Funeral Rule Violators
The Federal Trade Commission announced the results of a “sweep” of metropolitan New York City homes on December 29, 2003. The FTC press release stated that 12 of 29 funeral homes were found by test shoppers to have violated the Funeral Rule. From the paperwork we obtained from the FTC through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, it appears these violators either didn’t produce the required price lists, or didn’t offer them at the required time.
FTC test shoppers visited these funeral homes twice. Among the violators, many were found to break the rules on both visits. Others were caught violating the rules on only one occasion.
While the FTC has promised not to release the names of Funeral Rule violators to the press when the violators enter the Funeral Rule Offender Program (“FROP”, run by the National Funeral Directors Association – more on this to come), these names are public record and we release them as soon as the FTC responds to our FOIA requests.
Below are the violators found during the fall, 2003 “sweep.” For each, we’ve noted the violation(s) found on each visit, and the remedial actions taken. See the bottom of this page for a key to abbreviations.
Baker Funeral Service, Bridgeport, CT
Violations, 1st visit
- No CPL
- No OBCPL
Violations, 2nd visit
- No violations
Remedial Action: FTC sent letter asking for Funeral Rule compliance
Blair Mazzarella Funeral Home, Brooklyn, NY
Violations, 1st visit
- Late GPL
- Late CPL
Violations, 2nd visit
- Late GPL
- No CPL
- No OBCPL
Remedial Action: Entered FROP
Daniel George Funeral Home, Brooklyn, NY
Violations, 1st visit
- No CPL
- No OBCPL
Violations, 2nd visit
- No CPL
- No OBCPL
Remedial Action: FTC offered option of entering FROP
Dougiello Funeral Home, Bridgeport, CT
Violations, 1st visit
- No GPL
Violations, 2nd visit
- No GPL
- No CPL
Remedial Action: Entered FROP
English Brothers Funeral Home, Brooklyn, NY
Violations, 1st visit
- No GPL
Violations, 2nd visit
- No significant violations
Remedial Action: FTC sent letter asking for Funeral Rule compliance
George Peterson Funeral Home, Bridgeport, CT
Violations, 1st visit
- No CPL
Violations, 2nd visit
- No CPL
Remedial Action: Entered FROP
Green Funeral Home, Fairfield, CT
Violations, 1st visit
- No CPL
- No OBCPL
Violations, 2nd visit
- No GPL
Remedial Action: Entered FROP
Guido Funeral Home, Brooklyn, NY
Violations, 1st visit
- No GPL
Violations, 2nd visit
- No violations
Remedial Action: FTC sent letter asking for Funeral Rule compliance
LaBella Funeral Chapel, Brooklyn, NY
Violations, 1st visit
- Late GPL
- No CPL
- No OBCPL
Violations, 2nd visit
- No GPL
- No CPL
Remedial Action: Entered FROP
Lesko Funeral Home, Fairfield, CT
Violations, 1st visit
- No CPL
- No OBCPL
Violations, 2nd visit
- No CPL
- No OBCPL
Remedial Action: Entered FROP
Lester Gee Funeral Home, Bridgeport, CT
Violations, 1st visit
- No GPL
Violations, 2nd visit
- No significant violations
Remedial Action: FTC sent letter asking for Funeral Rule compliance
McDonald Funeral Home, Stratford, CT
Violations, 1st visit
- No OBCPL
Apparently only one visit was performed
Remedial Action: FTC sent letter asking for Funeral Rule compliance
Key to Abbreviations
- GPL = General Price List
- CPL = Casket Price List
- OBCPL – Outer Burial Container (vault) Price List
- NFDA = National Funeral Directors Association
- FROP = Funeral Rule Offenders Program
- FTC = Federal Trade Commission
