On 16 June 2021, the CMA announced that it has made the Funeral Markets Investigation Order 2021 to implement a package of remedies to address adverse effects on competition identified in the final report of the funerals and crematoria services market investigation.
From 17 June 2021
Prohibition of all agreements with funeral related institutions (hospitals, care homes, hospices) that are understood to encourage, incentivise or refer customers to a particular funeral director.
Essentially, as of last week, funeral directors will no longer be able to solicit business.
Soliciting business through the Coroner and Police Contracts
The above contracts are delivered by a funeral company with a set contract. As this funeral director is a family’s first interaction with a funeral director, the contracted funeral director is working as a service provider for an independent body as such they are not allowed to take advantage of their position.
The following is to be in place by 3 months’ time:
All funeral directors to show a standardised price using a set price list
These prices must be show on websites, in branch windows and available physically to post to clients.
This will allow the public to make a fair like-for-like comparison between funeral directors.
Funeral directors must offer either/both – CMA standardised price for an attended funeral – CMA standardised price for non-attended funerals
It also states where their loved one will be cared for prior to the funeral – we have fully equipped mortuaries in all of our funeral homes
Disclosure of interest
Funeral Directors must display the following in a clear and prominent manner – in branch and on websites:
- The ultimate ownership – Jackson’s are family owned but this will highlight the large companies trading under an established family name following acquisition.
- Any business or financial interest a funeral director has in a comparison website – this removes preferential promotion in comparisons.
- Charitable donations to a third party, charity contribution or gratuity to a third party, any other form of payment that does not relate to a cost incurred or a service provided by a funeral director.
Matt Jackson, Director at Jackson’s Family Funeral Directors, says:
“The review is thorough and timely and we welcome its findings. Jackson’s are family owned and both owners – Laura and myself – work actively within the business. We have always been visible and transparent with our pricing, as this resonates with our ethos. It allows a family to decide by themselves and not be pressured into high costing items. Our ethics are strong and we have never agreed with paid referrals or incentives.”
For Jackson’s, the family comes first and the local team believe that every family who have decided to engage its services have done because of their three key elements:
- Be Professional
- Be Transparent
- Be Honest
Matt continues:
“We fully support this order in its entirety and believe it is long overdue. This is a positive step forward in giving the public an informative, clear and comparable choice with previously hidden information.”
For more information please visit: https://jacksonfamilyfunerals.com/