[Lisa Garner]

I need to ask what others do out there in terms of raising invoices for burials…

Do you raise the invoice before or after the funeral/burial?
if you raise the invoice before, is this invoiced care of the funeral director or..
if you raise the invoice after, is this invoiced to the debtor directly (i.e. family/executor etc) or ???

We currently raise our invoices AFTER the funeral directly to the debtor (we previously raised the invoices care of the funeral director however stopped this due to many disputes regarding unpaid invoices). I have raised with our Cemetery team that we need to raise the invoice and have it paid prior to the funeral as it is extremely difficult to debt recover the family once probate has been finalised. Of course they disagree!!

What does everyone else do???

Thanks,
Lisa

[Dallas McConnell]

Good Morning Lisa,
We have recently changed our process due to one of our funeral directors not wanting to carry the plot fee charge. Previously we invoiced the funeral director, and our charges formed part of the overall invoice from the funeral director to the signatory on the agreement with the funeral parlour. H Parsons recently advised it was leaving them out of pocket when they were unpaid yet Council was always having the plot fees paid up front by them. As such with that in mind, we now invoice the family direct (a messy process where the grieving family have to pay part of the costs with the funeral director and also come to Council to pay the rest).

We currently advise the family that costs to Council needs to be paid up front, preferably 48 hours before the service (can be difficult with people from various religions). This process has been in place now for about 6 months and have had everyone pay in advance so far.

The above covers off on the actual plot fee which for us is by far the largest charge (can range from 3k-7k depending on which cemetery they want to be buried in). As for the plaques etc, we do not actually order those to be made until payment has been received at Council.

Hope this gives a bit of guidance but happy to take a call to discuss further if required?

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