Consumer Protection

Cremation Services: Highly Variable and Misleading Pricing, Lack of Disclosure, and Violation of Federal Rules

This report examines the prices of cremation services and their disclosure. It reveals not only that these prices are highly variable, but also that a significant minority of funeral homes are violating consumer protection regulations by not telling consumers about their options and the prices of these options. In addition, our research shows that more than 20 percent of funeral homes are using a loophole in the Funeral Rule to avoid telling consumers the true cost of cremation services. At these funeral homes, the true cost of a cremation is at least $200 more than the advertised price, and sometimes as much as $595 more.