There are 39 funeral homes across the U.S. that probably wish they’d paid attention a year ago when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) went after two major funeral home groups for violating the “Funeral Rule.”
The FTC had an inkling that funeral homes hadn’t paid attention to the law, and that the violations they were making were so severe, that it conducted the agency’s first undercover phone sweep to try and stop the flimflam once and for all.
The Funeral Rule is all about consumers who are already in a tough spot, having to plan a funeral for a loved one. The rule gives consumers important rights when making funeral arrangements, including specifying that a funeral home has to “tell persons who ask by telephone about the funeral provider’s offerings or prices from [their] price lists…. and any other readily available information that reasonably answers the question[s].”
Investigators went far and wide, placing undercover calls to more than 250 funeral homes from across the country to try to obtain price information.
In 38 of the 39 instances, funeral homes either refused to answer questions about pricing at all or provided inconsistent pricing for identical services. On other calls, funeral homes also erred by misrepresenting things like local embalming-related health codes and sending one of the undercover agents a list of package prices that didn’t meet the Funeral Home requirements, when it promised the agent that it would.
And if a funeral home doesn’t change its tune, there’s a price to pay. Failure to comply with the rule results in penalties of up to $51,744 per violation.
Who are these funeral homes and where are they?
The FTC’s list of the funeral homes it contacted regarding these violations and where they are is as follows (sorted by state):
How to avoid a funeral home’s traps
Any family – no matter where they live – should be presented with the full terms of the funeral home’s charges, both in person and on the phone.
If you’re inquiring about funeral arrangements by phone, here are some things you’ll want to ask — and that the law requires the provider to answer:
What type of services do you offer?
How much does the service cost and what’s included?
Will there be other costs, like for transportation, death certificates, or obituaries?
If a funeral provider doesn’t want to give you information about prices, services, and merchandise over the phone, the FTC suggests you say “Thank you very much” and then take your business elsewhere.
The need to make funeral arrangements comes at the most unexpected times. This action by the FTC might be a reason to check out what other reviewers have to say about specific funeral homes and services, about what questions to ask. and your rights when shopping for funeral services.
Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images
Posted: 2024-01-29 12:15:57
