Independent Research A

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-13014867

This article talks about a family not being able to afford a burial because the costs were too high, so against their dead mother's wish, they had to cremate her body. She describes how she had been "held over a barrel" by the local authority, and the cost was just unfortunately too high. This culminates the uncomfortableness of this subject for me as I feel the emotions are completely removed for some funeral directions, and the death of a mother, brother or even a husband becomes a money making opportunity. "In the end we talked it through and decided she wouldn't have wanted us to pay that, she would have been horrified at the charge." The fact that they had to go against their deads mother's wishes seems immoral and twisted to me.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4622724.stm

This second article talks about the rise in burial and cremation costs in recent years. "A shortage of cemetery plots and more expensive coffins have helped add £1,250 the cost of the average burial, the survey said." As most popular after death care burial trumps cremation in the price range because of the added costs of the plot, upkeep and handling costs etc. It seems manipulative and corrupt that people would take advantage of grieving families; "It is a purchase most people make under distressed circumstances and so they are less concerned about comparing prices as they might well be in the normal run of life"

Although you cannot generalise such a broad profession, I feel as though many many of the literature and media surrounding the business accuse many undertakers to be corrupt and simply out to make money. "Seven out of ten funeral directors surveyed did not show the cost of a grave in their burial quotes, while one in three did not routinely mention the cost of cremation."