If a loved one dies out of state , can the local Funeral Home still help?
May 4, 2009
Yes, they can assist you with out-of-state arrangements, either to transfer the remains to another state or from another state.
Will someone come right away?
May 4, 2009
If you request immediate assistance, yes. If the family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say good bye, it’s acceptable. They will come when your time is right.
What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?
May 4, 2009
Most Funeral Directors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Who pays for funerals for the indigent?
May 4, 2009
Other than the family, there are veteran, union, and other organizational benefits to pay for funerals, including, in certain instances, a lump sum death payment from Social Security. In most states, some form of public aid allowances are available from either the state, county, or city or a combination.
Most funeral directors are aware of the various benefits and know how to obtain them for the indigent. However, funeral directors often absorb costs above and beyond what is provided by agencies to insure the deceased a respectable burial.
Don’t funeral directors mark caskets up tremendously, at least 400%?
May 4, 2009
No. Talking about the mark up on caskets is really not the point. Most items–clothing, furniture, jewelry–are marked up as much or more than caskets. The real question is whether the funeral director is making an excessive profit, And that answer is “No.” Profits run around 12.5% before taxes — not excessive by any standard.
Is it right to make a profit from death?
May 4, 2009
Funeral directors look upon their profession as a service, but it is also a business. Like any business, funeral homes must make a profit to exist. As long as the profit is reasonable and the services rendered are necessary, complete, and satisfactory to the family, profit is legitimate.
Do funeral directors take advantage of the bereaved?
May 4, 2009
Funeral directors are caring individuals who help people deal with a very stressful time. They serve the same families 80% of the time, and many have spent most of their lives in the same community. If they took advantage of bereaved families, they could not stay in business. The fact that the average funeral home has been in business over 59 years shows that most funeral directors respect the wishes of the bereaved families.
What recourse does a consumer have for poor service or overcharging?
May 4, 2009
Funeral service is regulated by the FTC and state licensing boards. In most cases, the consumer should discuss problems with the funeral director first. If the dispute cannot be solved by talking with the funeral director, the consumer may wish to contact the Funeral Service Consumer Assistance Program. FSCAP provides information, mediates disputes, provides arbitration, and maintains a consumer guarantee fund for reimbursement of services rendered. (To contact FSCAP, call 708-827-6337 or 800-662-7666).
Why are funerals so expensive?
May 4, 2009
When compared to other major life cycle events, like births and weddings, funerals are not expensive. A wedding costs at least three times as much; but because it is a happy event, wedding costs are rarely criticized.
A funeral home is a 24-hour, labor-intensive business, with extensive facilities (viewing rooms, chapels, limousines, hearses, etc.), these expenses must be factored into the cost of a funeral.
Moreover, the cost of a funeral includes not only merchandise, like caskets, but the services of a funeral director in making arrangements; filing appropriate forms; dealing with doctors, ministers, florists, newspapers and others; and seeing to all the necessary details.
Contrary to popular belief, funeral homes are largely family-owned with a modest profit margin.
So, I’ve decided on cremation. Can I still have a funeral or a viewing?
May 4, 2009
Yes, quite often some sort of viewing precedes the actual cremation. Your Funeral Home can assist you with the necessary information for a funeral with a cremation following or a memorial service.