Are funerals a massive ‘RIP off?’

Funerals are a difficult time but, when you’re being ripped off, they can be a veritable nightmare.

And it is happening all too often in Australia where undertakers are accused of “opportunistic pricing” and “taking advantage” of already vulnerable clients, with ad hoc pricing, based on their perceived ability (of the customer) to pay, and 1000 per cent markups in some cases.

The alleged rip-off has been highlighted by the creator of Gathered Here, a price comparison site for funeral services created by Colin Wong, who noticed the huge discrepancies when collecting pricings from various operators.

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Even industry insiders admitted to Wong a former lawyer, that it’s a common practice to inflate the price of (already heavily marked up) coffins up to 800 per cent more, or even 1000 per cent if the customer seems like they’ve got the money, he told The Guardian.

Funerals in Australia can cost anywhere from $4,000 for a basic cremation to $15,000 for a more elaborate casket, burial and flowers, according to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). Here are some tips to pay for a funeral.

Wong, traumatised after a personal experience of arranging a funeral for a relative, said: “It really stuck with me – funeral directors going out of their way to tell you how complicated it is, how they can’t possibly give you any pricing unless they meet you in person.”

He believes, given the sensitivity of the circumstances, people may not voice their discontent over the price or service.

“So many people won’t say anything at that time because you don’t want to be perceived as caring more about money, or bargaining over the death of a loved one, and that’s exactly what funeral directors know as well,” he said.

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He believes the best way for funeral operators to quote is itemising prices, and imparting all the costs upfront.

A single service burial in Sydney within a 15km radius of the CBD costs anything between $4028 for Elite Funeral Directors in Canterbury, up to $7500 charged by White Lady Funerals in the pricier suburbs of Mosman.

Wong has since received legal threats from funeral operators who demand he basically ‘cease and desist’ from listing their services on his site.

The Consumer Action Law Centre has called for regulatory changes to the funeral industry. Wong has also started a Change.org petition asking Australia’s consumer watchdog the ACCC to demand funeral operators list their prices online.