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Five Funeral Scams mean No Lower Cost Fu...

lowercostfuneral — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 03:29:29 +0100

Your Funeral Guy: Five Funeral Scams that mean No Lower Cost Funeral

Most folks would rather not think about their funeral --
or that of a loved one. Funeral directors over the years have given us many types of funeral scams from flowers, to preneed car sales techniques and difficult contracts.Yet knowing about funeral scams can save
families from heart felt hurt during the Painful Problem of a Funeral.The five Funeral scams listed here come directly from the funeral rule and are not written about much anywhere

The average cost of funeral ranges from 7,000.00 to $9,000.00 For many
people, a funeral will be one of the largest purchases of their life.

Though most funeral directors care about grieving families, the chance to upsell high ticket items like cushion-lined mahogany caskets or embalming prior to cremation are opportunities too good to pass up.

The federal government protects consumers from unfair business practices with a law called The Funeral Rule. This is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission or FTC.

1.Casket Selling Scam: Moving you toward the higher price

One way funeral directors make large profits is by introducing consumers is to their most expensive caskets first.

Industry
studies have shown the average casket shopper buys one of the first
three casket models they see and usually the one that is in the middle
price range.

This means it is to the funeral director's advantage to steer customers towards high cost caskets first. Your Funeral Guy , R.Brian Burkhardt was taught this method in mortuary school.

The
Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to show customers a list of all
caskets the company sells with descriptions and prices before showing
caskets. I advise clients to ask about lower priced caskets, even if they don't appear to be readily available. Some funeral homes place lower cost caskets away in a basement or the backroom.

A casket of lower costs may need to be ordered, by the consumer and should
only be a mouse click or phone call away. Many of the same models you
see in the funeral home can be ordered on the internet for much less.

It
has been stated That there are at least over 500 models of caskets on
the market for under $1000, So check out prices immediately on the
internet and ask to see a catalog.

2.Funeral Packages sometimes Misrepresent Costs

Back
in the day, caskets were sold only by funeral homes. But now showrooms
and websites sell the same caskets often at lower cost prices.

The Funeral Rule requires funeral directors to use a casket you bought somewhere else at another location without charging additional fees.

Some
funeral homes have tried to slide past the internet/retail casket store
competition with deceptive promotional packages. They offer "deals"
that reduce the price of their caskets, but increase costs on other
products and services. It is usually best to avoid packages and
negotiate your lower cost funeral directly with the funeral director.

Some Funeral Home Owners charge different casket prices at the different funeral homes they own!

R. Brian Burkhardt Your Funeral Guy has seen and experienced all of the above.

Any casket pricing scam may be reported to The National Casket Retailers Association .

3. Gasket Casket Scam: Protection forever

Another
deceptive trick or scam is selling "protective" caskets. These include
a rubber gasket designed to delay the penetration of water into the
casket, which supposedly preserves the body from biological entities
and decay. This will not take you to a lower cost funeral.

The
gasket casket has been called the biggest fraud in the funeral
business. The gasket costs $12 to $20, yet funeral homes typically
charge $700 more for models with gasket.

The
Funeral Rule does not allow claims that "protective" features like the
gasket helps preserve the remains forever or a long time, because they
don't. This is simply a higher cost funeral sales technique.

4. Funeral Director Scam: Laying on Guilt to get you to overspend!

Some funeral directors really lay on the guilt to get you to emotionally
overspend. If you here the comment Your Loved One Deserves better than
this. Your emotional chain has been yanked! You need to recognize that
sometimes you don't need to have high funeral costs to honor and show
your love planning an excellent lower cost funeral in advance can help
develop a great service at a most difficult moment.

5. Funeral Director Scam:Not Mentioning the No Embalming option

Under
the funeral rule you must be told and sign a statement that
embalming(in most cases)is not a requirement of law. in fact no
Embalming and a closed casket or direct burial can save you $600.00 to
$700.00 USD on any funeral. If you want a traditional visitation
embalming may be required by some funeral directors.

There are other ways around this such as doing it all at the cemetery with a closed casket.

Many
a funeral director will employ some strong arm tactics to get an
Embalming. However you have the right to say no Embalming Cost.

Your Funeral Guy

More information can be found from Your Funeral Guy !

Newsweek Speaks on Funeral Cost.

lowercostfuneral — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:09:44 +0200

The Funeral cost industry needs to be reformed. this according to the U.S. publication Newsweek. The article is devoted to funeral cost the Funeral Consumers Alliance and the funeral industry

On July 3rd 2008, Newsweek did an article creating a funeral, funeral cost and FCA- Funeral Consumer Alliance stir. The picture of the biodegradable casket gives you a look at future funeral cost. Joshua Slocum of the Funeral Consumers Alliance also did a great Job handling comments after the article appeared. Slocum is a true Funeral Futurist. The article is Called “A Serious Undertaking.”

Quoting from the Newsweek Article:

“the annual conference of the Funeral Consumers Alliance, a watchdog group for the death-care industry that advocates simple, personalized and environmentally sound alternatives to the typical American burial.”

Joshua Slocum is exactly correct when the article quotes him:

“I want people to be shocked,” Slocum says, “that in some states, the body belongs to the mortuary by state law. And once a funeral director has got a body in the door, it’s over.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/144482

As stated in the Book Rest in Peace Insiders Tips to the Low Cost Less Stress Funeral Once the Funeral Director puts your loved one on the mortuary cot, The funeral cost clock starts running.

Two books can help here with the average cost of a funeral.

Grave Matters: A Journey Through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial by Mark Harris

Rest in Peace: Insider’s Tips to the Low Cost Less Stress Funeral by R Brian Burkhardt and Matt Bacak

Your Funeral Guy, R Brian Burkhardt, Funeral Director, Author, Blogger, State of Illinois

Be sure to let me know how you achieved low funeral cost.

The President of the USA cries over Fune...

lowercostfuneral — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:31:37 +0200

Yes, The President of the United States of America George W.Bush cried at the White House today.
He cried over the high cost funeral that had already occurred. Michael A. Monsoor, who was part of a sniper team on a roof in Ramadi, Iraq when he died on Sept. 29, 2006.

Michael Monsoor, a Navy, seal did not hesitate when he saw the live grenade.
He fell on the grenade to shield his buddies from the blast.
Monsoor was given the "Medal Of Honor" today, posthumously.
This Navy seal gave his life for his friends.

He gave his life for you and me.
The ultimate sacrifice for his country.
To paraphrase Mark Twain, he lived his life in such away to make the funeral director sad.

The main point of funerals and funeral cost is to do everything you can to live your life well.
Would, you have hesitated about falling on the Grenade?

I once turned to a corrupt funeral director boss and said "John, (not real name,) our fathers did not storm the beaches of Normandy, for you to behave that way.
Needless to say i was soon transferred to another location.

The ultimate cost of a funeral is the death of the person involved.

Rest in Peace

you can find more stories like this here:

http://yourfuneralguy.wordpress.com/

Disney World The Secret Place To........

lowercostfuneral — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 03:59:50 +0100

Scatter your ashes. Disney World the Secret Place to scatter your ashes.

Disney World Goers have endorsed the LOWER COST FUNERAL. It seems that many people have been caught scattering ashes on their Favorite rides at Disney World. So what ride would you scatter your loved one’s ashes on? I would probably choose “its a small world after all” Would you scatter your ashes in the Magic Kingdom? I’d probably not choose Mickey Mouse to scatter my ashes. Snow White would be the girl for me.

This is not to be disrespectful of death or funerals. My experience as a Funeral Director has shown me their power. Life and Living have much more power than the other two.
Some people are just fun loving and want to be remembered in a fun way. Whether it is a golf course, a tennis court, a swimming hole, or any fun place there are people who want to have their ashes scattered there.

Effective government does not regulate scattering. There are restrictive state, local, and national governments that do regulate the scattering of ashes after a cremation.
Do you know if Disney World is hiring a Funeral Director or Your Funeral Guy?. I know they like fun people.. Now that would be a fun job….helping people scatter ashes on the rides.

Cremation is not a small step but great leap toward a lower cost funeral. Cremation almost always creates the lower cost funeral. A lower cost funeral eliminates stress and worry about the bill. People find grieving easier, and celebrate a life freely when there is a lower cost funeral . Personal freedom most often breeds a better future. Families who share responsibility in a caring cremation, an empathetic memorial service and a respectful scattering often work through the tragedy of death better.

Embrace the lower cost funeral. Keep more money for yourself while you are alive.
Lower cost funerals can make it possible for you to save cash for your family for when you are gone.
Some creative people even stipulate in their wills how this money will be used for fun!
If you decide to use cremation make sure you understand the funeral process verses the cremation process.

The Best Place To Find out information on this is “Rest in Peace Insider Tips to Low Cost Less Stress Funeral” soon to be published by Morgan James.
This book has been endorsed by “Matt Bacak” #1 best selling author and “Jason Oman” #1 International Best Selling Author of Conversations with Millionaires.

I am not advocating all Funerals to be Fun. Death is often too tragic.
However celebrating a life in a caring, respectful and fun way can be helpful.
More importantly, if we can chuckle at death, it is less threatening.

So What Disney Character would you choose to scatter your ashes? Snow White or Prince Charming?

What Ride would you scatter your ashes on?

Or What Disney Character would you place in your casket or urn?

Your Funeral Guy

R.Brian Burkhardt
Funeral Director & Author
Rest in Peace, Your Funeral Guy.

More Information on this subject is available in Rest in Peace Insider’s Tips to the Low Cost Less Stress Funeral. by R.Brian Burkhardt and Matt Bacak.

Did you Like This Information? Take action Now and advance order it here:

Rest in Peace: Insider's Tips to the Low Cost Less Stress Funeral

Publication Date: May 1, 2008

This book will "change" your perspective on life.

R.Brian Burkhardt(Robert Burkhardt) is a funeral director.

Matt Bacak is an internet millionaire– “Author of the Internet Millionaire Mind”

This book has been given thumbs up by Jason Oman #1 International Best Selling Author.

Who is the guy behind the lower cost fun...

lowercostfuneral — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 07:11:16 +0100

Hi, my name is R.Brian Burkhardt and I am known on the internet as Your Funeral Guy. I was severely injured on a job and had to take some time off work.

During that time, I was able to help others lower their funeral cost. After some reflection. I wrote a book. I am here to reach out to others who need help working through the painful problem of funerals. I can do that with you either through the book, on the web or in person.

Over the years and because of what I have seen, it is apparent that many have been hurt in the funeral process.This is can be avoided. I may look like a traditional guy, but I am always looking with enthusiasm to the future. I see a better quality in “funerals” ahead along with lower cost and less stress.

Your Funeral Guy,
R Brian Burkhardt

Author of
Rest in Peace Insider’s Tips To the Low Cost Less Stress Funeral. This book can now be pre-ordered at Amazon.com

This book promotes broad prosperity, personal freedom, a better future, by teaching about the lower cost funeral and funeral expenses, in the context of personal expenses and the funeral arrangement(s).

Forward by Matt Bacak #1 Bestselling Author.

Thumbs up by Jason Oman #1 International Best Selling Author

Note my AKA's are: rbburkhardt, r brian, robert burkhardt and bob burkhardt and just burkhardt.

Rest in Peace: Low Cost Funeral is key

lowercostfuneral — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 20:04:09 +0100

Your Funeral Guy Gets You Money for Your Bucket List.

Consider your kick the the bucket list and the low cost funeral. key. Your Funeral Guy Reveals Insider's Tips in New Book. Essentially You are given Money for your Kick the Bucket List.

Make that list. Do more on the list because you have planned a Low Cost Funeral. How do you plan this low cost funeral?..... when you write your Kick The Bucket List.

After you see the Movie "Bucket" List pick up Your Copy of Your Funeral Guy's book. More Information Below.

The title of the new book is Rest in Peace Insider's Tips To The Low Cost Less Stress Funeral. This replaces the older book title of: ~~The Low Cost Less Stress Funeral--How To Tips From a Funeral Pro.~~ A select group of readers were selected from coast to coast and they encouraged me to make this change. The content of the book has not changed

The purpose of the work, is to help people lower the cost of any Funeral. The book promotes the savings, broad prosperity, personal freedom and better future for all. The book received positive comments from Matt Bacak and Jason Oman both number one best selling authors.

These pages take the mysterious and the unknown out of the funeral process. I walk step by step through to the end of the funeral. In each step I give you insider's tips on the low cost less stress funeral. The book can be used as your personal funeral planner or an at the time guide when handling the business back end of a funeral.

In order to remove confusion on the book two of my websites have been deactivated and will not be accessible until changes are made. Specific information on Rest in Peace Insider's Tips To The Low Cost Less Stress Funeral is available at http://www.lowercostfuneral.com along with the free E-Course "Seven Secrets to the lower rcost funeral"

Within the Pages of this book I walk with you through the painful problem of the funeral. At each step along the way I reveal tips that help you lower the cost and the stress of any funeral, guaranteed. The book promotes broad prosperity, personal freedom and a better future for all. It encourages shared responsibility in the family. It shows YOU your funeral options and tells you how to lower funeral expenses.

I look forward to hearing from you about your lower cost funeral and how you have more money for your "Bucket List" While you are at all this do not be afraid of funeral fun.

Your Funeral Guy,

R.Brian Burkhardt, Funeral Director Illinois, Virginia.

R.Brian Burkhardt

lowercostfuneral — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 02:12:48 +0100

R.Brian Burkhardt Funeral Director Author Your Funeral Guy

created by lowercostfuneral on Dec 29, 2007 5:12 PM

Confession of A Funeral LED HEAD,Cost a...

lowercostfuneral — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 21:26:09 +0100

WE NEED MORE LED, ZEPPLIN. We do not need more lead(check the news).
I confess I Was One of the 20 million trying to get one of the 18,000 tickets. The concert was over a week ago, I did not make it in the lotto for the tickets.

I have not been to many rock concerts in my life. But the Holy Grail of rock in roll, i would go in a heartbeat.
My friends tell me i am so straight I squeak.

Forget the funeral cost stuff.
Stop, the world I wanted to go to a Zepplin Concert, I would have sold everything i had and gone to their concert. Alas it was not to be
My religious friends told me " funeral guy you are Crazy"
Zepplin stopped in 1980 when their drummer died.

Death should not stop life.
I am glad they are back promoting life.
Take it from a led head, Get to a LED ZEPPLIN CONCERT NOW. I am doing my best to have the lowest cost funeral possible, so i get to a Zepplin concert before I am rocked and rolled into the grave.

Rock and Roll!
Rock on!

Ticket Sales went to charity.
These guys are the broad prosperity, better future and personal freedom guys.
I think they are guilty of shared responsibility. You decide.
Get on their stairway to heaven.

your funeral guy

The Second Secret of Funeral Cash and lo...

lowercostfuneral — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 13:13:23 +0100

The 2nd Secret Of Funeral Cash by R. Brian Burkhardt

When your loved one dies in most States a Funeral Director must come to transfer
your loved one to a funeral home. Usually a Family Member is present. This is where your funeral bill begins.

An honest helpful funeral director will make sure All the Personal effects are inventoried
and returned to you.

Be careful because an unscrupulous fuueral director or nursing home staff member may pocket
your personal effects. (rings, jewelry,etc)

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS SOMETIMES DEVIOUS.

The Funeral Home representative will ask for permission to Embalm your
Relative.

1st-You have the right to say no

2nd-You have the right to say I do not want to decide Now.

Even if the State or Local Authority says the Embalming must occur in 24 Hours you can still
say I need to wait to decide.

Many Funeral Homes do not have refrigeration so as to force embalming upon you.

All you have to say is I cannot decide now and tell the Funeral Director to take the Friend or
Relative to a refrigerated Facility.

You also Have the option of Contacting A trade embalming service in the interim and get pricing.

Embalming Charges vary from Funeral Home to Funeral Home and your family may need to talk together about the whole process before a decision will be made. Written permission is required to Embalm....You can run into problems if you give verbal permission. Do it only in writing......."Before planning for a funeral" you should consider the embalming question.

3rd- You are NOW IN THE FUNERAL PROCESS. You Must stay in charge and take responsibility for Funeral Cost and negotiate with the funeral director, the right funeral guy and the best funeral home.

More information on embalming is available in the Book:

"Rest in Peace Insider's Tips to the Low Cost Less Stress Funeral"

R.Brian Burkhardt

I am also proud to say that Jason Oman The#1 International best selling author has endorsed this book.

You have just read a major secret to a lower cost funeral a step toward broad prosperity, personal freedom, and a better future.

More info at http://www.lowercostfuneral.com

R. Brian Burkhardt is a Funeral Director in
Illinois and Virginia.

Summary: From the start Funeral Directorsusually do not let you
in on the whole truth on Embalming or the funeral cost.

YourFuneralguy

rbrianburkhardt

http://www.yourfuneralguy.blogr.com

http://www.lowercostfuneral.com

How I Learned to Lower The Cost of any F...

lowercostfuneral — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 22:04:12 +0100

This is my first post here about your funeral guy and how I came to lower the costs of Funerals. I am here because over the past 6 months i have been personally encouraged with posts. Indeed there has been several posts about my passion Lowering the Costs of Funerals. There is more information on this here: http://www.lowercostfuneral.com

My first day of funeral service was September 11, 2001. I believed that by being a Funeral Director, I could help,
encourage, bring broad prosperity and a better future to families. The events of September 11th 2001 gave my an ironclad compassion for families who experience a loss through death. No one will take this away from me.

Career moves brought me to the Washington D.C. Area to funeral direct there. This was the time of the start of the Iraq War. Doing funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery and the Quantico Marine Base.was an honor. It gave me the skills to do excellent ceremonies. THIS IS WHERE THE REAL LEARNING BEGAN: GOVERNMENT LEADERS WOULD COME IN AND DO FUNERALS. Most of the time they would walk out of the funeral home paying $2000 to $4000 less for
a $10.000 Funeral. No they did not get special deals.. They knew and applied the Funeral Rule, funeral law. They knew how to negotiate with Funeral Directors. They walked away with saved money and broad prosperity.

Government Leaders were not the real masters of the lower cost funeral. Immigrants (legal and illegal) were the grand masters. Maybe it is because immigrants congregate in the D.C. Area. These friends researched the lower cost funeral to save money. Often they knew more than the Government Leaders. They always paid at the end, and always passed the hat in their community coming up with substantial funds.

Here are three steps to a lower cost funeral.
1 Read The Funeral Rule.
2. Make the Funeral director follow the rule
3.Pay at the End.
4. Get Financial and emotional support

If you do this you will have a lower cost funeral.

Find out more in The BOOK: Rest in Peace Insiders Tips to the LOW COST LESS STRESS FUNERAL. soon to be published by Morgan James.

Your Funeral Guy

R.Brian Burkhardt

rbrianburkhardt.com