FCA/CFA Report Shows Most State Funeral Boards Provide Scant Assistance to Consumers
Our national organization, the Funeral Consumers Alliance, in conjunction with the Consumer Federation
of America, recently studied the websites of funeral regulatory boards in 49 states and the District of
Columbia to see if they contained information of value to consumers.
The study listed six criteria that would make a website user friendly and helpful to a consumer planning a
funeral. They were:
• An easy-to-locate, plainly identified link to consumer information on the home page
• A listing of basic consumer rights under the federal Funeral Rule
• A detailed explanation of a consumer’s rights when purchasing pre-paid funeral arrangements, especially relating to refunds and to reassignments of purchase contracts to other funeral homes
• Links to other sources telling consumers how to make better purchasing decisions when buying funeral goods and services (e.g., the FTC’s booklet “Shopping for Funeral Services”)
• A link to instructions on how to file a complaint
• A way for consumers to see if a funeral home has been subject to disciplinary action by the regulatory agency
Researchers assigned grades of A through F to state funeral boards based on how well they met those criteria.
Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, most states fell far short of meeting the criteria. Only seven of the
50(14%) earned an A. Five states made B and five C. Over half the states (26, or 52%) rated no better
than D; and seven received an F. Hawaii was not rated because it lacks a state regulatory agency.
South Carolina was among the large group rated D.
The state bodies rated A were in Arizona, California, Kansas, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and Virginia.
The states rated F were Alaska, Delaware, Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and
Utah.
The study makes it evident that most state funeral boards are focused on licensing, regulating, and, it
must be said, protecting the industry and not on helping consumers.
To read the report, click here
NEWS FROM FCA NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
FEMA TO REIMBURSE FUNERAL EXPENSES FOR COVID DEATHS
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced that it will begin applications for
reimbursement for funeral expenses of deaths due to Covid.
Here are some questions and answers. Please know that the details below are all the details we have. To
check for updates to the program, visit FEMA’s website at the address below.
https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance
Q: Who will qualify to have their funeral costs reimbursed?
A: Only those families/persons who experienced a death that was caused by Covid. Covid must be
explicitly listed on the death certificate as the cause of death.
Q: Did the death from Covid have to occur within a certain time frame to qualify?
A: Yes. The death must have occurred after January 20, 2020. It appears this program will be available for
Covid deaths throughout 2021 and beyond. From FEMA:
"Passing of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 now makes it possible for families and individuals who
incur funeral expenses due to COVID-19 in 2021 and beyond the ability to apply for Funeral Assistance.
Since there is no way to predict how many COVID-related deaths may occur between now and 2025, an
exact funding cap has not been established."
Q: Will FEMA advance me money upfront to pay for a Covid death funeral?
A: No. Do not contract for a funeral that you cannot afford, assuming that you’ll get a grant to pay that
funeral in time. You will have to pay for the funeral yourself first, in any case.
Q: How much will FEMA reimburse?
A: Up to $9,000. But we are uncertain, as these reports contradict the language in the federal legislation
that authorized this money. That legislation gives a different amount. We have not received an answer
about this discrepancy.
NOTE!—FEMA will NOT reimburse funeral costs that you have already found money to pay for. For
example, if you had a life insurance policy that covered part or all of the cost, or if you did a fundraiser to
help pay for the funeral, you will not be reimbursed by FEMA for the money from the insurance or the
fundraiser.
Q: What agency should I call to start my application?
A: You must call FEMA’s dedicated line, 844-684-6333. There is no online application. You must apply by
phone.
Q: What should I do to prepare for filing my application?
A: We suggest you gather the following. This is advice based on our experience, but we do not know for
certain what documentation FEMA will require.
—A certified copy (not a photocopy, an official document from the vital statistics office in your state) of the
death certificate. Remember that Covid must be explicitly listed as the cause of death.
—A copy of the complete funeral contract, itemized bill, and documentation of any payment you made on
that bill. For example, canceled checks, credit card statements, etc.
—Documentation of any and all sources of money you received that helped you pay for some or all of the
funeral. This includes things like receipts showing your fundraising total, or copies of any payments the
deceased’s life insurance company made toward the funeral.
Check back here or with the national FCA website (funerals.org) for new details as they become available.
NATIONAL SURVEY SHOWS THAT MOST CONSUMERS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THEIR FUNERAL
RIGHTS
Only one-quarter of consumers surveyed (25%) know that funeral homes are required to provide price
quotes over the phone and an itemized price list at the funeral home. Only five percent of consumers are
aware that funeral homes are required to accept a casket provided by the bereaved without charging a
handling fee.
These are two findings of an online consumer knowledge survey of 2,009 representative Americans
commissioned by the national Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA) and Consumer Federation of America
(CFA), on November 18-22, 2020.
The Funeral Consumers Alliance of South Carolina is a member of the Funeral Consumers Alliance
federation.
“It is understandable that consumers who rarely purchase funeral services do not know about federal
consumer protections,” said Overton G. Ganong, President of FCASC.
Free Pamphlet Provides Key Money-Saving Tips
To better inform consumers about their funeral rights, FCA and CFA are releasing a free pamphlet titled,
“Planning a Funeral: 5 Key Tips.” These tips include:
“Planning a funeral ahead of time can reduce costs by well over 50 percent and provide peace of mind,”
said Joshua Slocum, FCA national’s executive director.
The text of the Five Tips brochure is available on this website. Click on the "More" button above and then
click on 5 Tips. The brochure also can be found on the FCA website here.
Survey Findings Support Online Price Disclosure
The Federal Trade Commission is currently considering whether to revise its Funeral Rule. FCA and CFA,
among other groups, have argued that this revision should include requiring funeral homes to post their
price lists online.
“Online prices could be easily compared, obviating the need to visit a number of funeral homes to collect
price lists,” said FCA national’s Slocum. “One cannot expect a recently bereaved family under pressure to
make quick decisions to take the time and effort to visit several funeral homes,” he added.
The value of easier access to funeral home price lists was suggested by the FCA/CFA survey finding that
only 17 percent of the 2,009 respondents correctly thought that direct cremation of the body is usually
available for less than $1,200. Fifteen percent thought the low price was usually above $2,400, and 38
percent said they did not know.
“Online price lists would dramatically increase a consumer’s ability to cut funeral costs,” said CFA Senior
Fellow Stephen Brobeck. “Online posting of an existing price list would cost funeral homes a trivial
amount,” he added.
Older Persons Are Least Informed About Funeral Rights
Only 15 percent of those 65 years and older know that funeral homes are required to provide price quotes
over the phone and a printed price list at the funeral home, and 60 percent said they did not know the
answer to this question. In contrast, nearly 30 percent of those aged 18-54 knew the correct answer.
Moreover, 76% of older persons surveyed said they did not know whether funeral homes were required to
accept a casket provided by the bereaved without charge.
“We were surprised to learn that older persons are least aware of their funeral rights because they are the
age group most likely to confront funeral-related decisions,” said FCA’s Slocum.
quotes over the phone and an itemized price list at the funeral home. Only five percent of consumers are
aware that funeral homes are required to accept a casket provided by the bereaved without charging a
handling fee.
These are two findings of an online consumer knowledge survey of 2,009 representative Americans
commissioned by the national Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA) and Consumer Federation of America
(CFA), on November 18-22, 2020.
The Funeral Consumers Alliance of South Carolina is a member of the Funeral Consumers Alliance
federation.
“It is understandable that consumers who rarely purchase funeral services do not know about federal
consumer protections,” said Overton G. Ganong, President of FCASC.
Free Pamphlet Provides Key Money-Saving Tips
To better inform consumers about their funeral rights, FCA and CFA are releasing a free pamphlet titled,
“Planning a Funeral: 5 Key Tips.” These tips include:
- Talk it out ahead of time: Tough decisions about cremation or burial, venue of any memorial services, and related issues can be resolved without the pressures of immediate disposition of the body.
- Know your rights: The Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule provides specific rights including an itemized price list, a written price estimate, and acceptance of your casket without a handling fee.
- Shop around: Comparing prices at area funeral homes can lower costs by as much as 50 percent.
- Keep it simple: The typical cost of a full funeral is $7,360, according to the National Funeral Directors Association, yet in most areas a cremation without extras can cost only $800-$1,200.
- Avoid expensive extras: Most funeral homes offer dozens of service options, including sealed caskets that may not provide you with value.
“Planning a funeral ahead of time can reduce costs by well over 50 percent and provide peace of mind,”
said Joshua Slocum, FCA national’s executive director.
The text of the Five Tips brochure is available on this website. Click on the "More" button above and then
click on 5 Tips. The brochure also can be found on the FCA website here.
Survey Findings Support Online Price Disclosure
The Federal Trade Commission is currently considering whether to revise its Funeral Rule. FCA and CFA,
among other groups, have argued that this revision should include requiring funeral homes to post their
price lists online.
“Online prices could be easily compared, obviating the need to visit a number of funeral homes to collect
price lists,” said FCA national’s Slocum. “One cannot expect a recently bereaved family under pressure to
make quick decisions to take the time and effort to visit several funeral homes,” he added.
The value of easier access to funeral home price lists was suggested by the FCA/CFA survey finding that
only 17 percent of the 2,009 respondents correctly thought that direct cremation of the body is usually
available for less than $1,200. Fifteen percent thought the low price was usually above $2,400, and 38
percent said they did not know.
“Online price lists would dramatically increase a consumer’s ability to cut funeral costs,” said CFA Senior
Fellow Stephen Brobeck. “Online posting of an existing price list would cost funeral homes a trivial
amount,” he added.
Older Persons Are Least Informed About Funeral Rights
Only 15 percent of those 65 years and older know that funeral homes are required to provide price quotes
over the phone and a printed price list at the funeral home, and 60 percent said they did not know the
answer to this question. In contrast, nearly 30 percent of those aged 18-54 knew the correct answer.
Moreover, 76% of older persons surveyed said they did not know whether funeral homes were required to
accept a casket provided by the bereaved without charge.
“We were surprised to learn that older persons are least aware of their funeral rights because they are the
age group most likely to confront funeral-related decisions,” said FCA’s Slocum.
Home Funeral Documents from DHEC
The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control has posted some helpful documents on their
website. If you are considering caring for a loved one as they are dying or want to act as your own funeral
director, you will want to look at the following:
1. Instructions for Filing a Death Record without a Licensed Funeral Director
This document will give you information about transporting a deceased individual for final dispostion, in
other words, how to obtain a BRT (Burial-Removal-Transit) permit. This is the form needed in order to
move the deceased from the place of death to the place of final disposition, be that a cemetery or a
crematory.
2. Filing of Death Record
This instruction on the DHEC website includes a link to a South Carolina Certificate of Death Non-funeral
Home Worksheet (DHEC-670D)
3. Obtaining a Certified Copy of a Death Record
The website has a link to obtain an application.
Go to www.dhec.sc.gov/VitalRecords/Forms.
You may also want to consider our pamphlet on "Caring for Your Own Dead in South Carolina," a copy of
which is available here.
Recommended sources of further information:
Caring for Your Own Dead in South Carolina, a pamphlet available from the Funeral Consumers Alliance of South Carolina, www.scfunerals.org.
Complying With the Funeral Rule, Federal Trade Commission, April (2015).
https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-funeral-rule
FTC Facts for Consumers, Paying Final Respects: Your Rights When Buying Funeral Goods & Services, Federal Trade Commission, May (2007).
Funerals: A Consumer Guide, Federal Trade Commission (undated).
All of the above may be obtained from the FTC website at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/shop/funeral.shtm
The Funeral Director’s Guide to Consumer-Friendly General Price Lists, (2007). Available free at: http://www.funerals.org/affiliateresources/cat_view/48-affiliate-resources-/70-funeral-price-survey-instructions-and-help
Green Burial: Environmentally Friendly Burial, a pamphlet available from the Funeral Consumers Alliance of South Carolina, www.scfunerals.org.
Harris, Mark, Grave Matters: A Journey Through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial, New York: Scribner (2007)
Slocum, Josh and Lisa Carlson, Final Rights: Reclaiming the American Way of Death, Hinesburg, VT: Upper Access, Inc. (2011). Available at www.funerals.org
September 2016
FCASC changes course on membership.
At its meeting on April 18, 2011, the FCASC Board voted to drop the membership fee that used to confer lifetime membership for a single payment of $35 for an individual and $50 for a couple.
Instead, we will add to our mailing list, as a Friend, anyone who desires to receive educational information on funeral matters. Rather than collect membership fees for operating income, the FCASC will rely on donations from those who wish to help support our work.
Be a Friend of the FCASC. You can join the mailing list simply by sending your name, mailing address, and email address to:
Mailing List
Funeral Consumers Alliance of SC
2701 Heyward St.
Columbia, SC 29205
A form for joining the mailing list can be found here.
By becoming a Friend, you will receive a newsletter twice a year, an invitation to our annual meeting, notices of educational workshops, and periodic surveys of funeral home prices in South Carolina. Since we will be relying on donations, you also will receive occasional requests for financial contributions. We thank you in advance for your support.
4/25/2011
For contact information, click here.
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