You must ensure your price lists comply with the Funerals Act 2006, which complements the general Australian Consumer Law provisions on cost disclosure.
Price lists must be clear, legible and detail all the goods and services you supply. The price list must reflect the maximum price you charge for funeral goods and services.
Funeral providers must also display the funeral goods and services price list and coffin price list:
- on the funeral provider's website, and
- in a prominent position at the provider's business premises.
The funeral provider’s price list must include:
- the price of each of the following services provided directly by the funeral provider:
- transportation of a deceased person prior to burial or cremation
- storage of a deceased person in a mortuary or holding room, hire of a refrigeration plate, and mortuary care
- preparation for and conduct of a viewing of, or a vigil for, a deceased person prior to burial or cremation
- hire of a venue for a funeral ceremony
- preparation for and conduct of a funeral ceremony
- burial or cremation of a deceased person
- how the funeral provider will transport a deceased person prior to burial or cremation
- the price of each casket and shroud available for purchase – this may be presented as a price range with a note that a detailed price list for each type of casket and shroud is available upon request
- the location of any mortuary or crematorium used by the funeral provider and the name of its owner/manager if not the funeral provider
- a reasonable estimate of each of the following disbursements:
- the cost of obtaining any certificate, permit, authorisation or notice required under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996, the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2003 or the Coroners Act 2008, or under an equivalent law of another State or a Territory, in connection with the services provided by the funeral provider
- any fee charged by a third party for the burial or cremation of a deceased person
- if you offer packages of funeral goods and services, a statement that clearly indicates which package is the least expensive.
Statement of costs prior to agreement
Before entering an agreement, you must give their customer a statement of itemised funeral costs, including the goods and funeral services selected by the customer, service fees and disbursements. If the proposal is a funeral package, an itemised list of each item provided in the package and the total cost of the package must be included.
If you do not know the cost of the disbursements at the time of providing the statement of funeral costs, you must:
- include on the statement a reasonable estimate of the cost of the disbursements, and
- provide a further written statement of the actual disbursements with the final invoice.
A statement of funeral costs must also include details of the funeral provider’s complaints handling procedure and how a customer can make a complaint.