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Report Links Online Price Disclosure To High Funeral Prices

By James Gray

Posted March 6, 2017

A recent report that includes data collected in Indianapolis says some people may be paying higher prices for services at the nation's largest funeral home company.

The Consumer Federation of America and the Funeral Consumers Alliance say the largest funeral home company in the country, Service Corporation International, or SCI, Â charges a median price of 47 to 72 percent more for some services compared to other funeral homes.

FCA Spokesperson Josh Slocum says this could stem from SCI not listing service prices on their websites.

"We could find no single example of a website that disclosed their prices. That's extremely important because price disclosure drives competition and lowers cost," Slocum says.

The CFA says the Federal Trade Commission began requiring funeral homes to disclose prices in person and over the phone, but Slocum says an update to the rules could help consumers.

"We really believe that the Federal Trade Commission's funeral rule, which was meant to facilitate price shopping and price comparison during a very difficult and unique transaction really needs to be updated to make this possible for consumers using the internet," Slocum says.

In the report, a survey showed 78 percent of those that responded felt the data should be put online.

In a statement, Service Corporation International says:

"We take the rights of client families, the Funeral Rule, and other industry regulations and requirements seriously. We provide our associates with a comprehensive training program as well as continuing education to ensure all industry requirements and guidelines, including those related to sharing pricing information, are met or exceeded.Â

 We continuously look for ways to improve the customer experience and online resources are one way to do that. However, we strongly believe having a personal conversation to understand how families envision honoring their loved ones goes far beyond simply using an online resource and is the best way to help families during a very difficult time.

 We believe every family is unique, and it's our job to understand their situation and preferences for celebrating a loved one's life – from simplified arrangements to unique, personalized memorials. Taking the time to pre-plan is a good way to comparison shop to find the level of service and price that is right for you.Â

 Our Dignity Memorial providers consistently earn high scores in customer satisfaction through JD Power customer satisfaction surveys. In January 2016, we were awarded the J.D. Power President's Award in recognition of an ongoing dedication to service excellence including quality improvement, customer satisfaction and the development of enduring client relationships. SCI and its family of brands, including Dignity Memorial, join an exclusive group of only twelve other companies to receive this esteemed award in J.D. Power's 47-year history. "



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