Service Corporation International, Dignity(R), NYSE:SCI has been changing the NAME of Preneed Recently to funeral insurance. Preneed has been really having a bad time lately. There has been a triad of historic Preneed Funeral Scandals: The NPS (National Prearranged Services), The Illinois Funeral Directors Association Preneed Funeral Scam, and the recent California Funeral Directors Association Scandal.
They have been doing it at their North Carolina Dignity(R) site.
Changing the name of Something that has a bad name does not change what it is or or it’s reputation.
Funeral Industry|Funeral News|Funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy
Funeral Preneed Or Funeral Prepay, please think twice it is not a good idea! The NPS preneed funeral scam, the Illinois Funeral Directors Association preneed ponzi scheme, and now the California Funeral Directors association Scandal all are reasons enough to avoid the purchase a prepaid funeral. It all comes down to one word “Thief”.
Snippet:
“Funerals have become big business and corporate managers are working hard to squeeze out every last dollar. One of the most profitable and apparently compassionate products they’ve developed is the “pre-need” funeral package – basically, the prepaid funeral.
Industry-wide abuse and government regulation
Salespeople tout these plans as wonderfully beneficial, but in the past few of decades, horror stories abounded. The families of deceased purchasers of prepaid funerals would be surprised by invoices for items not covered by the preneed contract – things like the services of a funeral director, a substitute casket, or even the cost of opening and closing the grave itself and actually burying the remains.
Many states responded with more or less consumer-friendly legislation, and today there’s a much higher degree of regulation over the industry. In some states, for instance, funds used for prepaid funerals must be placed into a trust under the consumer’s control. Many states also require funeral directors to advise purchasers of all the services and equipment their prepaid funeral contract will not cover.”via consumereducation.suite101.com
Funeral Industry|Funeral News| Funeral Bog by Your Funeral Guy
There is one good Result of the The Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal ONE YEAR LATER- Illinois has a cemetery law with some teeth.
Snippet From the Southtown:
“The Cemetery Oversight Act includes a toll-free help line for complaints about cemeteries, 1-888-RLOVED1 (756-8331) and a Consumer Bill of Rights.
Consumers also now are entitled to:
• Protection from deceptive or unfair practices by the cemetery.
• A standardized price list disclosing prices for all cemetery related products, and a receipt for any services purchased.
• A burial contract that describes the exact location of the burial and lists contact information for the cemetery manager.
• Notification that the term limit for a grave is about to expire
For the first time, cemetery owners must keep cemetery grounds reasonably maintained to the standards of inspectors from the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Cemetery managers and customer service personnel also must:
• Acquire licenses similar to those already held by funeral directors and embalmers.
• Pass a background check.
• Undergo continuing education.
• Risk paying a fine of up to $10,000 per infraction if found in violation of the Cemetery Oversight Act by the state. Among prohibited activities: unprofessional conduct, charging for services not rendered and failure to maintain the cemetery grounds.via www.southtownstar.com”
The Cemetery Oversight Act does not apply to religious cemeteries. The real tragedy 1 year later is that there is not National Cemetery Reform, no Bereaved Consumers Bill of Rights Act.
There has been another Preneed Funeral Directors Scandal. This time it involves the California Funeral Directors Association.(CDFA) Again we have an instance of the theft(misuse, misappropriation of Preneed Funds.
It is not quite on the scale of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association(IFDA) Preneed Fraud. It does consist of theft and misuse of peoples funeral money. It does involve Preneed, or the money people have prepaid for funerals.
This is just another example of funeral preneed, contributing to additional funeral cost for the consumer.
Snippet from the SanFrncisco Chronicle
A state audit says one of California’s largest prepaid funeral trusts misspent millions of dollars set aside by consumers to pay for cemetery plots, caskets and services.
The Department of Consumer Affairs is ordering more than 300 funeral homes that participate in the California Master Trust to repay at least $6 million. The audit, released this week, says the money was spent improperly on administrative fees, political lobbying, conventions and other activities.
The trust holds about $70 million that has been paid in advance for funeral services by 27,000 consumers.”via www.sfgate.com
Funeral Industry|Funeral News|Funeral Blog by R.Brian Burkhardt-yourfuneralguy
Forty Mishandled uncremated bodies have been found at a Maryland Funeral Home. The State has shut the Funeral Home down. The Video here has all the details on the closure of the funeral home, and the dead bodies in a pile on the floor of the garage waiting for cremation. Another case of Corpse abuse.
Funeral Industry|Funeral News| funeral Blog by Your Funeral Guy
Changing the name of Something that has a bad name does not change what it is or or it’s reputation.
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