The Federal Trade Commission announced that in 2007, law enforcement sweeps of 174 funeral homes in nine states found significant violations of the FTC's Funeral Rule at 26 funeral homes and minor compliance deficiencies at 66 others.

Consumers making funeral arrangements are entitled to price information by phone and a written price list at the funeral home. To ensure compliance, the FTC will keep making unannounced visits to funeral homes throughout the country.

When investigators find significant Rule violations, the FTC gives first offenders the option of entering the Funeral Rule Offenders Program (FROP) as an alternative to the prospect of an FTC lawsuit that could lead to a court order and civil penalties. With minor compliance deficiencies, the funeral home receives a notice requiring it to provide evidence that it has corrected the problem.Since the FROP program began in 1996, the FTC has inspected 2,059 funeral homes and referred 286 homes to the FROP program.

Read through the consumer section about funerals from the Federal Trade Commission.

Labels: Federal Trade Commission, money saving tip, Prepaid Funerals