Understanding your rights as a consumer in the funeral industry is essential. The California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau is the licensing and regulatory agency that ensures funeral professionals and establishments adhere to state laws and regulations.
You are entitled to receive an itemized general price list during your arrangement conference. You must also be given a casket price list and outer burial container price list prior to selecting a casket or outer burial container.
Services
Many funeral homes offer pre-paid funeral arrangements, which can help families avoid costly decisions at the time of need. In addition, they can help consumers understand and navigate funeral costs by answering questions and providing resources.
A funeral home must give a general price list (GPL) to consumers who telephone or write for information. If you meet with a consumer to discuss funeral goods and services in person, you must provide them with a GPL at that time.
You must also display an Outer Burial Container Price List if you regularly offer caskets and alternative containers for sale. This list must include a description of each container, the retail price, and a statement that any selected container may be substituted for another.
You must also provide prices for outside vendor services arranged by your firm, such as flowers, clergy honoraria, and newspaper notices. You can include these fees in your regular pricing or prepare a separate fee schedule.
Fees
The California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau regulates the licensing and regulation of funeral industry professionals and establishments, ensuring consumer rights are protected. It also provides information to consumers, including guides to funeral and cemetery purchases and the rules and regulations for pre-need arrangements.
Funeral providers are required to give customers a General Price List (GPL) when they ask about prices of funeral goods or services, either in person or by phone. This applies to pre-need and at-need arrangements, as well as consumers changing their original funeral plans after a loved one’s death.
You may charge a non-declinable basic services fee to cover your overhead expenses, which must be clearly identified on the GPL along with a description of the principal service provided for that price and any required disclosures. However, you cannot include a casket handling fee in this non-declinable basic services charge; it must be disclosed separately. A basic arrangement fee is another option for recouping your overhead costs, but it must be clearly described as such.
Arrangements
Many decisions must be made at the time of a loved one’s death. Funeral arrangements include selecting a casket or urn, arranging for a burial or cremation and deciding on the location and time for services. Other items such as music, flowers and eulogies may also be part of the funeral arrangement.
The California Cemetery & Funeral Bureau (CFDA) regulates funeral homes and other funeral industry professionals in the state. Its licensing and inspections ensure that consumers receive the services they’ve paid for and that providers adhere to consumer protection laws.
When planning a funeral, it’s important to communicate with family members about your wishes. This can help to avoid disagreements and conflict during the grieving process. It’s also a good idea to make funeral arrangements in advance. By pre-planning your funeral, you can choose the specific type of service you want and designate one person to manage the details. This can be especially helpful in cases where there are a lot of conflicting opinions on what the deceased’s final tribute should be.
Complaints
The first step in filing a complaint is to communicate your concerns directly with the funeral home or cemetery. Reputable providers want to resolve your issue and will take steps to do so if you approach them in the right way.
If this fails to resolve your concern, you can contact your state’s highest law-enforcement official. Typically, the office in charge of overseeing funeral- and burial-related services will accept your report and determine whether the death care provider broke the rules.
For example, if you believe a funeral home violated the Funeral Rule by not providing you with an itemized list of prices and descriptions within 20 days, it may face disciplinary action. The funeral board might fine the home, require additional training or, in extreme cases, revoke its license. In the latter case, the funeral director would be required to transfer any pre-paid funds to another burial home. Alternatively, you can contact one of several trade, professional and consumer groups that represent funeral homes, cemeteries and cremation companies.