. BUT how on earth CAN IT BE very effective- if out of
all of the pages up on the world wide web, the ones that are listed
here - (under 20) are the ONLY (non commerical) ones with
ANYcontent about the subject?
Except A/Hast '97 headline "FROP
Fracas: Critics Slam Funeral Home Offenders Program" in one their death
care industry trade magazine. In contrast, doing a search (google
5/1/00) "funeral homes" fetches 63,600 pages! Kind of out of balance
big time! Does anyone REALLY Wonder why there are STILL any problems?
Please spread this news far & wide. Our url here is
http://www.ateammasters/Orders.html
See the text to the far right to read more in detail what
the FTC frop program is All links below open new
window
These are ORDERS that every funeral home in the states
must follow. But the chances of the parlor being investigated are really
slim.:-( Then, a home is
"warned" in some cases, that Federal Trade Commission & those
assisting them in a "sweep" (test shop), has chosen their area, for
sometime in the future. Rules cast in stone, But one that has many cracks
& crinkles yet.
The cost of the average funeral
is in excess of $6,000.00 at the funeral parlor, Plus the cost of the
grave and the marker, opening & closing costs, it often exceeds
$10,000.00 and up!
Please use your Arrow bar to see the rest of this page
If
you have any information to offer, please use our feed back form
Part of the problem is many people don't know what the Funeral
Rule means, what it covers and who to let know that they have been
wrongly treated as a consumer, with this issue.
If no one ever
does any thing much about it, those in power - will not know anything is
wrong. You need to COMPLAIN - to let people know, so it will not happen
time after time again!
You can contact us by:phone 800-595-1313 Fax ~ by e:mail at
a-team@stratos.net ~ CLICK by Phone &
by mail! (fax phone & address next row).
Together as
informed individuals & consumers, rules are made better, stronger
& more effective, BUT it takes knowledge, effort & action!
The funeral trade is being regulated more and
more, simply because it is so open to fraud, unfair practices &
deceptions.
But the good news is of course, if one does their homework,
they learn only to patronize the firms that uphold high ideals. Find out
who really owns the business, if they have any complaints at the local Better Business Bureau, (and complain like others have
and ask for references, just like you would when making other
purchases. .
FAQ page It is worth
repeating - FTC imposes a $11,000.00 fine for FROP offenders - it is that
serious! Don't keep this a secret any longer. By not handing you the GPL
and other anti-informitive requirements, you are open to the uncomplying
funeral homes and their "tactics" for overspending with that parlor. Let's
all not stand for that and complain loud and clear to more than one of the
agencies listed on this page. Make them hear! If 10% of the morturaries
are non complying, while 90% are, that is super, if all of
the 23,000 were checked, however.......when you see the math -it is
lousy.. Look at how many funerals there were, now see only 200 some were
"sweeped!". Or out of over 2 million funeral arrangements, only 240 were
"test shopped" in one year! While most funeral directors and their
employees may be professionals, you read the bad press about the ones who
are not. Be part of the fix and be informed then take action if needed.
We sponsor click lg view 2002 image
1-800-595-1313 for toll free or 440-942-8769 for local
calls and fax 440-951-6871 line Part of the "Knowing " is who to
call! A Team Master's Casket store 262 Shelton Blvd. Eastlake, Oh 44095,
Betty Brown, CEO - and I welcome your feedback. A Team Masters is a firm
beliver of selling only USA made product. We ship all of our USA quality
made product state wide.
[This is
copied from one of the FAMSA sites,12/ 1995 issue of The American
Funeral Director] Also, the FTC is considering an update of the
Funeral Rule this fall of 2000.
Since the Funeral Rule of the Federal Trade Commission went into
effect, in 1984 (the Rule was revised in 1994), the public has
relied on its provisions to apply pressure to the industry and
expose misrepresentations and other unethical practices. Decreases
in funding have made the job of enforcement more difficult. Under
pressure from Congress and industry lobbying, the FTC has proposed a
new program, the Funeral Rule Offender's Program (FROP), which would
be administered jointly by the FTC and the National Funeral
Directors Association (NFDA). FTC Commissioners and the NFDA expect
the program to be approved, although no one knows when. (IT WAS!, kicking all the way, part of another fight "Petition
for Review - Federal Trade Commission's Amended Funeral Industry
Practices Regulation Rule" which NFDA/Pa sought, & failed ;-)
link) The idea behind FROP is to give a funeral home caught
violating the Funeral Rule a chance to get the whole sorry affair
over with as quickly as possible with, the industry hopes, as little
damage to reputation and business as possible. To invoke the program
a firm must admit guilt (after being cited, of course) and pay a
fine to the U.S. Treasury equaling 0.8% of the firm's average gross
annual revenue over the past three years: for example, a firm with
average revenue of $1 million would pay an $8,000 fine. FROP's other
requirements include a three-hour Funeral Rule training session, run
by NFDA. and quarterly reporting to show that the firm is in
compliance. Employees must sign statements that they attended the
training program and are complying, and will forever comply, with
the Funeral Rule. In return, FTC does not release news of an alleged
transgression to the press. FROP is not automatic: FTC has the right
to deny the program to offenders, according to NFDA
sources. While the FTC's wish to unburden itself of enforcement
responsibilities wherever feasible is understandable, the FROP
program -and especially the non-disclosure feature -- is clearly
detrimental to consumer interests. One can even imagine Funeral Rule
violators displaying a handsome certificate from NFDA indicating
that they have received FTC approved training on the Funeral Rule,
while no mention is made of their violation! All death care industry
tradespeople and the public should work to block this proposal, or
at least expose it to the others (and the media). As a starter, you
might consider writing your congressional representatives
If you think this is not a big deal, think again. If that
firm is not following the law and is still keeping people in the
dark on purpose, chances are, you are NOT getting the best service
your money can buy. You are not getting what you are supposed to
here, where else is the rule BENT or even done away with? And why?
So you WILL OVERSPEND! It's like reading the fine print - Buyer
beware.
Become informed and complain if you should! Keep that GREEN
in YOUR pocket!
Our intent is to be part of
the public's trusted source for information in the death care industry and
business. Also to be a great source for all burial items at prices
that save several hundred dollars from what the funeral home's product
will cost you. A Team Master's Casket store ships all USA. See the link
near the bottom for more information.
Please use feedback form if you want to have this information (or site URL
where to save on burial items )sent on to a friend.
Spending money at the funeral home is not in any way a pleasure. While
it doesn't have to be made out like you are being cheap, or even getting
the cheapest bang for the buck (and yes, we have low cost caskets,
starting at $589.00 for plane pine box type with wood rope handles or
$160.00 for nice coffin type unit for cremation ). Everyone is a firm
believer, you SHOULD be entitled to know what you are getting for your
hard earned money! Anything else is criminal and everyone should play by
the same rules. The FTC has the public at heart with the Orders to all the
trade, let's make them all tow the line. Report any complaints
promptly. Protect the firms that uphold the intent of the funeral rule and
help stomp on the ones who abuse it at the cost to the public. How sad it
is some do that, (during another's grief?). By complaining it might just
shine a light on all of the good firms too, by getting rid of the
offenders - repeating offenders. By hitting them in THEIR pocketbook. See
how THEY like their wallet hurting too! An (eleven thousand!) $11,000.00
fine can and is imposed by the FTC to the same offenders (more than once)
-if that happened to the same firm several times, it might close them up.
Or they would be closed by getting so many complaints in this matter, by
the FTC - leaving just the outstanding & law abiding firms.
Atm - Casket Store &
More! Products less than at the Dealers! - Stop high cost Funerals /
Caskets & burial items ~ Save money, Time & perhaps grief too.
Delivery to address of your Choice.Buy from A Team Masters, not at the
'Dealers' ours are ~ Direct to public. Save Big $$'s 10" and 7" caskets -
desktop or Barbie size - Misc. items A Team Masters has for sale,
small caskets and tombstones for the desk, small pet or other use.
by Phone &
by mail! (fax phone & address next row).
.
