How to Know You're Being Overcharged at a Funeral Home
When you are working with a funeral home to lay your loved one to rest, here are some of the warning signs you should be looking out for:
Failing to Show You an Itemized Price List
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for regulating funeral homes. According to the Funeral Rule, funeral homes are required to show you an itemized price list before you make arrangements.
Any funeral home that does not offer to show you an itemized price list may attempt to defraud you, overcharge you, or take advantage of you during this difficult time.
Rushing You To Decide
No one should ever be rushed into decisions regarding funeral arrangements. Generally, when your loved one is taken to a coroner or morgue, you will have at least a few days to make your decisions. If a funeral director is pressuring you into making a decision quickly, this may be a sign of a scam.
Guilting You Into Spending More
If a funeral director attempts to make you feel guilty when you do not go with their most expensive services, this is a sure sign you are being taken advantage of.
They could push you to buy unnecessary services, more expensive caskets with pointless features, or they might try to convince you you’re being irresponsible for going with a more cost-friendly funeral.
Pressuring You Into Embalming
No state or federal law requires you to embalm your loved one. In some instances, the FTC may require embalming if a person has not been cremated or buried within a specific time.
However, embalming is not something you should be pressured into. If a funeral home makes it seem like this is a requirement or is pressuring you into embalming when it is not necessary, you may need to be leery of being scammed.
