Make sure the funeral company you choose really is local

Andy Kirk of Axell-Eames

A Heathfield funeral director is warning people to “read the small print” and check whether the company they are considering using is part of a national chain or they could end up paying more than they need to.

Andy Kirk of Axell-Eames Funeral  Services in Heathfield High Street welcomes the recent independent scrutiny from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) into the funeral business. He hopes it will be expanded to include a wider view of the companies purporting to be “Independent” when in-fact they are part of a group.

Andy stresses that Axell-Eames has for many years made a conscious effort to educate people on the fact that you will get a much better service from a local independent funeral director, than that of a national or group of companies who focus purely on the profit they make.

“​We are determined as a company to arrange funerals which help the bereaved families of Heathfield and surrounding areas to come to terms with the loss of a loved one, ensuring the process is fair for all and affordable – by being totally transparent with charges and guaranteeing no hidden extras,” he explains.

Axell-Eames always provides a full, itemised breakdown of all charges as standard.  This will show you exactly what the company is charged by the churches, crematorium and other services that they have to purchase as part of providing a service.

Recent reports in the national news quoted the average cost of a funeral in the UK as nearly £5000.

Andy said: “At Axell-Eames we cannot remember the last time a funeral with us cost that much.  Indeed recently, we have been performing a number of ‘value’ funerals at less than £2000 in total.

“The CMA report is aimed at the larger funeral services who are unfortunately forcing us all to be tarred with the same brush.  Visit your local independent and see the difference.    Axell-Eames also believes that the investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) should be expanded to include a formal legal definition of the conditions under which a company can claim to be independent.

“The advice we would offer to those looking for funeral services is, when looking at funeral directors read the small print carefully and the notices on the doors and windows.  Any company that claims to be an independent and then has signs and documents stating to be part of a group we believe is misleading the public – and you will pay more for the services provided.  We would welcome a stance on this from the government.   If this is a subject you are worried about, we would welcome a conversation and will offer accurate and transparent information to you at anytime. “