Lack of Transparency in Burial Services Pricing
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations require funeral homes with websites to publish price lists or some level of pricing information for its services. While the FTC is not rigorously enforcing this regulation, the families have a right to request pricing information when preplanning a funeral.
A recent study indicates that only 16% of funeral homes with an online presence publish pricing information. It is critical that more funeral homes conform with the FTC regulation. Grief-stricken families are thinking emotionally and not financially so it may not even occur to them to research prices online and/or comparison shop for these services. Families are also under a time pressure to make quick decisions. Most people are not aware of funeral planning costs and are reluctant to ask questions. This imbalance in knowledge can potentially cost a family a lot more money than is necessary. This could all be avoided if funeral homes were more transparent with cost information on their websites.
Families should consider preplanning their funerals or at least researching which funeral home he or she wants to go to prior to suffering life-threatening illnesses. If you believe you have been taken advantage of by a funeral home or cemetery, please contact us.
A recent study indicates that only 16% of funeral homes with an online presence publish pricing information. It is critical that more funeral homes conform with the FTC regulation. Grief-stricken families are thinking emotionally and not financially so it may not even occur to them to research prices online and/or comparison shop for these services. Families are also under a time pressure to make quick decisions. Most people are not aware of funeral planning costs and are reluctant to ask questions. This imbalance in knowledge can potentially cost a family a lot more money than is necessary. This could all be avoided if funeral homes were more transparent with cost information on their websites.
Families should consider preplanning their funerals or at least researching which funeral home he or she wants to go to prior to suffering life-threatening illnesses. If you believe you have been taken advantage of by a funeral home or cemetery, please contact us.
