Complaint Review: Silva Funeral Home Inc.

Silva Funeral Home, Inc. is attempting to charge grieving families an additional $900 if they want to supply their own casket for a funeral, which they have the Federal Right to do so.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a law called "The Funeral Rule" (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/products/pro26.shtm) which clearly states that a funeral home in the United States can NOT charge you a fee for providing your own casket.

However, Silva Funeral Home, Inc., Located at 80 Broadway, Taunton, MA, is doing just that. A complaint has been filed with the FTC.

Silva Funeral Home, Inc. has two seperate "Basic Service Fees For Funeral Director and Staff". The lower priced fee ($1495) is if you purchase a casket through them (at a huge mark-up of approx. 300% - 500%) while the more expensive fee ($2395) is if you supply your own casket.

The single most expensive part of a funeral is the cost of the casket from a funeral home. They do not want to lose their profit on the casket sale, so they are attempting to charge you more if you want to supply your own casket, possibly purchased online at a huge savings (typically around 80% discount from funeral homes).

However, according to the FTC's Funeral Rule (directly from their website): The Funeral Rule gives you the right to: Provide the funeral home with a casket or urn you purchase elsewhere. The funeral provider cannot refuse to handle a casket or urn you bought online, at a local casket store, or somewhere else or charge you a fee to do so. The funeral home cannot require you to be there when the casket or urn is delivered to them.

In summary, beware of Silva Funeral Home, Inc. As stated, an official complaint has already been filed with the FTC and proper legal action will follow, however until that happens, simply find another funeral home to do business with. It is unscrupulous that they are breaking the law and attempting to squeeze more money from grieving families.