Most funeral providers consider themselves to be professionals who operate fairly and in the best interests of their customers. Unfortunately, some don’t. They may inflate their prices well above their costs, charge twice for the same service or require unnecessary services.
Fortunately, a federal law enacted in 1984 makes it easier for you to choose only those goods and services you want or need and pay only for those you select, whether you are making arrangements pre-need or at the time of need.
The Funeral Rule is the only piece of federal legislation that regulates the funeral industry.
It’s enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and helps you to comparison-shop. Funeral homes are required to provide quotes over the phone and itemized price lists in-person.
This legislation also protects your right to furnish your own urn or casket, opt for an alternative container instead of a full casket during a cremation, and to choose to not embalm.
Many funeral providers offer various promotional “packages” of commonly selected goods and services. The Funeral Rule gives you the right to buy individual goods and services, making it illegal to sell you a package that includes items you don’t want.
Currently, the federal government is listening to all of us who want to see the Funeral Rule amended! We need to have this rule updated to require all funeral homes to post their prices ONLINE so that we can shop quickly and find the information we need.
This is where YOU can help to convince the FTC to update this important consumer regulation. And, they have recently extended the deadline to allow you to do this!
These are uncertain and challenging times. Never has the importance of access to affordable and ethical funeral care been more relevant in the midst of this ongoing crisis.
They have extended the deadline to submit comments to June 15, 2020. We recommend submitting those comments electronically to increase the likelihood they will be read. And the only permitted way to do this is by visiting the Federal Register’s website to submit your comments.
Just think: if we can get funeral home prices online, grieving people will have the ability to avoid being overcharged at a time of grief and confusion.
This change will take a major part of that confusion and helplessness away. The last thing we need when experiencing grief over the loss of a loved one is to go door-to-door requesting prices, as we shop around for an affordable funeral home.
In the digital age, we no longer shop this way… and in the light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we simply can’t shop like that.
So here is your Call to Action:
Simply click here and follow the instructions to leave your comments! It can be something as simple as:
Please update the Funeral Rule of 1984! American families deserve funeral home price information to be posted online.
And, if you’ve had a personal experience where your inability to find prices quickly and easily left you totally frustrated, now’s the time to tell the FTC.
Thank you for your help!