The local cemetery fees have been increased in Germany by up to 161 per cent as the result of a recent study of the comparison service Bestattungen.de. Hamburg, March 1st - examined the fees changes in Earth choice graves. Result: Small municipalities have attracted in the last twelve months the fees screw, to bail out their clammy households. After strong rises in recent years many cities have raised so far only moderately or not at all their cemetery fees in early 2011. In Bochum Earth choice grave (20 years use) 2.012,-currently costs, around five percent more than Duisburg lowered early 2011. the fees by almost 17 percent.

The cemetery fees increased clearly in many small communities. In forchheim, Germany (Bavaria), Earth choice graves currently cost 161 percent more. In Seelbach (Baden-Wurttemberg), citizens pay 1.104,-euros, the increase amounted to 79 percent. Urn graves had partially even more drastic increases of up to 235 percent. Smaller municipalities are 2012 drawn right in many places with the fees of the cities. Citizens must pay for Earth choice graves currently about as high fees as in Cologne in Uslar (Lower Saxony), Kempen (North Rhine-Westphalia) is at the level of Munich. In contrast to the major cities of many small municipalities over the years have failed to adjust their fees. The results are big budget holes which must be repaired now.

Sometimes drastic increases are the consequence", explains Fabian Schaaf, CEO of Bestattungen.de. 2012 shows that there are still vast differences between German municipalities cemetery fees. While the Earth choice Tomb in Hanover for 20 years 2.039,-euros, the fee is only about a quarter of them in Berlin with 520,-euro. In addition to the drastic differences of fee experts criticize the poor understanding of many tariffs. Citizens need above all transparency. The municipalities should seek their Tariffs so as to simplify, that every citizen understands them", says Professor Dieter k., Councillor of the city of Duisburg. The study of Bestattungen.de confirmed a forecast the consultancy Ernst & young, who predicted that small municipalities will raise their cemetery fees much more than cities. We expect a further increase in the fees. Members have to pay high prices, because there is no way to defend themselves against the bad budget policy of some municipalities", says Fabian Schaaf. Local authorities must strive to stamp out price-raising factors. Cemetery fees must remain affordable", Professor calls scantlings. Contact: Christine Sollmann, spokeswoman Bestattungen.de Heimhuder Strasse 72, 20148 Hamburg phone: (040) 209 311 961 email: Web: