From time to time, State Government departments must conduct reviews of laws. That time has come for the Funeral Pricing Code of Practice and Consumer Protection would like your help.
Saying goodbye is never easy. The last thing families need is confusion or stress about how much a funeral will cost. Whether it's a joyful tribute or a solemn farewell, the pricing must be clear and upfront.
In Western Australia, the Funeral Pricing Code of Practice means funeral directors must publicly display their prices for all services and packages on their website and each place of business so you can compare the costs yourself in the comfort of your home or with friends and family.
A basic package of the least expensive combination of essential goods and services must also be included in the public pricing. This is so people have a better understanding of the costs for the minimum legal requirements for a burial or cremation.
Once you have decided on what sort of sendoff your loved one will have and ask for a quote, you should receive a full breakdown of prices within two business days to know exactly what the total cost will be, so there are no surprises later on.
Grieving friends and family deserve to be protected when they are at their most vulnerable.
Those consumers who decide to pay for their funerals upfront before they are needed should know they are protected by the mandatory Prepaid Funerals Code of Practice. This requires a detailed contract, prices to be fixed at the time of signing, a 30-day cooling off period and payments to prepaid funeral funds to be managed within secure investments under the name of the client until they are required.
It's important to note that prepaid funeral cover is different to funeral insurance, which should be treated with caution given ongoing payments are required for the rest of a consumer's life. This means they could pay significantly more than the actual payment their family will receive.
Funeral bonds are an investment product where you make regular payments over time and the value grows. When the time comes, the money can only be used for a funeral.
Funeral insurance and bonds are not covered by either Code of Practice, they are regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) as they are financial products.
Reforms to the funeral industry began in 2022 to stamp out unscrupulous sales practices and overcharging.
Before the Funeral Pricing Code of Practice came into effect on 1 May 2023 the cost sometimes wasn't known until after the funeral was held, leading family and friends of the deceased to believe they had been overcharged.
Some people ended up with bells and whistles they didn't want or need, or couldn't afford. Confusing 'bundles' with no itemised prices meant comparing costs between funeral directors was impossible.
From time to time, State Government departments must conduct reviews of laws. That time has come for the Funeral Pricing Code of Practice and Consumer Protection would like your help by filling out this survey.
The purpose of the survey is to get feedback on whether the code is working and if consumers are getting upfront knowledge of the prices of funeral goods and services and other funeral information.
If you believe you have been misled about funeral costs, report it to Consumer Protection on 1300 30 40 54
