Using a funeral director

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Down to Earth

If you choose to use a funeral director

There is no requirement to use a funeral director. If you choose to use one remember that, like anything else you pay for, you should be happy with the price you are paying and the service you receive.

If you have decided to make the funeral arrangements yourself without a funeral director, you may find our guide to doing it yourself helpful.

Shopping around for a funeral director

It is important to remember that most funeral directors are commercial businesses.

Some funeral directors are run by corporations – Co-op Funeralcare, Dignity and Funeral Partners being the largest. Others are independent funeral directors or small chains.

Sometimes, friends and family members may have recommendations, but be aware that the company they used may have changed hands or been bought out by a larger company, even if it has the same name. Companies are required to make their ultimate ownership clear.

In some areas, councils offer a Residents Funeral or Municipal Funeral at a lower rate if you or the deceased person live in a certain area. You can check online or ask your local council.

Online price comparison tools do exist, but use them with care as prices may not be accurate.

Speaking to a funeral director over the phone, or meeting with them, does not mean that you have to use their company. It’s your choice. We recommend contacting more than one funeral director, to check you are happy with the service they are offering, and to compare their prices.

Even if you have signed a contract with a funeral director, it can still be possible to change. If they have the collected the body, they may charge for any work already done. This charge would be passed to the new funeral director who would then charge you.

Comparing costs between funeral directors

Funeral director regulation

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, funeral directors are almost entirely unregulated. In 2021, the Funerals Market Investigation Order was brought into force by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). It placed several legal requirements on UK funeral directors, including displaying prices online and in branch.

In Scotland, funeral directors are legally required to abide by a Funeral Director Code of Practice.

Aside from this, funeral directors can voluntarily join trade bodies like the National Association of funeral directors (NAFD) or the National Society of Allied and Independent funeral directors (SAIF), which require members adhere to industry-designed codes of practice. However, this is not legally binding. You can check if a funeral director is a member of a trade body at the links above. They should also display their logos.

Funeral directors and consumer rights