Most states have a licensing board that regulates the funeral profession. You can contact any board within your own state for information or additional help regarding funeral professionals and arrangements. The following are some of the biggest funeral organizations regarding funeral planning and arrangements:
AARP Fulfillment
601 E. Street, NW, Washington, DC 20049
1-800-424-3410
www.aarp.org
AARP is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping older Americans achieve lives of independence, dignity, and purpose. They offer free publications called, "Funeral Goods and Services" and "Pre-Paying for You Funeral" simply by writing the address given above. These publications and other funeral related topics are also posted on their website.
Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.
4200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22203-1838
www.bbb.org/library/funeral.asp
The Better Business Bureaus are private, nonprofit organizations that promote ethical business standards and voluntary self regulation of business and its practices. Their website offers information about funeral pre-arrangement.
Funeral Consumers Alliance
P.O. Box 10, Hinesburg, VT 05461
1-800-458-5563
FCA is a non-profit, educational organization that supports increased funeral consumer protection and is affiliated with the Funeral and Memorial Society of America (FAMSA).
Cremation Association of North America
401 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
1-312-321-6806
www.cremationassociation.org
CANA is an association of crematories, cemeteries, and mortuaries that offer cremation.
International Cemetery and Funeral Assocation
1895 Preston White Drive, Suite 220, Reston, VA 20191
1-800-645-7700
www.icfa.org
The ICFA is a nonprofit association of cemeteries, mortuaries, crematories, and monument retailers that offers information mediation of consumer complaints through its cemetery consumer council. Their website provides information and advice under "consumer resources."
International Order of the Golden Rule
13523 Lakefront Drive, St. Louis, MO 63045
1-800-637-8030
www.ogr.org
OGR is an international association of independent mortuaries.
Jewish Funeral Directors of America
Seaport Landing
150 Lynnway, Suite 506, Lynn, MA 01902
1-718-477-9300
www.jfda.org
JFDA is an international association of mortuaries serving the Jewish community.
National Funeral Directors Association
13625 Bishop's Drive, Brookfield, WI 53005
1-800-228-6332
www.nfda.org/resources
NFDA is the largest professional association for funeral directors.
National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association
3951 Snapfinger Parkway, Suite 570, Decatur, GA 30035
1-800-434-0958
www.nfdma.com
Selected Independent Funeral Homes (Formerly National Selected Morticians)
3951 Snapfinger Parkway, Suite 570, Decatur, GA 30035
1-800-434-0958
www.nfdma.com
NSM is a national association of funeral professionals that have agreed to comply with its Code of Good Funeral Practice. Consumers may request a variety of publications through NSM's affiliate, the Consumer INformation Bureau, Inc.
Funeral Service Consumer Assistance Program
P.O. Box 486, Elm Grove, WI 53122-0486
1-800-662-7666
FSCAP is a nonprofit consumer service designed to help people understand funeral service and related topics and to help them resolve funeral service concerns. FSCAP service representatives and an intervener assist consumers in identifying needs, addressing complaints, and resolving problems. They offer free brochures on funeral related topics as well.
Funeral Service Educational Foundation
13625 Bishop's Drive, Brookfield, WI 53005
1-877-402-5900
FSEF is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to advancing professionism in funeral service and to enhancing public knowledge and understanding through education and research.
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvannia Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20580
1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357)
You can file a complaint with the FTC by contacting the Consumer Response Center by phone or mail. Although the commission cannot resolve individual problems for consumers, it can act against a company if it sees a pattern of possible law violations.
