RIP.ie to Charge €100 Per Death Notice From January
RIP.ie Death Notice Fee Sparks Outrage Among funeral Directors
Funeral homes across the U.S. are expressing concern over a new €100 fee for death notices on the popular Irish website RIP.ie, raising questions about affordability and the commercialization of grief.
RIP.ie, a leading online platform for funeral information in Ireland, recently announced the new charge for death notices, effective January 1st. Previously, posting notices was free for funeral directors, with optional paid advertising available.
the Irish Association of Funeral Directors (IAFD) has voiced concerns about the fee, seeking clarification on its structure and potential impact on both funeral homes and grieving families.
“When suppliers set prices beyond the control of the IAFD, which could affect our members and their clients, the association strives to voice any concerns on their behalf,” said an IAFD spokesperson.
John Mark Griffin, Managing Director of Griffin’s Funeral Home in Limerick and PRO of the IAFD, highlighted the lack of clarity surrounding the fee, particularly regarding the inclusion of VAT.
“Funeral directors want to be fully informed before letting bereaved families know exactly what the cost of RIP notices will be,” Griffin explained.
He also expressed concerns about the potential for increased commercialization on the site, urging RIP.ie to maintain its tradition of tasteful and respectful advertising.
Galway funeral director Joe Grogan echoed these sentiments, criticizing the “excessive” fee and questioning the timing of the change so soon after the Irish Times Group’s acquisition of RIP.ie in May.
“It’s something that we can’t absorb ourselves,” Grogan stated,predicting that funeral homes will likely pass the cost onto families,possibly adding administrative fees.
While acknowledging the higher costs associated with similar announcements in newspapers and radio, Grogan questioned the future direction of RIP.ie, wondering if further price hikes are on the horizon and what additional services would justify them.
RIP.ie defended the new fee structure, stating that it will support the development and enhancement of the platform, ensuring its continued value as a trusted resource for bereaved families.
“Having engaged with funeral directors and others involved in the sector, we beleive the new fee structure offers fair and good value for money,” a RIP.ie spokesperson said.
The spokesperson emphasized that RIP.ie remains committed to providing a secure platform for families to commemorate loved ones and that all advertisements on the site are carefully vetted for relevance and appropriateness.
Though, Labour TD Conor Sheehan condemned the move, calling it “horrendous” and urging the irish Times to reverse the decision.
“Charging people €100 to post a death notice is wrong,” Sheehan stated. “The proclamation of a loved one’s death should not be on the basis of financial means.”
The controversy surrounding RIP.ie’s new fee highlights the delicate balance between providing a valuable service and the ethical considerations surrounding the commercialization of grief.As the debate continues, the impact on grieving families and the future of online memorial platforms remain to be seen.
Grieving Families Face €100 Charge for Online death Notices on RIP.ie
Leading Irish funeral website RIP.ie has sparked outrage amongst funeral directors across the U.S. with the introduction of a new €100 fee for death notices, effective January 1st.
Previously free for funeral directors, RIP.ie’s move has been met with criticism, with concerns raised about affordability and the website’s potential shift towards commercialization.
John Mark Griffin, Managing Director of Griffin’s Funeral Home in Limerick and PRO of the Irish Association of Funeral Directors (IAFD), voiced concerns about the lack of clarity surrounding the fee, particularly regarding VAT inclusion.
“Funeral directors want to be fully informed before letting bereaved families know exactly what the cost of RIP notices will be,” Griffin explained.
Galway funeral director Joe Grogan echoed these sentiments,elaborating that the fee is “excessive” and questioning the timing of the change,which follows the Irish Times Group’s acquisition of RIP.ie in May.
“It’s something that we can’t absorb ourselves,” Grogan stated, predicting that funeral homes will likely pass the cost onto families, possibly adding administrative fees.
while acknowledging the higher costs associated with similar announcements in newspapers and radio, Grogan expressed concern about RIP.ie’s future direction, questioning the likelihood of further price hikes and the justification behind them.
RIP.ie defended the new fee structure, stating that it supports platform development and enhancement, ensuring its ongoing value as a trusted resource for bereaved families.
“Having engaged with funeral directors and others involved in the sector, we believe the new fee structure offers fair and good value for money,” a RIP.ie spokesperson said.
Though, Labour TD Conor Sheehan condemned the move as “horrendous” and urged the Irish Times to reverse the decision.
“Charging people €100 to post a death notice is wrong,” Sheehan stated. “The proclamation of a loved one’s death should not be on the basis of financial means.”
This controversy surrounding RIP.ie’s new fee highlights the delicate balance between providing a valuable service and the ethical considerations surrounding the commercialization of grief. The long-term impact of this decision on grieving families and the future of online memorial platforms remains to be seen.