Thursday, June 07, 2018

The Price of Death

The basic cost of a burial in Scotland has risen on average by 75% since 2010.  Citizens Advice Scotland said of the 55,000 funerals taking place in Scotland each year 10% of families struggle to pay the bill.

Jim Brodie, of the Scottish Association of Independent Funeral Directors, believed council charges for interment and cremations were "immoral". Mr Brodie said grieving families were being subjected to a "postcode lottery" because of the variety of fees being levied by the country's 32 councils.

BBC Scotland showed that the basic cost for an interment varied between £310 in the Western Isles to £1,780 in Stirling, with the Scottish average being £730 - a rise of 75% in eight years. In Shetland, interment fees have increased by 355% from £110 to £500 since 2010 and in South Lanarkshire and East Renfrewshire the charge has risen by 151% and 136% respectively.

Pay an additional £67 to Dundee Council for "extra depth
Permission from Dundee Council to scatter ashes will set you back £47
Music for a cremation service by Falkirk Council will cost you an additional £147

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