest, hearse and pall bearers, and funeral directors' fees.

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