Funeral industry conspiring to keep prices high, suit says

[Judi Lynn]

Jan. 7, 2006, 9:47PM
Funeral industry conspiring to keep prices high, suit says

By HARVEY RICE
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

~snip~
The combined lawsuits accuse the world's largest funeral-service company, Houston-based Service Corp. International, of conspiring with competitors, independent funeral homes and the country's largest casket maker to fix prices and drive independent retailers such as Beresford out of business.

It alleges that the defendants have overcharged consumers by "hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars."
(snip)

The consumers and Pioneer Valley are asking U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt of Houston to declare their lawsuits class actions, on behalf of consumers and independent casket retailers, respectively.

The nonprofit watchdog group Funeral Consumers Alliance, headquartered in Burlington, Vt., is the lead plaintiff in the consumer lawsuits. It alleges a conspiracy to fix casket prices by SCI, competing funeral-home chain operators Alderwoods Group Inc. and Stewart Enterprises Inc., and the country's largest casket maker, the Batesville Casket Co.
(snip/...)

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3572504.html
(Free registration required)

[Skittles]

1. the cost of funerals is just f***ing outrageous

it is obscene

[ClintonTyree]

2. Odd.......

I was just looking into this last night. I'm an atheist and do not want any of the "traditional" burial rites preformed upon my demise. My earthly remains are to go to the local Medical University immediately after death. I do not want to be embalmed or go through any of the other christian rites. Just take what's left of me and perhaps Medical Science can make some use of my empty vessel.
This MUST be spelled out in a living will or similar legal document and discussed with your loved ones though, otherwise the body disposal industry (with VERY strong ties to religious groups, many owned by them) gets your shell. Since possession is 9/10 of the law, they get to do just about anything they want and take advantage of people's grief to pad their pockets.
Everyone should think about this well before they plan to expire. Check out any of the Atheist Organizations on the web, they'll set you straight in a hurry on the "death scam" that's so prevalent in this country.

[grilled onions]

3. I also am donating me...

Do reasearch...find a medical school then get it in writing in your will. Lastly make several copies including one to keep in your wallet. Give one copy to the one you have chosen to oversee your will. The place you have chosen will also give you a form which to verify your wishes. You will "recycle",help educate medical students while not allowing the funeral industry to profit from your remains.

[Delphinus]

10. Cremation for me.

I checked into for my mom, as she was very sick not long ago and has no plans, and it was only $1,000.

[politicat]

15. Yeah, but the gas to run the oven costs about $60, and the facility is

paid for in the first year. So where does that extra $960 go? Even "low cost" methods are grievously inflated. (Read The American Way of Death for more info)

[salin]

4. Anyone remember Bush's SCI "funeralgate" scandal as gov?

I can't get the link to work - so can't really get how much of an 'echo' to that old story there might be - but I sure do remember the corporate name SCI.

[salin]

5. Austin Chronicle on "Funeralgate"

http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/vol18/issue45/pols.sci.html
SCI'S Campaign Cash at Heart of Scandal
Funeralgate Hits Texas
by Robert Bryce

Led by Governor Bush, the Funeralgate cast includes Sen. John Whitmire, SCI CEO Robert Waltrip (in hat), Bush aide Joe Allbaugh, Rep. Kyle Janek, Sen. Kenneth Armbrister, and Attorney General John Cornyn.
illustration by Doug Potter



On April 15, 1998, funeral magnate Robert Waltrip talked with Gov. George W. Bush in the Texas Capitol. That much is not in dispute. However, the content of their discussion is the subject of considerable dispute. And the actions taken by the governor's staff members, a half-dozen legislators, and Texas Attorney General John Cornyn after that April 15 meeting are part of what may be the biggest influence-buying scandal in recent memory.

The politicos and the funeral company are at the heart of a whistleblower lawsuit filed March 23 against the state, funeral home giant Service Corporation International (SCI), and Waltrip, the company's chairman and CEO. The suit alleges that Bush and other politicos worked to thwart an investigation by the Texas Funeral Service Commission (TFSC) into improperly licensed embalmers working out of SCI funeral homes in Dallas.

[fed-up]

6. Call ahead of time to get price quotes for services-when my mother passed

away and I called on the morning of her death I tried at least 5 different funeral homes to make arrangements for removal of her body and cremation. Not one of the five had someone at the phone who could give me a price. It would have been order now, get a surprise bill later.

I finally found a place that would actually quote me a price and it was only about $500, much cheaper I am sure than any of those that wouldn't tell me anything.

We did our own private little service. That was in 1999.

I still remember going with my mother to the local funeral home when my grandfather passed away in 1973 and getting shown all kinds of fancy coffins with their accompanying HIGH prices.

Nothing like capitalizing on a person's grief and their inability to make rational decision during such an emotional time.

If at all possible plan ahead.

Also look into using a Living Trust which usually means one does not have to go through probate (court) and that everything is confidential and NOT a matter of public record.

[Gormy Cuss]

8. Best advice -- call ahead.

You are absolutely right. It's not just about prices. If you're going to have a full blown funeral it's better to know ahead of time whether you are comfortable with a particular funeral director and it saves the family from being forced to think about the whole range of decisions when a loved one dies. Better yet, research it for yourself and leave detailed instructions for your kin.

[davsand]

7. They'll just bury all the evidence.

Forgive me--but I just had to make the pun...

------

Wasn't there some big deal a while back about some company that was offering discounted stuff like coffins and whatnot?

I saw this headline today and for some reason, I had the idea that part of this had roots in that issue--that this discount company was barred from doing business in some states by state laws that were lobbied for by the local funeral industry.

Is this ringing a bell for anybody?



Laura

[politicat]

16. Costco sells coffins and they were strongly discouraged from selling in

some states... but it is not illegal for a private citizen to buy any damn coffin she/he wants from any provider.

Another issue that people have sued for is the right to rent a coffin for the memorial service, but not use it for the cremation - there's no reason to incinerate a metal coffin, after all. But funeral homes won't do it.

[AgadorSparticus]

17. I'm not sure if the majority of funeral homes are like that, but in TX,

we were able to rent a coffin for my Dad's funeral from the funeral home last year. It was a beautiful casket for the service. But he was cremated in a cardboard box. It was very nicely done. At first I had a real problem with the cardboard part. But knowing my dad's personality, we all knew without a doubt it was what he wanted. But it was very hard to keep perspective when you are in an emotional whirlwind and want to honor the person with the very best of everything. But in hindsight and post the emotional whirlwind, I'm glad we did what we did for my Dad. And I want the same when I pass away. I've made it very clear, I don't want to be a part of that funeral/casket racket.

[phoebe]

9. DU'ers were on a story re: this company in 2001

"Remember FuneralGate - Service Corp. International?"

Another one of Dictator Bu$h's friends are back in the news (don't you just love honor and dignity?):
http://www.canada.com/news/story.asp?id={4A7695DF-84C7-4BCB-885E-5CF339F41FC3}

Lawsuit accuses Florida cemetery company of digging up, moving bodies

RACHEL LA CORTE
Canadian Press

Thursday, December 20, 2001

MIAMI (AP) - A cemetery company was sued Wednesday by relatives in Florida who claim their loved ones' remains were dug up and dumped in the woods and that burial vaults were stacked on top of each other to make room for new graves.

The accusations against Menorah Gardens in West Palm Beach prompted state officials to investigate the cemetery and four other South Florida cemeteries owned by Service Corporation International.

All five cemeteries - one in Palm Beach County and four in Broward - are owned by the Houston-based conglomerate, which has assets of more than $130 billion. Company officials denied knowledge of any wrongdoing and said they are investigating.
--snip--

Service Corporation International, which is incorporated in Florida as SCI Funeral Services of Florida Inc., has operations throughout the United States and in 40 other countries.

The lawsuit includes allegations that remains were dumped in the woods and that remains of different individuals were mixed in caskets. It also accuses the cemetery of "bunking," which is an industry term for stacking coffins or vaults on top of one another instead of the side-by-side.


Once again Broward County comes up with ref: to the Bush family - election fraud and cemeteries - nice....

[classof56]

11. My spouse and I purchased a cremation policy 4 years ago,

following the unexpected and totally untimely death of his brother, who we had cremated. The price of coffins is in a word OUTRAGEOUS, as well as the price of cemetery plots. Our children now know what our wishes are and what a simple task it will be to reduce us to ashes and scatter us to the four winds. We ask no memorial take up space on the earth for us, but only that we live in the hearts and minds of those who knew us and to whom our lives might have made some difference. Even my fundamentalist Christian mom (bless her) agreed to cremation and I had her ashes placed with my dad, who occupies a gravesite in a coffin where we had him buried many years before mom left us. I acknowledge that casket-making and funeral providers are legitimate businesses, I just do not choose to pay their outrageous prices for their products to house my earthly remains and services that will mean nothing to me.

Blessings and may we all be granted the right to rest in peace, no matter how we choose to do so.

Tired Old Cynic

[woodsprite]

12. This may sound bad, but we knew my Mom could not get better.

I started planning what I wanted for her funeral before needed so we wouldn't make any snap decisions. I shopped for a casket on the net. Got a price, for planning budget. After her passing, when we met with the funeral director, I brought out the printout (mainly for the pic) that also listed the price. The funeral director asked if that was the one we wanted. My brother and I told him "yes". He sold it to us for 25% less than the web price, which was about 30% less than what they had listed in their casket display. I about fell over! Funerals are outrageous, but I tried to make Mom's what she would have wanted. It was just over $3000, which I thought was a good price since we went traditional viewing/service.

[AgadorSparticus]

18. I don't think it is bad at all. I think that is just SMART. Everyone

dies. It's better to be prepared than have to go through it making decisions when you are emotionally wrought, dazed, and vulnerable. I think that is a great idea.

[ckramer]

13. This country has become a place where it's hard to live and

it's hard to die!

[politicat]

14. And this is news?!? Jessica Mitford wrote about this in the 60s!

Nothing's changed; nothing ever improved. "The American Way of Death" is just as relevant now as on the day it was published -- more so, as prices have just continued to go up.

SCI has been dirty since day one.