Skip to main content

Whether you’re making funeral arrangements for a loved one in another state, or simply can’t or don’t want to meet with the funeral provider in person to learn about the goods and services they offer, the FTC’s Funeral Rule gives you the right to get accurate information over the phone. FTC investigators recently discovered many violations of the Funeral Rule, including some providers that didn’t give accurate price information over the phone and others that didn’t give out any price information over the phone.

If you’re inquiring about funeral arrangements by phone, here are some things you’ll want to ask — and that the law requires the provider to answer:

  • What type of services do you offer?
  • How much does the service cost and what’s included?
  • Will there be other costs, like for transportation, death certificates, or obituaries?

If a funeral provider won’t give you information about prices, services, and merchandise over the phone, look elsewhere. Learn more about your rights when shopping for funeral services.

Image
Get help planning a funeral. Learn more at ftc.gov/funeralplanning

 

 

Search Terms
Topics

It is your choice whether to submit a comment. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTC’s computer user records system. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTC’s Privacy Act system notices. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.

The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Melissa
January 25, 2024

I had no idea about this. Thank you for this important information!

Joyce Mitchell
January 26, 2024

Yayyyy! Thank you for confirming what I have witnessed myself as well.

Jennifer N Harrison
January 26, 2024

I had a tremendous devastating experience with Arch L Heady,from pricing, service and major neglect with handling my mother. Absolutely Horrid !!!!!!!

C. Reynolds
January 26, 2024

Great information

Augustine J Kposowa
January 26, 2024

This is extremely valuable information. Funeral arrangements process has always been a mystery to me and I found it difficult to ask anyone. Thanks for sharing this information.

Mario Diver
January 30, 2024

I don’t know who emailed me this information but I don’t appreciate it and I’ll make to forward it to FTC so they investigate

kasey Pierce
January 29, 2024

Randy Bridgers
Kenly funeral home
Kenly NC

Garush
January 29, 2024

Still the biggest rip off business effecting more people (everyone). The vendors do little for the prices they charge. I stopped by one place to price my cremation. Think they said the cost reflects fees and all the laws on cremation, licensed and registered people and businesses. Do not know why my wife can not deliver me to a crematory. and then get my ashes in a jar.