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CMA probe into high funeral costs encouraging, Citizens Advice says

29 November 2018

Citizens Advice has responded to the Competition and Markets Authority announcement that it is to launch a major probe into the costs of funerals.

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:

“People organising a funeral are being exploited at one of the most emotional and stressful times in their lives.

“Huge upfront costs and unclear fees are far too common, with thousands of pounds of ‘extras’ regularly added to bills.

“We help thousands of people each year who struggle to work out over-complicated fees or who simply cannot afford the cost.

“It’s encouraging to see the CMA taking action in markets where it sees evidence of consumers being ripped off on a massive scale.”

Notes to editors

  1. Citizens Advice includes the national charity; the network of independent local Citizens Advice charities across England and Wales; the Citizens Advice consumer service; and the Witness Service.
  2. Citizens Advice is the statutory consumer advocate for energy and post. We provide supplier performance information to consumers and policy analysis to decision makers.
  3. The Citizens Advice Witness Service provides free, independent support for prosecution and defence witnesses in every criminal court in England and Wales.
  4. Citizens Advice offers Pension Wise services at 500 locations in England and Wales.
  5. Citizens Advice’s services are free, independent, confidential and impartial, and available to all regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
  6. To get advice online or find your local Citizens Advice, visit citizensadvice.org.uk
  7. For consumer advice, call the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 to talk in Welsh.
  8. We helped 2.6 million people face to face, by phone, email and webchat in 2017-18. For service statistics see our monthly publication Advice trends.
  9. Citizens Advice staff are supported by over 23,000 trained volunteers, working at over 2,500 locations in England and Wales.