Burr Oak Burial Plot Scheme |warnings on self regulation-YourFuneralguy

The Warnings Signs were there in the Burr Oak Burial Plot Scam

There were  warnings on the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal and burial plot Scam. Warnings in  books,blogs and the Newspapers. The mess and and heartache for surviving families could have been totally avoided. Just as we trusted Wall Street with self regulation so we have trusted the Funeral Industry to do the same. Right now the FBI is going over the cemetery site to begin cataloging desecrated remains.

Both acts of trust in self regulation  have proven to be a big mistake. No where is this more apparent than Illinois. In 2008 there was the Illinois Funeral Directors Association Preneed Trust Scandal. In 2009 we now have the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal, in Alsip, Illinois

The Chicago Tribune did a May 29 2009 article warning about excessive complaints at the  Burr Oak Alsip cemetery.

This blog and others have warned about a coming funeral industry disaster

The book Rest in Peace Insider’s Tips to the Low Cost Less Stress Funeral has  an entire chapter on the perils of prepaying funerals.

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy

More information

White House Reverses itself on First Lady’s Father’s Remains at Burr Oak Cemetery

SCI $PRICE$:Come in Low, Hang em High-Your Funeral Guy

Service Corporation Dignity Logo

Revealed here is the Service Corporation International tactic of coming into town with low funeral prices. Then within 2 to 3 years NYSE:SCI raise the prices high. If you speak to folks outside of SCI you will find that this tactic is used all over the country. “Come in Low and then Hang em High with high prices.“Service Corporation International” is the largest funeral corporation in the the USA and the World.

Breakdown the competition and then raise Prices. Some believe this violates the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

In the eyes of  some this makes the World’s Largest Funeral Corporation a monopoly. The Funeral Consumers Alliance believes that SCI is a monopoly and has taken them along with Batesville Casket Co to court for price fixing.

Recently the Charlotte Observer in NC reported about SCI and Funeral Prices in that town. The article is entitled “Death and Dollars With 1 company dominating the market Charlotte leads the nation when it comes to burial, cremation cost.

Snippet:

“When Service Corp. International, the nation’s largest funeral-home chain, bought its biggest competitor in 2006, it took a commanding stake in the Charlotte market and promised to provide quality services and reasonable prices.
But three years later, a new survey shows what consumer advocates at the time feared: Charlotte funeral prices have risen, making the city the most expensive in which to be buried or cremated.

Service Corporation International when it takes over a Family Business Keeps the name of the Family Funeral home so ifyou may be dealing with them without knowing it.

WHEN USING A FUNERAL HOME FIND OUT WHO THE OWNER IS, IF IT IS SCI DO NOT USE THEM.-this way you will be sure to come in under the average cost of a Funeral.

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy.

Dignity Logo Pic on flickr under creative commons license from

Jeremy Brooks’ photostream