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Funeral Price Survey — 2009
Rating
General Price Lists for Compliance with the FTC Funeral Rule
The General Price Lists
(GPLs) examined in the 2009 price survey in the service area of the Funeral
Consumers Alliance of the Finger Lakes were all in substantial compliance
with the FTC Funeral Rule and with requirements of the New York State
Department of Health. The federal and state requirements are similar.
All of the lists contained mandatory disclosures and price listings.
GPLs were examined for
variations that would cause confusion about the cost of the same items at
different funeral homes. The lists varied in format, some being customized
for individual businesses while others used a generic format. The most common
inconsistency was in stating or not stating what kind of alternative
container would be used, if it were desired, for burial service. The FTC
definition of an alternative container is as follows: The alternative container
for a direct cremation may be presumed to be least expensive kind, typically
heavy cardboard. For direct burial about half of the price lists stated
that an alternative container is used, but the container was often
inadequately described. Therefore, in any case where the type of container
and its cost are an issue, the client should ask the funeral director for a
description and price of the container that will be used. One apparent infraction of
the Rule was noted where the price for direct burial included both a casket
(or alternative container) and a vault. (See Table 1, footnote (d)).
Vaults are not required for all burials. They are sold by funeral homes, but
any requirement for a vault is generated by a cemetery. The FTC disclosure
that is added to a (separate) price list for vaults is as follows: |
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