Funerals Quick Links …

Filed under: Funerals

Quick Links Pre Paid Funerals Funeral providers must give you a general price of products and services when you ask in person about funeral arrangements, and you have the right to keep this list. Furthermore, funeral providers must make price information available over the phone upon request. The funeral provider must give you any other information that is reasonably needed to select the funeral provider and funeral items you want, need, and are able to afford. EXAMPLE: Biff and Stella Lowman go to Angels Funeral Home and talk to Mr. Gabriel about arrangements for the funeral of Biff’s father. The Lowman’s tell Mr. Gabriel that Biff’s father wanted a simple funeral. Mr. Gabriel shows them several elegant caskets and quotes them a price for a “package” funeral. When Mrs. Lowman inquires about the availability of a less elegant casket, Mr. Gabriel expresses dismay that she would be willing to expose her “dear father-in-law, loved by all” to public viewing in anything less than the finest. Mr. Lowman replies that his father wanted “something simple” and wants to know what is included in the package deal. “Everything we can possibly do for your dear departed loved one,” is Mr. Gabriel’s response. The Lowman’s ask to see a price list for caskets and services and are told “Angels Funeral Home doesn’t do business that If the funeral provider charges a fee for buying “cash advance items,” this must disclosed to you in writing. Cash advance items are those goods and services paid for by the funeral provider on your behalf, such as flowers, obituary notices, pallbearers’ and clergy honoraria. You must also be notified if a service fee is added to the price of cash advance items, and if the funeral provider gets a refund, discount or rebate from the supplier of any cash advance item. EXAMPLE: Mrs. Kim purchases a prepaid funeral plan for her husband Bill, who has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, from Happy Rest, a local funeral home. She signs a written agreement with Happy Rest that describes what services will be provided when Bill dies. Happy Rest deposits the money she pays in a New Hampshire bank under the name “Happy Rest, as mortuary trustee for Bill Kim.” Happy Rest also gives the bank a copy of the agreement with Mrs. Kim. The money can be taken out only with Mrs. Kim’s written consent or at Bill Kim’s death when Happy Rest will provide the services requested. The money may only be withdrawn either with written instructions from the person signing the contract or at the death of the person for whom the funeral or other services was arranged. NH State Board of Registration of Funeral Directors 6 Hazen Drive Concord, NH 03301-6507 603-271-4648 Pre Paid Funerals, FTC Box 37078 Washington, DC 20013. Web: NH Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau 33 Capitol Street Concord, NH 03301-6397 603-271-3641 Web: