Complaint Review: Neptune Society - Arvada Colorado

I have had the Neptune Society handle multiple family members.  I've paid for some of them and not once did I feel ripped off by the urn.  I researced this company, thats why I didnt go with the funerall homes.  I dont want to be upsold on stuff and services. I dont want to hear a sales pitch on why I should buy a funeral or an expesive urn on a day a loved one dies.  I dont want to spend any money on a day like that.  Put the urn in a closet or the garage. You dont have to look at it everyday.  Simple as that.

Youre really focusing on a non issue here with the urn.  They dont sell any other type of merchandise.  That way you dont have to worry about buying the "right" urn.  They have one urn.  Thats it.  I've seen urns sell for $5000!  They dont sell expsensive stuff.  I like that.

The trust fund is still set up.  The amount is the trust will always be enough to pay for the services in the future.  This person sounds very upset over something that has nothing to do with the quality of service the Neptune Society offers.  Dont let your decision be swayed by this ridiculous article.  Neptune Society has helped 10,000s of people and only a handfull of complaints can be found?  Companies kill people with their defective products (Chevys iginition problem killed, KILLED 100 people wheres the ripoff report for that?), Neptune Socieity has a couple of mistakes and all of a sudden they're a rip off?  Give me a break.

The person writing this rip off reports is a disgruntled employee and was mad.  Neptune has been the best "funeral/cremation" company Ive worked with.  I've planned a funeral before I used Neptune Society and I will NEVER use a funeral home again. Neptune Society has earned my trust and business for life.

Beware of what Neptune representatives try to sell. 

Prepaid my final expenses on a very tight budget.  I heard of Neptune Society.  The representative told me the best price was their Neptune Memento Package.  This includes a cherry finish box with the urn inside and had to be delivered to me within 15 days of payment on the contract.  From the beginning of our conversation I told him I did not want the box.

Since my ashes are to be be scattered at sea by Neptune, San Diego.  At my passing, who would deliver the urn to the crematorium if I didn't have family or passed away in another state.

His answer was if no one brought the urn to the crematorium then another one would be furnished in San Diego. That was never in writing.  It makes no sense to pay for something that may never be used. I sent e-mails and made phone calls to the representative for clarification. 

Finally, I went in person.  The representative told me that selling the merchandise is how they make money.  He never showed me a price list or offered options to the Neptune Memento Package.  Turns out I could pay for the options I want.

When I returned the urn to Arvada office and requested a refund for the box the representative told me I had to cancell the whole contract to get a refund for the box

I insisted on keeping the services excluding the memorial box.  Only then did he show me a price list and I chose the Neptune Direct Cremation Package plus Transportation and Relocation Protection Plan, excluding the memorial box.  We cancelled my original contract and executed a new contract . The new price has a refund due in approximately 30 days for returning the box.

I hope that my experience will help others when pre-planning their cremation.  Insist on a price list and choose what services you want not what Neptune insists you buy.

I am currently working with a television station in Colorado Springs to update the segment aired on Channel 7 in November 2011.  A follow up interview is to take place to reveal the Attorney General's investigation status on Neptune Society.

Additionally, an interest from NBC Dateline has been expressed.  I was contacted from a producer of the show expressing interest in shedding more light on Neptune Society.  I am following up with their producers and will post my updates on this site. 

You apparently mis read my article.  I agree with you with respect to allowing a company to keep its doors open.  This was not what my article was addressing.  It was merely pointing out the fact that future potential customer should be offered the options of accepting the urn at the time of enrollment or at time of need.  Currently Neptune is only limiting it to accepting the merchandise at time of enrollment only.

Certain stipulations from DORA exists when urn and merchandise is accepted at time of enrollment versus at time of need.  When Neptune is not allowing customers to accept urn and merchandise at time of need, it is limiting customer's options and enhancing their own position by not placing the amount paid for  urn and merchandise into trust.  Read the aricle again. 

There is never a requirement to return the urn you purchased. It is the customers urn, bought and paid for. Absolutly Ludicrous!

Since the money for the actual services go into a trust account and every state has a different percentage (usually 75% or more) Neptune Society has a right to offer a product that helps them keep their doors open. Can you tell me of any funeral home that doesn't sell caskets, flowers, memorial services to stay in business? Neptune does this on a much, much smaller scale than those companies. And how can a company offer a product and expect that product to be in circulation in 5, 10, 20 years? That is why it is required that any product purchased if it's in-stock with any company has to be shipped to the consumer who purchased it within a reasonable amount of time. Have you ever heard of Amazon.com holding a book for a customer for 10 years? You sound like a disgruntled ex-employee, oh I see you do say you worked for them...hmmm.

For points of clarification with respect to requesting the urn and merchandise at time of need rather than having it delivered via courier.  Neptune did not offer this option when I was selling for them.  I found another article that reveals the company's practice of "constructive delivery", this allows them to avoid placing the amount into a trust fund.  However, they dont tell you this, they only say that by having the merchandise delivered, it prevents any type of "up selling". 

No "up selling" would take place regardless if you accepted the merchandise via mail or at time of need.  By accepting the urn and merchandise via courier, it only benefits Neptune.  The consumers is at risk resulting from less than 1/2 of the amount paid being placed in trust.  Under the current scenario, when death occurrs, they are going to provide an urn to place the ashes in and will require you to return the urn that was sent to you in the mail.

By requiring that Neptune provides you with the urn and merchandise at time of need, it would eliminate for you to return the urn.  The remaining merchandise is not required for the cremation process and a person can afford to wait to receive it at time of need.  Again, as I indicated, they did not offer this option while I was selling.  This may change soon as this deceptive practice will be exposed once I meet with Channel 7.