Response 521122949

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Theme 1 - Use of language and terminology

1. Do you think that the Scottish Government should publish a glossary of terms alongside the guidance on funeral costs?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know

Theme 2 - Display of pricing information

3. Do you think that the guidance should include measures which encourage private cemeteries and crematoriums and funeral directors with a website to display their pricing information online?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know

4. Please explain your answer.

From experience of arranging a funeral for the first time, I found it very distressing and confusing trying to decipher costs in particular, when it came to choosing the crematorium as I had a choice of locations but the costs differed greatly.

Theme 3 - Transparency of cremation charges

5. In order for crematoriums to display their prices in a consistent manner, the Scottish Government proposes that all crematoriums should base their standard cremation service charge on a common set of components. These are:

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know

Theme 4 – Definition of a simple funeral

7. To help consumers make comparisons between funeral directors, we have proposed a standard definition for a simple funeral. This is set out in paragraph 9 of the draft guidance for funeral directors and also in the drop-down box above. Do you think that the simple funeral service definition set out in the draft guidance captures all of the necessary elements?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know

Theme 5 – Transparency of pricing at the point of sale

9. Do you think that the guidance for funeral directors should include a measure suggesting that funeral directors should describe their processes for care of the deceased to help consumers understand costs associated with this?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know

10. Please explain your answer.

This is an absolute must. I found descriptions of services in written price lists and brochures were greatly exaggerated when it came to actually receiving the service. I was charged by the funeral director for services provided free by my local authority. I was unable to receive any refund as they grouped together different components of the services, so it was a choice of pay more or forego services.

Theme 6 - Burial or cremation without using the services of a funeral director

11. Do you think the guidance should include a provision encouraging burial and cremation authorities to make reasonable efforts to accommodate the wishes of a person that does not want to use a funeral director?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know

12. Please explain your answer.

If able to, people should have the option to arrange a funeral or cremation on their own.

Theme 7 – Understanding local authority charges

13. Paragraphs 3 and 4 of the draft guidance for local authorities suggest that local authorities should consult the public when developing charging proposals and explain the reasons for any proposed changes to charges.

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know

14. Please explain your answer.

I have had to arrange and pay for 2 funerals 2 years apart. The cost within 1 year and 11 months had risen almost 40 percent. I was offered no explanation as to why costs had increased so much.

15. Paragraph 5 of the draft guidance for local authorities suggests that local authorities should publish information from their Local Financial Returns annually on their websites, showing income generated and expenditure incurred through the provision of burial and cremation services.

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know

16. Please explain your answer.

This information should be made public to show where costs are increasing.

Theme 8 – Local authority measures to reduce funeral poverty

17. Do you think the guidance should encourage local authorities to link burial and cremation charge setting to broader strategies and duties aimed at reducing poverty?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know

18. Please explain your answer.

I would prefer to see a national strategy in place so no matter where you reside there would be support available.
Please note I did not fully understand the question.

19. Do you think that local authorities should be encouraged to take actions to support individuals who are struggling with the costs of a funeral?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Don't know

20. Please explain your answer.

I don't think financial support should be localised. It should be at national level but with local authority providing non financial support.

Impact assessments

21. Please tell us about any potential impacts, either positive or negative, that you consider the proposals in this consultation may have on people who may be differently affected in relation to the protected characteristics.

None

22. Please tell us about any potential business or regulatory impacts, either positive or negative, costs and burdens that you think may arise as a result of the proposals within this consultation.

None

About you

What is your name?

Darren Campbell

Are you responding as an individual or an organisation?

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Individual
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