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I refer to the article “ ” (Nov 17). A report by the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) last month highlighted the lack of transparency over funeral costs in Singapore. It also encouraged consumers to pre-plan funeral arrangements where possible. The main selling point of pre-paid funerals is that you can plan them to your preferences, without the emotional pressure of dealing with a loved one’s death.    However, given Singaporeans’ general unfamiliarity with the funeral business, as pointed out by the CCCS report, it might be wiser not to make pre-plans unless certain safeguards are put in place.  First, a central registry of pre-paid funeral contracts should be established to enable consumers, family members and funeral directors to expeditiously verify the details of existing contracts. Individual funeral service providers should also be required to keep records of pre-paid funerals. As a former funeral professional, I have encountered many occasions when a person died and their family members were not aware that a plan existed. A on the funeral industry in Victoria, Australia, found that its system of self-regulation was “unsatisfactory” given the diversity of businesses and lack of agreed industry-wide standards.  It added that a voluntary code of practice would not be beneficial without the “support of legislation”. Recommendations from the inquiry have been enshrined in law since 2006.  In Singapore, where almost every funeral company is a small or medium-sized enterprise, pre-paid funds meant for future use could well be spent on existing costs. One also cannot rule out the possibility that a firm might exit the business before a package can be used.    As such, monies paid in advance for funeral packages should be placed in an independent investment trust fund, which a funeral director cannot access until the death has occurred. The interest earned from an investment fund could also be used to fund funerals for the destitute. While pre-planning does allow consumers to make informed decisions, the continual lack of transparency in funeral costs remains a barrier in that decision-making process. Thus, unless the authorities make it mandatory that prices of funeral goods and services are made transparent and itemised and shared with consumers before a contract is signed, there is a distinct imbalance in favour of an unregulated industry. Such safeguards could be legalised under the ambit of a “Funeral Act”, to govern the entire industry. Presently, if one’s concern is the cost of a funeral, it is better to deposit funds in a nominated bank account rather than with a funeral company. Consumers can also consider listing out detailed ideas about a funeral in a will after having consulted a funeral firm. This will allow them to reap the benefits of a pre-paid funeral without the drawbacks of being locked into a contract that might eventually not be honoured.