FuneralNewsCentral.com » Consumers

Consumerist on Funerals

Bob — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:46:09 +0000

Much of it is common sense, but it bears repeating, since many people aren’t in a common-sense frame of mind when making arrangements.

It boils down to knowing the Funeral Rule, and being an informed consumer.

There are also links to online casket sellers, and the Funeral Consumers Alliance.

Consumerist article

Class-action Lawsuit

Bob — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:25:23 +0000

In a continuing story from Columbia, Missouri, Warren Funeral Chapel and its owners Harold Warren Sr. and Harold Warren Jr. are facing a possible class-action lawsuit. Plaintiff Kathy Johnson has alleged that Warren FC lost her mother’s remains, and is seeking an exhumation order to determine if her mother is buried in the correct plot at Rock Bridge Cemetery.

In July 2008, State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors investigators reported they found bags of organs from multiple bodies in one casket, as well as one body stored in an electrical room more than ten months after death. Investigators also found three other bodies not properly stored or handled.
The State Attorney General has also filed a lawsuit against the Warrens. Here’s more coverage from the Columbia Missourian

Questionable Charges at Missouri Cemetery

Bob — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:25:58 +0000

In September, 2007, Jeff Palmore, owner of Bell Funeral Home in St Louis, arranged a burial at Pacific City Cemetery. To save the family the $525 fee the cemetery sexton was charging, he offered to dig the grave himself. Sexton Alan Bruns refused, saying there was a city ordinance that only allowed sextons to dig graves. Palmore researched it, and found there indeed was such an ordinance, but noted it also set the fee at $360, not $525.

Palmore has filed suit against Bruns and the city of Pacific for the overcharge in small claims court. The judge there ruled the city had sovereign immunity; Palmore appealed that decision, and added a claim for punitive damages, alleging overcharging for burials, selling people grave spaces they already own and digging up and disposing of dead bodies, all with the tacit approval of the city.

It’s been a contentious time since then, with an argument during a funeral where the police were called. The city administrator is siding with Bruns, a fourth-generation sexton. No court date has been set for the new case.

Bereavement Fares

Bob — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:37 +0000

On the Road with Bill McGee has a very informative piece about bereavement fares in the airline industry. Just how compassionate are most carriers? Delta, Northwest, Southwest, and US Airways do not offer bereavement/compassion airfare reductions. In fact, McGee points out that today, given the deeply discounted fares you can find online,

A much better question is: Are bereavement fares any lower than what I can find myself on any basic online search?

He goes on to point out that price isn’t the only consideration. In such a crisis, your plans may change quickly.

…the flexibility to change and even cancel travel plans without penalty is extremely rare with any type of discounted fare. So this should be weighed as well, particularly in fluid situations such as drawn-out illnesses. The ability to quickly amend your itinerary without having to pay extra fees may make a bereavement fare worth it—in some specific cases.

It’s a great piece, and well worth the read.

Lower Than Low

Bob — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:30:11 +0000

The gremlins in Indiana are setting a new standard for abhorrent behavior. Burglaries are on the increase, and they’re apparently picking targets by reading obituaries.

It’s always been a good idea to keep someone at the house during funeral home calling hours. Now it seems it’s a better idea. Sadly, I suspect we’re going to see more of this until the economy gets much better.

Florida FH Investigated for Fraud

Bob — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:45:50 +0000

The Florida Division of Funeral, Cemetery & Consumer Services is investigating Rubin Memorial Chapel near Boynton Beach, Florida, for the third time in as many years. After audits in 2006 and 2007, both triggered by employee complaints, the state found that Rubin Memorial Chapel had overcharged customers at least 9 times, and was slow to refund the money when ordered.

The funeral home is also the defendant in a class-action lawsuit. Two former employees allege they were told to scan invoices from out-of-state funeral homes, and alter them to cover overcharges, which Rubin would then pocket.

Rubin’s attorney denies the lawsuit allegations.

Lost Body Costs SCI $325K

Bob — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:20:23 +0000

A Boston funeral home owned by Service Corporation International is on the hook for $325,000 after losing the remains of a still-born infant in 2003.

Therese Bellissimo and Robert Benedict had twins in 2003, but one, Lourdes, was still-born. The family retained the services of JS Waterman & Sons, but the funeral home lost the boy’s remains, and admitted he may have been cremated with an unrelated woman.

Local coverage here, here, and here.

I especially like how Joseph J. Leghorn, the attorney for the funeral home, admitted Waterman lost the boy’s remains, but contended that any emotional distress the Benedicts suffered was the result of the premature delivery, and the boy’s death, not the loss of his remains. Yes, I’m sure sifting through another person’s ashes wasn’t distressing at all.