The crippling costs of burying a loved-one are on the increase, with the burden being more keenly felt in Perth and Kinross than almost anywhere in the country.
New figures from Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) have revealed that the average cost of a simple funeral in Scotland today is £3,240 an increase of 7% year-on-year since 2004.
The actual outlay in many local authority areas can exceed even that figure, however, with accusations of a “postcode lottery”, where families in some areas having to pay 300% more than those just a few miles away.
The average cost of securing a lair and burial in Scotland has now risen to £1,181, while additional costs such as flowers, transport, food and headstones can push that to CAS’s higher figure.
Both Perth and Kinross (£1,695) and Stirling (£1,728) charge considerably more than the national average for burial.
Fife (£1,141), Angus (£1,102) and Dundee (£1,035) all charge less than the national average, while Falkirk is the country’s fourth cheapest local authority at £793 and Clackmannanshire little more, at £915.
Perth and Kinross is one of 10 local authorities to offer cremation services and is the country’s most expensive provider, at £730.
The national average is just £569.50 rising to an average of £2,610 when additional costs are taken into account. Fife Council charges £619 and Falkirk a lower £516.
The rise in costs comes against a background of falling household incomes and a cut in the emergency assistance that people can claim for funerals, leaving some unable to bury their deceased at all.
Citizens Advice Scotland’s head of policy, Susan McPhee said: “People who have never organised a funeral are often shocked at how expensive it is.
“These high costs come at a time when many families are struggling just to feed their families and keep their homes, so a sudden bill of over £3,000 can be devastating.
“That’s a lot of money for a family to find at a time of emotional stress particularly when the bereavement is unexpected.
“So it’s even worse to discover that some people are being charged significantly more in burial costs than those in other areas even just a few miles away.”
The most expensive council, East Dunbartonshire, charges £2,716 280% more than nearby East Renfrewshire meaning there are just seven miles between the most expensive place to be buried on mainland Scotland and the cheapest.
Citizens Advice Bureaux have reported a 27% increase in the number of people reporting they simply cannot afford burial or cremation.
“These people are of course in real distress at having to face this awful situation,” Ms McPhee added.
“And our report reveals a real unfairness, which we think has to be addressed.”
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman said: “We benchmark our bereavement services against other local authorities and private providers to ensure that the charges we apply are in line with the level of service provided.
“We will continue to review this.”