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"Sham Discount Packages"
A Discount That Won't Save You Money.
The "Sham Discount Package"
is designed to negate any savings a consumer might have realized
by buying a discount casket. Some funeral homes are attempting to
eliminate consumer choice by claiming to offer a "Package Discount"
to consumers who buy a casket from the funeral home. Through this
deceptive technique, the funeral home inflates service prices, and
then claims to offer a discount.
Here's How It Works: A $2500 bill for funeral services is
inflated to $4000. If you buy the casket from the funeral home,
you get a $1,500 discount, which brings your price back down to
$2500. The only people who actually pay the inflated (non-discounted)
price are those who choose not to buy their casket from the funeral
home. The "Sham Discount" is designed to force a consumer
to either (A) buy a more expensive Funeral Home casket, or
(B) pay for it anyway.
To Avoid this Scheme: Shop
around first. Do not allow a Funeral Director to pick up the Deceased
until you get a General Price List (GPL). The Funeral Rule Requires
Funeral Directors to give you a GPL when you ask for one in person.
They must have one on their person when they come to your house
to pick up remains. Go over the prices before you allow them
to pick up the body.
If a funeral home attempts to run
this scam on your family, report it to: The
National Casket Retailers Association immediately.
The Numbers Game
Since many consumers have saved money
by buying a casket from Budget Casket Superstores, some funeral
homes are now attempting to fool consumers with the appearance
of low price caskets. They simply increase their service prices,
and lower their casket prices. You pay the same total price as before,
but the casket price is deceptively competitive.
Example:
Typical Funeral Prices
$1078.98 Non-Declinable service charge
$ 369.51 Embalming
$ 132.92 Other Preparation of body (Cosmetology, Hair, etc.)
$ 304.84 Visitation/Viewing
$ 325.73 Funeral Service at Funeral Home
$ 134.17 Transfer of remains to Funeral Home
$ 161.24 Hearse
$ 80.76 Service car/van
$ 18.74 Acknowledgement cards
$2606.89 Sub-Total
$2175.57 Casket 18 Ga. Steel, Sealer, Velvet interior
$ 760.79 Vault asphalt coated concrete sealer
$5543.25 Total
A Funeral Home playing the "Numbers Game" may offer
prices like this:
$1800.00 Non-Declinable service charge
$ 500.00 Embalming
$ 250.00 Other Preparation of body
$ 500.00 Visitation/Viewing
$ 400.00 Funeral Service at Funeral Home
$ 200.00 Transfer of remains to Funeral Home
$ 200.00 Hearse
$ 100.00 Service car/van
$ 25.00 Acknowledgement cards
$3975.00 Sub-Total
$ 900.00 Casket 18 Ga. Steel, Sealer, Velvet interior
$ 668.25 Vault asphalt coated concrete sealer
$5543.25 Total (No Savings -- you still pay
the same)
To Avoid this Scheme: Shop
around first. Do not allow a Funeral Director to pick up the Deceased
until you get a General Price List (GPL). The Funeral Rule Requires
Funeral Directors to give you a GPL when you ask for one in person.
They must have one on their person when they come to your house
to pick up remains. Go over the prices before you allow them
to pick up the body.
If a funeral home attempts to run
this scam on your family, report it to: The
National Casket Retailers Association immediately.
For more Funeral Industry Scams, please visit www.budgetcasket.com
Davis Funeral Chapel
6428 Brentwood Stair Road
Fort Worth, Texas 76112
(817) 429-3441
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