By Nastassia Strackbein
The state of Colorado has shut down Heritage Cremation Provider for misleading consumers and acting as a middle-man to generate business for funeral homes. But Heritage Cremation’s website implied to consumers that the business is locally owned and services were provided by the consumer’s “friends and neighbors. Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and Oregon have also taken action as well as providing warnings to consumers. Now, Heritage Cremation’s online ad to consumers reads, “Trusted cremation service in Boulder. Family-owned and operated for over two decades. Compassionate community service close to home”. This is their tactic in every state. But, in reality, Heritage Cremation is a web-based marketing company that collects upfront payments and fees from grieving families and then subcontracts the actual service to a local funeral home. Essentially, Heritage Cremation Provider acts as a body broker.
With so many complaints against this company, which include losing the remains of the deceased, inaccurate invoices, consumers receiving invoices of others and families having to wait months for the cremated remains of their loved ones, how long will it take other states to take action?
Click here to read the full story.
Joseph Damiano and his son, Tony Damiano are the owners of Heritage Cremation Provider. Below is a link to a story that was published in May of 2016. A lawsuit was filed against Joseph Damiano for providing bodies for embalming classes to Lynn University in Florida. The family members of the dead had stated they had no knowledge of this. And in 2001, Florida had banned Joseph’s son, Tony, from the funeral business for 10 years.
Click here for the story on the owners of Heritage Cremation Provider.
