How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off for Cremation Services

Cremation is a rather touchy subject. Some people are very squeamish and afraid of death. Unfortunately, we all will die sometime. I used to work for probably the largest cremation service in the country. It is not my intention to pass myself off as a super expert on the subject. I sold cremation services in Florida to people that were planning ahead of time for their demise. This is called pre-need. It has been six years since I have been a salesman selling cremation services.

Burial costs keep rising each year. It becomes more and more expensive to have a simple burial service. Funerals are a big business. There are large corporations that own many of the funeral homes that people use all over the country. These large companies have set the prices and are trying to make a profit like any other corporation. Many of the smaller funeral homes have been bought by these large corporations. The name of the business is all that remains.

Today, an inexpensive funeral costs over $5,000. Many people have a hard time paying for these funerals since they are on Social Security pensions and their incomes are limited. During what may be the saddest time in their lives, a grieving family member has to deal with preparations for burial. There are unfortunately, unscrupulous people in the industry that prey on these people and families at this sad time. To make more money they use shady tactics like saying, "John would have wanted this better service and better casket. Don't you want the best for your loved one?" All these extras can double or triple the final cost of burial. There are consumer laws on the books to protect you, but please be aware that there are sharks out there trying to make a bigger commission.

Another problem especially in the larger cities, is that land is very expensive. There is less land for cemeteries and what land there is this very costly. So that tiny plot of land can be quite high in price and hard-to-find. California is one place where cremation became very popular due to the lack of land being available for standard burials. Other states where cremation is now popular include New York and Florida.

I recently was asked to find out the present cost of cremations here in southern Florida for a family friend. In six years the price of a no-frills simple cremation has gone up over 50%. When I was in the business you could get a cremation done for $500. After some searching I found that the lowest complete cremation package was $795. The company that I worked for charges $1600 for a basic cremation. I would advise anybody looking for cremation services in the future to buy a pre-need guaranteed cremation package. This locks in the price. The price is never going to go down, so it is a financially sound decision to shop around for the best package. Please don't wait until that sad time. Investigate and plan now.

Included in the basic cremation package is having the body removed to a mortuary, a container for the body to be cremated in and the actual cremation process itself. Usually one copy of a death certificate is also provided. Any extras like fancy urns, memorial services, viewing services and scattering of ashes at sea, cost extra.

If you are considering having cremation done I would advise you to inquire about services by looking in the local telephone book, on the Internet, and in the obituary section of your local newspaper. There are societies and organizations that offer lower costs. Waiting until the last minute, when you are not thinking clearly can be quite costly.