60 Minutes
CBS News
May 20, 2012
Everyday in this country, grieving families spend thousands and sometimes tens of thousands of dollars on funerals, cremations and burials. They often have to make decisions quickly, at a difficult time, without doing much research or reading the fine print on contracts. And while the bereaved may believe they’re dealing with mom-and-pop operations that have been in the community for many years, a lot of funeral homes and cemeteries these days are owned by big corporations, part of a multibillion dollar industry known as the “death-care” business.
At some cemeteries, graves were desecrated so more plots could be sold. Is enough being done to protect bereaved families? Anderson Cooper reports.
Read the transcript and watch the segment video (12:23) at 60 Minutes
RELATED LINKS
Should you buy a plot ahead of time? VIDEO (2:06)
Consumer advocate Josh Slocum and industry spokesman Paul Elvig disagree about the value of so-called “pre-need” packages offered by cemeteries and funeral homes.
National Funeral Directors Association Statement (May 21, 2012)
NFDA supports applying key Funeral Rule consumer protection elements to cemeteries, crematories, and all third-party sellers of funeral or burial goods and services.
In Response to the 60 Minutes Segment “Final Resting Places”
International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) – 05/21/2012
