In 2011 Funeral Home Non Compliance-will continue-Your Funeral Guy

A Funeral Home Image via Wikipedia

In 2011 Funeral Home non compliance  with the law will continue. This is quite important because  in spite of the “Funeral Rule” Funeral Home non compliance will continue. Essentially no one is watching the hen house. The Funeral Rule is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission-FTC.

Your Funeral Guy witnessed Funeral home non compliance this year asking several times for a general price list-gpl- from a funeral director and not receiving one..

A recent report of major non comlpance appeared in South Carolina.

About 30 percent of Midlands funeral homes are not complying with federal laws that require them to accurately disclose the prices for their services.

So says a recent report by the Funeral Consumers Alliance of South Carolina, a volunteer advocacy board that gathers comparative funeral price data and other information.

via www.free-times.com

Funeral industry| Funeral News|Funeral blog by Your Funeral Guy Funeral Director, Illinios and Virginia

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Funeral Directors use Governments to Keep Prices High-Your Funeral Guy

Image via Wikipedia.

John Stossel of Fox News has pointed out that Funeral Directors use Government to keep prices high.

This is true because  in spite of Federal Law- called the Funeral Rule declaring free trade in the funeral industry- it does not happen in certain States, counties and cities. State and localLaw trumps free trade(Funeral Rule) in the funeral industry. This should not be.

In Certain localities the Funeral Rule is trumped by State Law. In other words competition is forced out by certain laws. In some places  you are forced to buy Caskets from a Funeral Director.

Monks in Louisiana have recently raised this issue and got libertarians to help them.

The funeral directors had managed to get their state to pass a law decreeing that only “licensed funeral directors” may sell “funeral merchandise” like caskets.

To sell caskets legally, the monks would have to obtain a funeral director’s license. That required a year-long apprenticeship, passing a funeral industry test and converting their monastery into a “funeral establishment” by installing embalming equipment, among other things.

The state board and the Louisiana Funeral Directors Association
– the profession’s lobbyist — say the law is designed to protect consumers. But that’s what established businesses always say about absurd regulations they demand. An unusually candid funeral director told The Wall Street Journal, “They’re cutting into our profit.” Well, yes, free competition does do that. That’s the point.

via www.foxnews.com

Funeral Industry|Funeral News|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy

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Yes You Can have the Funeral Home discount the Basic Service Fee-YourFuneralGuy

There is good news for the Funeral Consumer. The Federal Trade commission has clarified discounts on  the funeral homes basic service fee. This is useful to the consumer in coming in under the average cost of a funeral.

The Federal Trade Commission issued an advisory ruling on November 24th 2009. In the ruling the Federal Trade Commission stated that the consumer can receive a discount to the Funeral Directors basic service fee.

Specific alternative services were mentioned. These services are forwarding remains,  receiving remains, direct cremations and immediate burials.

Snippet from the NFDA

“…the [Funeral] Rule permits funeral providers to reduce their basic services fees for forwarding remains, receiving remains, direct cremations, and immediate burials, in order to reflect the proportionate reduction in facilities overhead and services of funeral director and staff required to provide them.”

This FTC Staff Advisory Opinion is important because it finally puts to rest the question of whether a funeral home’s prices for these four alternate services must be greater than the funeral home’s basic services fee. The answer is that it does not. When pricing the services of forwarding remains, receiving remains, immediate burial, and direct cremation, a funeral home may include only a portion of its basic services fee; it does not have to incorporate the entire amount of the fee into the price of those services.

via www.nfda.org

Many Funeral Directors will tell you that you cannot discount the basic service fee or the charges for funeral director and staff- on what is known as the general price list(GPL). Now you can simply tell the funeral director they can be discounted, to lower your funeral cost.

By using alternative services consumers across the United States have lowered the cost of their family funerals.

Funeral Industry|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy

Your Funeral Guy: Ladies, Hey Girl Cosmetics Can Funeral U.

As I have often said the highest funeral cost is the loss of life of the person involved. This is not a good scenario if the person is you. Does your face hurt after your cosmetics are on all day? Maybe they are sending you to Funeral U.

Current News stated this recently:

“There is mercury in our mascara lead, in our lipstick, carcinogens in our cosmetics.

So who’s going to protect us?:

Statistics are given by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review.

The FDA does not regulate the cosmetic Industry. The FTC  barely regulates the Funeral Industry.

The cosmetic industry cares about making the sale. The Funeral Industry sells their good s and services at an ungodly profit. One may send you to the grave. The other puts you in it.

Vanity, Vanity all is vanity and you shall surely die. FYI cosmetics are safe on people after death..

Blog by Your Funeral Guy.

Your Funeral Guy: 5 of Five Things You need to Know Before Shopping for a Funeral

Five of Five  things You need to know before shopping for a funeral to lower your funeral cost. One of the  main things to know is how to read a general price list. The Average cost of a funeral in 2008 is $8,000+ USD. In order to come in under the average cost of a funeral one needs to be able to read, understand and compare general price lists.

As mentioned in an earlier post the basic services fee or indeclinable  fee is the key price point and key comparison point in the general price list.

Funeral Homes are required by law to give you a General Price List any time you visit a funeral home. If you request the information by phone they are required to give you the information over the phone. Under the funeral rule they do not have to mail it to you. Many a Funeral Home will mail you a GPL or a General Price List out of courtesy. There are  Sixteen items required on the General Price list  under the Funeral Rule, Nine main ones are listed here.

1. general services fee
2. embalming cost,
3. cost of transferring your loved one to the funeral home,
4. price of a visitation
5. cost of funeral or memorial service
6. cost of graveside services
   
7. the cost of use of  funeral vans, hearse, cars and all other funeral vehicles
8. Other offered goods and services. (caskets, urns, video tributes, guest, memorial books & cards associated with the funeral, webcasting, flowers, etc.)
9. Funeral packages(funeral packages generally lower the price of some items and raise the price of others.)

In addition according to the Federal Trade Commission or  FTC  certain disclosures to aid in price shopping must be made.

• Anyone must select only the goods and services desired
• Consumers must be notified that Embalming is not required by law ( and only certain special cases)
• A “general  services fee” will be added to any items purchased
• “Alternative containers,” such as those made of cardboard, pine or other products  are available for direct cremation
• A Casket Price List is available for all who come into the funeral home
• A Vault price list must be available to the customer(public)

These requirements are for funeral homes not all merchants in the funeral industry.

In the future we will consider Five Ways to Shop for a Funeral:

1. Interpreting the GPL
2. Shopping by Phone
3. Shopping in Person
4. Shopping alternative sources
5. Shopping internet Sources.

Remember all funeral directors do not follow the funeral rule, the law.

This has been Five of Five  things You need to know before shopping for a funeral. The basics of the funeral process.2) The two contracts at every funeral. 3). The basics of the funeral rule. 4). The No Decline Basic Services Fee. 5. How to Read a General Price List (GPL)

Blog by Your Funeral Guy, author, funeral director

Your Funeral Guy:#3 of Five Things to Know When Shopping For a Funeral

The Funeral Rule is a Congressional Law that protects your rights as funeral customer and helps you lower funeral cost. Many People are forced into lower cost funeral planning when someone suddenly dies. We must understand- that no one likes to think about death and many folks do not want  plan for it.  Even one hour of planning can save you thousands on a Funeral if the time is spent wisely.

The Funeral Rule, gives you the right  to choose only those goods and services you want or need and to pay only for those you select. This applies to making  arrangements when a death occurs It also is true if you choose to make arrangements and pay in advance (not recommended). Be sure to make your arrangements in advance but do not pay for them.

It is also very important under the funeral rule that you be shown a casket and vault price list.  By looking at these lists beforehand you can lower the cost of a traditional funeral and and the lower cost funeral option can be yours.

Many times funeral home owners do not show you all their caskets in the casket display or the casket room. Be sure to see the list. Some of the lower price caskets can be stored in the backroom or the basement.

Essentially the funeral rule gives you the right to compare prices among funeral homes, and makes it possible for for your lower cost funeral. This is done through the General Price list or the GPL. We will address that later.

Under this law,

The funeral rule states that you have the right to refuse embalming (in most jurisdictions)and the funeral director must state it in writing.

This is very important because it opens up the door to low cost funeral options of direct burial and cremation.

Here is my summary of Embalming and the funeral rule.

The main point about embalming is that it is a funeral cost you are not required to pay for. Again,  this is outlined in the funeral rule ( Congressional Law ) designed to protect your Funeral Rights

Many funeral directors require embalming if you are planning a viewing or visitation. Embalming generally is not necessary or legally required if the deceased body is buried or cremated shortly after death. Eliminating this  embalming service can save you many hundreds of of dollars. Under the Funeral Rule, a funeral director:

may not provide embalming services without permission; this sometimes happens.

may not falsely state that embalming is required by law; you should be informed of this by your funeral director.

must disclose in writing that embalming is not required by law, except in certain special cases;

may NOT charge a fee for unauthorized embalming unless embalming is required by law;

must disclose in writing that you have the right to choose another disposition, such as direct cremation or immediate burial, that does not require embalming if you do not want this service;

must in writing disclose that some funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing, may make embalming a practical and a safety necessity and, if so, a required purchase. Your Family can have a private viewing even without embalming.

This come from the experience of your funeral guy.

So whenever you go into a funeral to price shop or set up your funeral

“Make em follow the Rule” the funeral rule, it is the law in the USA.

Sadly some funeral home owners and funeral industry professionals do not follow the rule, the law.

Blog by Your Funeral Guy, Funeral Director, Author, State of Illinois

You  may find it best to check out the funeral rule.

Check out the facts for consumers.

Note you can effectively deal with lowering your Funeral costs and expenses. Take a few hours and deal with it.

Read the funeral book: Rest in Peace: Insider’s Tips to the Low Cost Less Stress Funeral

Your Funeral Guy: Newsweek, FCA, FD’s on funeral cost an issue.

Here is some info on a recent Newsweek article, and consumer info on the funeral cost. An article appeared on the web in Newsweek, with the focus on consumers and funeral cost. This comes from finalembrace.com.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/144482

“Most of us read stories like this and shake our heads, hoping that the general public doesn’t fall for these trumped up reports. I think that we’re being just a little bit foolish. Mr. Slocum has nothing better to do with his time than stir up more unwarranted concern and fear, in an attempt to garner more memberships, sell more books (over 5300 publications sold in 2006) and solicit more donations which pay his salary.

The general public needs to know that there are tens of thousands of local, family-owned funeral homes that work hard every day (and night) to see to every detail at their time of need. And the employees, managers and officers of just over 2000 corporately-owned firms are providing similar services.

The employees of the Funeral Consumer’s Alliance rely upon donations from scared individuals to pay their bills. Funeral professionals rely upon satisfied and comforted neighbors to keep their families fed.

One group peddles fear and scare tactics. The other offers hope, comfort and peace-of-mind.

Which is more noble?–Tim from final embrace.com

http://finalembrace.com/blog/

It is not really all that black and white. In fact like most things it is grey.

Funeral Directors do not generally inform folks of their funeral options. They avoid talking about consumer rights. and the funeral rule and yes home funerals.

More from final embrace:

“As someone who sits on the board of a local charity, I also have issues with any organization that calls itself a charity, but spends so much of its income on overhead. The Red Cross has gotten flack for spending just $0.10 of every dollar on administrative costs, but it appears that for the FCA, that amount is significantly higher.

I think we can all agree that we want our consumer families to make the best, most well-informed decisions possible. The question is whether or not they are hearing all sides of the story.”-Michelle Carter

Michelle Carter is the former owner of the Center For Transition, a grief counseling and funeral consulting company. A licensed funeral director, Michelle is now the Assistant Manager of the E.O. Curry Funeral Home in Peekskill, NY.”

http://finalembrace.com/blog/

Michelle Carter is a former independent contractor operating with a new funeral home. She is an example of how your funeral cost can be lowered by engaging a funeral director without a traditional funeral home.

More info can be found here on all sides of the story including average funeral cost.:

Rest in Peace: Insider’s Tips to the Low Cost Less Stress Funeral by R Brian Burkhardt and Matt Bacak. #1 International Best Selling Author Jason Oman also gave thumbs up to this book. This book is published by Morgan James Publishing.

Your Funeral Guy, R Brian Burkhardt, Funeral Director, Author, Blogger, State of Illinois

The “Google Books Search” give a look inside the book.

http://books.google.com/books?q=r+brian+burkhardt&btnG=Search+Books

Besure to let me know about your lower cost funeral.

Your Funeral Guy: Save on Funeral Cost- Refuse Embalming

It always amazes me when people say they did not know they have the right to refuse embalming and save on funeral cost. Under a body of Congressional law called the funeral rule…You can refuse embalming and choose other options. This is back to the funeral cost basic of refusing embalming and harmful chemicals on the environment. After refusing embalming you can

1. Have a closed casket.

2. Choose cremation.

3 Have a home funeral where the deceased is packed in ice.

4. Have a memorial service at an alternate location such as a church.

The Peoples Memorial Association from the State of Washington has some good advice on all of this. Here is the link to helpful information.

http://www.peoples-memorial.org/planning_tips.cfm

More helpful funeral information can be found here:

Rest in Peace: Insider’s Tips to the Low Cost Less Stress Funeral by R Brian Burkhardt and Matt Bacak. #1 International Best Selling Author jason Oman also gave thumbs up to this book. This book is published by Morgan James Publishing.

Your Funeral Guy, R Brian Burkhardt, Funeral Director, Author, Blogger, State of Illinois

Be sure to let me know how you lowered the cost of your funerals.

Your Funeral Guy:Slow Economic Times bring Lower Funeral Cost.

It as apparent that as the economy is sliding...that low cost funeral is arising. This is indicated with the rise of Low Funeral Cost Cremation. A Casket and a traditional funeral often do not help a family in hard times We see the rise not just of low cost funerals but low cost cremations go strong as well.

This video from El Paso, Texas is informative.

http://medianewsgroup.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/medianewsgroup-tnmnp-elpaso-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=timesmedia&maven_referralObject=e9184947-d40f-4ae8-99f9-17861b424b8f

If you prefer to read an article here is one.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_9712934

More information on Lower Cost Cremations can be found here:

There are Four benefits of a low cost cremation funeral.

1. A lower burial cost option.

2. A no burial cost option

3 A Scattering of Ashes at a later date.

4. A burial of ashes at a later dare.

Rest in Peace: Insider’s Tips to the Low Cost Less Stress Funeral by R Brian Burkhardt and Matt Bacak. #1 International Best Selling Author also gave thumbs up to this book. This book is published by Morgan James Publishing.

Your Funeral Guy, R Brian Burkhardt, Funeral Director, Author, Blogger, State of Illinois

The “Google Books Search” give a look inside the book.

http://books.google.com/books?q=r+brian+burkhardt&btnG=Search+Books

Your Funeral Guy:Funeral Cost too High in the USA!(last 2 weeks)

Your Funeral Guy:Funeral Cost too High in the USA!(last 2 weeks). Funerals always cost too much in any situation because a person is involved. But the death of these folks is too much funeral cost to the  world. May they all rest in peace. All three.

First there was the Tim Russert  Wake and Memorial Service:
The funeral cost to the nation was too great.
Maria Shriver read the poem….The Little Ship in Washington DC. Bruce Springsteen was front and center.
It would be wrong not to repeat it. It is one of the best funeral poems ever written.

The Wife of the Actor and  California governor “Arnold” gave a great funeral poem.

“The Little Ship”

I stood watching as the little ship sailed out to sea. The setting sun tinted his white sails with a golden light, and as he disappeared from sight a voice at my side whispered, “He is gone”.

“But the sea was a narrow one. On the farther shore a little band of friends had gathered to watch and wait in happy expectation. Suddenly they caught sight of the tiny sail and, at the very moment when my companion had whispered, “He is gone” a glad shout went up in joyous welcome, “Here he comes!”

A Good post on this is here:
http://www.tellinitlikeitis.net/2008/06/maria-shriver-poem-at-tim-russerts-funeral-service.html

Then there was the  funeral song “over the rainbow”. People walked out of his memorial service to this Rainbow. Was this a blessing from the man upstairs(apologies to atheists if this does not make you a believer nothing will)

If you do not cry during this Video! You are not human. Barack Obama and John McCain sat together at this event. If you ever click on a Your Funeral Guy, funeral cost link click on this one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBddo1RGiJU

Then there was the Tasha Tudor death: The great literary illustrator original  green lady died.
Kids will miss her. Even guys read “The Secret Garden.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/22/AR2008062202026.html”

As if this was not enough we also lost to funeral cost, George Carlin the modern Free Speech almost pornographic comedian. The famous 7 words guy.

Even Jerry Seinfeld is coming back to honor him.

In the 2 weeks Funeral Cost has been too high in the USA!
May all Rest in Peace.
Now there is more funeral story and history in Rest in Peace.

Rest in Peace: Insider’s Tips to the Low Cost Less Stress Funeral by R Brian Burkhardt and Matt Bacak