The two largest organisations are the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) or the Society of Allied & Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF). Most funeral directors will be a member of one or the other.

Membership of SAIF or the NAFD is voluntary but does give a framework Code of Practice within which a funeral director can operate, and both trade associations inspect member firms once each year. This means that the standard of service you receive depends upon the integrity of individual owner / managers. Thankfully the vast majority of UK funeral professionals are hardworking and vocationally driven, but even the most dedicated can stray from recommended and agreed "Best Practice".

The most common departure from the Code of Practice relates to the supply of written estimates of funeral costs and the availability of price lists. Very few firms seem to provide a bereaved family with either, leaving them in the dark and unable to question any element of the service in advance.

It is easy for a family to forget that they are buying or commissioning a crucial service (and all too easy for them to feel helpless) and while most funeral directors strive to offer high quality, good value services, this failure to provide consumer informaton reduces vulnerable customers' ability to "shop around".

Every family deserves the very best experience at this difficult time, and we would strongly recommend approaching at least two funeral directors to discuss their services before you make a decision. Any decision should be based on how confident and comfortable a funeral director makes you feel as well as whether you feel you have been offered good value for money.