Mourners in Dundee and Angus face the biggest bills in the UK for cremating their loves ones.
Funeral services price comparison website Beyond said that grieving relatives in areas where there is only one crematorium in operation face much higher fees than those in areas where competition between different crematoria is keeping prices down.
Both Dundee, owned by Dignity, and the independent crematorium at Friockheim charge £1070 per cremation. Only eight other crematoria in the UK charge as much.
Dignity said its prices reflect the additional time mourners get for services at their premises and the fee includes other items such as medical certificates.
According to Beyond, the average national cremation price has now risen to £784.
Dundee and Friockheim crematoria are just 16 miles apart. Nearby Perth, which is owned by the local authority, charged £749 per cremation last year.
Beyond’s research comes after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced a review into the rising costs of funerals, the price of which have more than doubled since 2004.
The review will examine whether the information provided by funeral directors on prices and services is clear enough for people to be able to choose the best option for them.
It will also look at how prices have changed over time and the factors that affect them.
The average cost of a funeral was nearly £3,800 in 2017 – not counting extras that can add another £2000 to the total bill.
The rising level of cremation fees will be considered as part of the review.
James Dunn, co-founder of Beyond, said: “For far too long, not enough has been done about spiralling cremation costs.
“Mourners are being exploited and it’s fantastic news that the CMA has launched its probe into this sector.
“Prices should not be allowed to spiral out of control in areas where there is no competition. No provider hould be able to cash in on grief in this way.”
A spokesman for Dignity said: “People tell us the most important factor in organising a cremation is being able to make a booking that allows them sufficient time to pay their respects to loved ones.
“Our fee structure gives clients and their families a number of choices at different price levels.
“Dignity crematoria include components that our competitors often charge separately for, such as legal and practical necessities. Compared on a price per minute basis, Dignity is cheaper than the majority of local authorities and cheaper than the market average.
“For example, if you compared Dignity’s crematoria in Dundee with the local authority crematoria in Perth, we offer longer time slots and more space for people to attend. Our price per minute at this location is £23.78 compared to £27.40 at the local authority crematoria in Perth.”
