South-east Londoners paying most for cremations

Grieving relatives in South-east London have to pay the most for cremations.

Families living in Beckenham and Lewisham are paying the most out of anyone in the country to cremate their loved ones, according to research done by funeral comparison site Beyond.

The average national cremation price has now risen to £784, but some crematoriums are charging up to £300 more than that.

In Beckenham it will cost a family £1,070 on average. The research found that the further the distance between funeral service providers, the more expensive services were.

This creates a monopoly as families baulk at travelling long distances to lay their loved ones to rest, they said.

The research came after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced a review into the spiralling costs of funerals.

Cremations now account for up to 80 per cent of all funerals, making it big business for the nation’s crematoriums.

The CMA will seek to ensure that consumers are not being exploited, particularly at such a vulnerable and emotional time.

Famous graves in Beckenham’s crematorium and cemetery, include those of inventor of the flushing toilet, Thomas Crapper (pictured), and Victorian cricket legend W.G Grace.

James Dunn, co-founder of Beyond, said: “For far too long, not enough has been done about spiralling cremation costs.

Mourners are being exploited and it’s fantastic news that the CMA has launched its probe into this sector.“In everyday life it can pay to shop around for a better deal.

In death, however, it’s not always possible to go elsewhere and consumers need to be protected when providers can essentially charge what they like.

“Prices should not be allowed to spiral out of control in areas where there is no competition. No provider should be able to cash in on grief in this way.”

Founded in 2015, Beyond is the UK’s only price comparison website for funeral services.