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You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Death and Dying > Funerals > QUESTION: I live in Wisconsin and want to know if you have to go through a funeral home when a person wants to be cremated and does not want to have any type of service. Can you contact a crematorium directly?
Funerals - QUESTION: I live in Wisconsin and want to know if you have to go through a funeral home when a person wants to be cremated and does not want to have any type of service. Can you contact a crematorium directly?
Expert: Lisa Carlson - 11/5/2009
Question
QUESTION: My sister told them which of the two funeral homes to take him to. The funeral home is Hemer Funeral Service in Medford, WI
ANSWER: Pretty funny. I called and said I didn't see any prices on their web site. I started to say "How much is . . ." then said, "Can you fax me your prices?" (I didn't use the industry jargon of "GPL.") "Well, what are you looking for?" he asked. I said, "Well, we want to see prices first." "Well . . . . it's kind of . . . if you can make heads or tails out of it . . . I guess we can fax it. I'll do it right away."
It will come in on my husband's on-line fax, and he's napping with a bum knee at the moment. Will take a look at it as soon as I can, assuming it really does come. They aren't required to fax, but they ARE required to give prices over the phone, so I'll call back if I don't get it.
And for the best advice, you might get your sister to fax me ALL her paperwork-- 802-304-1005.
The important one he was required to give her is called --and must be labeled-- "Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected." This must be given PRIOR to providing any services, so a person can change plans if need be.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I will explain all of this to my sister tonight...I printed it all out. And I will find out if he gave her the "Statement" prior to providing any services. It doesn't surprise me that they didn't want to give you prices over the phone and I will be surprised if you get the fax also...but time will tell. I will let you know tomorrow what my sister has to say after I explain all of this and if she will be faxing her paperwork to you. Thank you very much for all of your help...I really appreciate it!
Answer
Ooooo, honey! I'm guessing that your sister has ALL cause to not only file a complaint but request a refund! I'll have to see her "Statement" first to be sure, but I did get the GPL.
First of all, this idiot (I wanted to use stronger language but erased it) has a high "basic" service fee of $1395 that has a typed-in additional price of $1895 if you don't purchase a casket or vault from the funeral home. THAT IS ILLEGAL!!! It's a $500 penalty if you shop for a casket on the internet or make your own and/or use a cemetery that doesn't require a vault. (I'll be sending this off to the FTC in Washington, DC, but they don't do anything without multiple complaints.)
The price on the GPL for a direct cremation with an alternative container is $1745. The text doesn't mention the crematory fee, so I'm guessing that's extra and should be about $300 more. Your sister can ask the FH to give her a copy of the actual bill from the crematory, as that's a "cash advance" item, and he's at least supposed to say on the "Statement" that he marks those things up if he charges more than the actual cost. One way or the other, she's still entitled to know how much the crematory actually charged the funeral home.
Now I can hardly wait to see your sister's paperwork. What rascals! And again, I'm being polite. ;-)
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