Buyer Beware: Costs of Cremation

SUN CITY - Cremations are becoming more popular because they cost quite a bit less than a traditional funeral. But that doesn't mean you should make that kind of decision without doing some investigating.

It's a time most of us never think about, or we put it off to later because we believe we have plenty of time.

When a loved one passes away, when you should be grieving, you wind up having to make decisions with huge financial implications.

When Herman Dickson's mother-in-law's boyfriend died, he was left to take care of the remains.

"You're not thinking straight at the time," he recalls. "You're already tired and then they hit you with this, I just don't think its right."

The remains were brought to the cremation center at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City. Dickson was quoted a price of $2,425 for what is called a "direct cremation."

"I just told 'em I wanted the bare basic just the ashes in a box no services no nothing," he says.

At the time he thought it seemed like a lot of money for what he was getting. "I thought of it, but I thought what am I going to do, they've got the body here."

Dickson paid the bill. But a few weeks later, an acquaintance of his wife said he had paid for a cremation around the same time and it only cost $600.

Dickson hit the phone and called about five different crematories in the valley -- he received quotes of $400 to $2,400 for the same service.

But according to Arizona law, the Sunland Memorial Park did nothing wrong.

"We cannot control the prices. In other words this is free enterprise. A business is able to charge whatever they may want," says Rudy Thomas, executive director of the Arizona Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers.

Thomas has heard the complaints before, but the FTC dictates that funeral homes nationwide don't limit pricing. A consumer must physically be given a guide to funeral information if they are inquiring about services.

And they must also receive an itemized price list for the services they are receiving.

"They have to be aware of what they're being charged before being charged and there are no surprises."

But when it comes to cost, it's buyer beware.

"What I ask my consumers to do is to shop around just like you shop around for a vehicle, not to put it in the same perspective, but you must shop around," says Thomas.

Unfortunately, that's probably not the first thing on a mourning family's mind.

"Any kind of death sudden or not sudden, its just cause you're in trauma during that time, you're not thinking right. All the stuff in your brain is not working right, the chemicals aren't processing as they're supposed to be processing," says family therapist Shanna Larson-Paola.

She says it is important to recognize that you need help when in a state of emotional distress. When someone asks if there's anything they can do to help, take them up on it.

Calling around and getting funeral prices is a job they can do. Thomas recommends you make a pre-arranged plan when you're not in a traumatized state.

Following numerous phone calls to Sunland Memorial Park, Dickson got almost $1,200 refunded.

As for Dickson, he says he learned a valuable lesson.

"I say you better shop around because there's no reason to pay those high prices."

Rudy Thomas says some funeral homes may give you a price break if there are extenuating circumstances.

AZ State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers
602-542-3095

Statement by Sunland

"As we discussed, the prices quoted at Sunland are reflective of the service standards that the location provides. Our company sets the bar as far as training in the industry and we have rigorous policies and procedures that our employees are carefully trained in. That helps assure our customers that the services of their loved ones will be carried out with the utmost dignity and care. In addition, we include services that many other providers cannot, such as bereavement travel (a service that helps with out of town family and friends’ travel arrangements), access to our award winning grief management materials, and a personal planning guide.

"We encourage all consumers to shop carefully for funeral, cremation and cemetery services. As industry professionals, we know that making important decisions about a funeral when a consumer is under emotional duress is very difficult. That is why pre-planning your service is so important. It allows the consumer to shop around – find a funeral home they are comfortable with offering prices they believe are appropriate. It also allows customers who choose to prepay the advantage of locking in today’s prices with payment options spread over a period of time. We find that this option is very attractive to many customers."