Federal Trade Commission
News Release: 07/21/2011
Undercover Inspections in Eight States Find Violations of FTC’s Funeral Rule
At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice has charged funeral homes in Chicago and Washington, D.C. with violating an FTC consumer protection rule designed to ensure that people have the information they need to compare prices and buy only the funeral services and goods they want. The FTC’s complaints are based on inspections by FTC staff posing as consumers seeking to make funeral arrangements. The FTC conducts undercover inspections every year to ensure that funeral homes are complying with the Funeral Rule. All funeral homes found with significant violations are offered a chance to enter a three-year training program designed to increase compliance, as an alternative to possible legal action that could otherwise lead to a court order and civil penalties of up to $16,000 per violation.
Read the full news release at Federal Trade Commission
