ARKANSAS (KFSM) – Undercover inspections revealed that five Northwest Arkansas funeral homes had price list disclosure violations, according to a news release from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The inspections were done in six states, and investigators found multiple failures to disclose pricing information to customers as required by the FTC.
A total of 16 funeral homes were inspected in Northwest Arkansas, and five had FTC price list disclosure violations, according to a news release. The FTC did not disclose which funeral homes were inspected in the release, but 5NEWS has filed a request to get the list. This story will be updated when the FTC responds.
The FTC price list disclosure guidelines give consumers important rights when making funeral arrangements, the release states.
“Key provisions of the rule require funeral homes to provide consumers with an itemized general price list at the start of an in-person discussion of funeral arrangements, a casket price list before consumers view any caskets and an outer burial container price list before they view grave liners or vaults,” the release states.
Officials said the guidelines also prohibit funeral homes from requiring consumers to buy any item, such as a casket, as a condition of obtaining any other funeral good or service.
Funeral homes with price list disclosure violations can join a training program designed to increase compliance with the FTC’s rules, officials said. In 2015, all but two of the funeral homes with violations chose to enter the program. Funeral homes that don’t enter the program are subject to the possibility of civil penalty action by the FTC, the release states.
