MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced Ross-Clayton Funeral Home Inc. will settle allegations it violated the Funeral Rule, which requires funeral providers to disclose pricing and important information to consumers when going over funeral arrangements.
At the start of any in-person funeral arrangement discussions, funeral providers must give an itemized price list. Additionally, they must provide information via the telephone upon request. The rule, in most cases, bars companies from requiring consumers to buy specific items, such as caskets, in order to obtain additional funeral services.
The FTC alleged Ross-Clayton broke these rules on at least two occasions in 2012. To settle the charges the company will pay $16,000 in civil penalties. The mandate also bars the company from violating the rule in the future.
The FTC voted 3-0 to authorize the proposed consent order’s filing. Consent orders have the full force of law when entered by a district court judge.