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Funeral Consumers Alliance
 of Western Massachusetts
     We are a non-sectarian, non-profit, unpaid-volunteer membership organization whose mission is to promote and protect a consumer's right to choose meaningful, dignified, and affordable final arrangements: funeral or memorial services, care of the body and disposition of human remains (including burial, cremation or donation)
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What You Need to Know Before You Go

BEFORE VISITING ANY FUNERAL HOME, we strongly recommend that consumers read
Funerals: Consumer Rights Under the Funeral Rule - from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
http://www.ftc.gov/funerals/ 
This is the excellent site that lays out the basics that a consumer most needs to know to begin planning final arrangements, including an introduction to the so called Funeral Rule.

- It includes a Consumer Info. link to a page with good advice for consumers and further links including to the current actual wording of the Funeral Rule.

- It also includes a Business Info. link to a page with links to detailed information telling funeral directors what they must do to comply with the Funeral Rule. This is  helpful to consumers in interpreting the actual wording of the Funeral Rule as it applies to what they should expect from a funeral director.

- There is even a button that takes you to a page that permits you to file a complaint.
BEFORE ENTERING INTO ANY PRE-NEED CONTRACT, please think about the FCA general position on pre-need contracts: We encourage people always to plan ahead, but not necessarily to pay ahead.

Facts for Consumers - from the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
This is an excellent primer on what the Massachusetts consumer should know before talking with a funeral director. It includes a very useful section on Pre-Paid ("Pre-Need") Funeral Arrangements.

You can even study and print out a copy of the actual pre-need funeral contract form that funeral directors must use (approved by the Massachusetts Board) by clicking on http://www.mass.gov/Eoca/docs/dpl/boards/em/em_preneedcontract.pdf

Be sure you can answer the question, What happens if I change my mind; can I change my arrangements; how difficult will it be to do so; will any changes affect the agreement on costs?

Consider having an attorney or, at the very least, someone whose judgment you trust, go over the completed paperwork with you before you sign anything (or before the 10 day "cooling off" period has expired).

See our Links Page for links to other information of value to consumers of funeral home goods and services.

What to do if you have been violated - complaint forms for both the Federal Trade Commission and the Commonwealth's Office of Investigations.

http://www.ftc.gov/funerals/
See button at bottom of page.

 We can supply a SPEAKER FOR YOUR GROUP on the above "What to Know ... Before you Go" issues
A volunteer from the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Western Massachusetts will discuss:
- How to plan ahead for dignified yet affordable end-of-life services
- How to deal with the funeral industry
- what the consumer should know about the Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule and other funeral related laws
- Free copies of our 2008 Funeral Home Price survey

TO BOOK A SPEAKER - phone Carol Coan in Greenfield, 413-774-2320


Funeral Homes
- a list of all Western Massachusetts funeral homes known to us. Each entry includes the address, phone number and ownership information. The list is organized by county to allow consumers to locate several funeral homes at a convenient distance from home. We recommend talking with several funeral directors before a need for their services arises. Consumers can use the same comparison shopping approach to making final arrangements as they do for making other expensive purchases, such as a home or a new car. You can even read our most recent Western Massachusetts funeral home price survey.

Crematories
- most of this page is devoted to crematories located within Massachusetts (and one in New Hampshire), all of which presently require that arrangements be made through a funeral home, rather than through the crematory itself.  At the bottom of the page, see information on the Vermont-based Eternal Blessings Cremation Service which also serves Western Massachusetts but does not require that arrangements be made through a funeral home.

Casket Sales
- the Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule requires that funeral homes permit the consumer to purchase a casket from a separate source without imposing any additional charge for doing so. As always, we recommend comparison shopping before making a purchase. Be sure that the retail outlet is, in fact, charging less than the funeral home would charge for a comparable item.