By Joe.

It is not uncommon for families to feel that funeral homes may hide costs when matching or dealing with lower-priced caskets purchased online, but the FTC Funeral Rule helps to protect consumers from such practices. However, there are a few ways some funeral homes might obscure costs or make up for lost revenue when customers buy caskets online:

Ways Funeral Homes Might Hide Costs:

1. Bundled Pricing or Packages: Funeral homes may offer service packages that bundle various items together, making it difficult to see the individual costs. This can obscure how much you’re paying for each element, especially if you’ve brought in your own casket and are no longer buying one from the funeral home.
2. Upcharges for Additional Services: To make up for not selling you a casket, some funeral homes may subtly inflate the prices of other services, such as embalming, transportation, or use of the funeral home facilities. This allows them to recover lost profit.
3. Excessive Fees for “Additional” Services: Some funeral homes might attempt to add on unnecessary or excessive charges, such as higher-than-usual fees for transportation, paperwork, or “processing,” under the guise of additional or special services, though they are required to disclose such fees upfront.
4. Indirect Fees: There may be indirect fees added to the overall bill, such as “handling” or “processing” fees for the casket, though these are illegal under the FTC Funeral Rule. Always ask for clear explanations of any unexpected fees.
5. Matching casket costs online, the funeral home will not lose a profit and they will hide the casket costs on your funeral bill. They also cannot match Casket Costs from an online casket company.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Request an Itemized Bill: The Funeral Rule mandates that funeral homes provide an itemized General Price List (GPL) with clear costs for each service, ensuring transparency. Review the list and ask for clarification on any charges that seem unclear or inflated.
• Compare Prices: Even if you purchase a casket online, compare the prices of other funeral services (embalming, viewing, transportation, etc.) with other funeral homes to see if the costs are consistent or higher than expected.
• Discuss the FTC Funeral Rule: Make the funeral home aware that you understand your rights under the Funeral Rule. This may deter any attempts to obscure costs or charge unfair fees.
• Get a Second Opinion: If you feel the funeral home is being vague or adding unnecessary costs, consider consulting another funeral provider for a price comparison or advice. You can also call Casket Emporium and we will help guide you, 800 618 4642.

By being aware of your rights and closely reviewing the funeral home’s charges, you can protect yourself from hidden fees or cost manipulation when buying a casket online. If there are any questions, please feel free to call anytime at. 800 618 4642.