Greedy and Outrageous Tactics On the back of a Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected/Purchase Agreement supplied by an SCI-owned funeral home—under Terms and Conditions—there appears the following, “LIMITATION OF DAMAGES AND REMEDIES: By signing this Agreement you expressly waive, and you agree that you shall not be entitled to recover, consequential damages or losses of any kind, based on negligence. Read more

“Gay-Friendly” SCI in England? The following is from an article by David Northmore in “The Pink Paper,” a British publication, dated November 1, 1996: A multi-million dollar American corporation is cashing in on AIDS deaths in the UK via a helpline claiming to direct the bereaved to gay-friendly undertakers. Read more

SCI Manipulates Cremation Customers The following arrived in the FAMSA mail:   Enclosed are educational tools for a new program which Service Corporation International (SCI) is imposing on their funeral homes and members of memorial societies who use their facilities. Read more

Stewart Cemetery Practices Deceptive The following was faxed to Maridel Freshwater in the regional office of the Federal Trade Commission by Pierson Ralph, Executive Director, Memorial Society of North Texas. Several editorial comments have been added in italics. Read more

Loewen’s Cemetery Shake-down Targeting the Poor and Parents Who Have Lost a Child The grandfather got the first call from Hillcrest Gardens in Mt. Holly, NC. Walter owns six lots there. His wife is buried there, and his tiny grandson, too, right on top of his wife. Read more