FCA is a nonprofit federation of consumer organizations dedicated to ensuring consumers can choose a meaningful, dignified, and affordable funeral

60 Minutes to Feature FCA This Sunday

Thursday, 17 May 2012 23:25

60 Minutes viewers!—If you caught tonight's story on consumer abuses at cemeteries you'll want to learn how to protect yourself:

—FCA's free Consumer's Guide to Cemetery Purchases

Everything you need to know about funeral and burial purchases is in the book the burialbusiness doesn't want you to read: Final Rights: Reclaiming the American Way of Death. Bonus—you can download the chapter that covers your state laws and consumer protections for just $5!

—Your local Funeral Consumers Alliance chapter is your best advocate for finding meaningful, dignified, and affordable end-of-life arrangements.

Set your Tivos! 60 Minutes will air a segment on rampant consumer abuses in the cemetery industry this Sunday, May 20, 2012, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. The investigation will feature an interview with FCA executive director Josh Slocum talking to Anderson Cooper. FCA has worked with the 60 Minutes team for more than a year to represent the consumer's side of this grim story.

Last Updated ( Sunday, 20 May 2012 16:00 ) Read more...

Comments (5)

What You Need to Know Before You Go and How FCA Can Help

Wednesday, 13 January 2010 19:42

Trying to plan a funeral or cremation, but don't know where to start?

We are the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting a consumer's right to choose a meaningful, dignified, affordable funeral. We offer education and advocacy to consumers nationwide and are not affiliated with the funeral industry. This website is full of information and advice to help you plan ahead. Start with these 29 free articles packed with tips!

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 21 March 2012 23:14 ) Read more...

Iowa Gives Undertakers Unfair Advantage

Thursday, 26 April 2012 19:55

4/27/2012—To our shock, a recently passed bill (HF2369) takes away the ability of local registrars to issue burial-transit permits. Home funeral families are now at the mercy of funeral directors with a conflict of interest or medical examiners who don't want to cooperate with them. We sent the letter below to the state's chief registrar.

April 27, 2012

Jill France, Chief, Bureau of Health Statistics
Lucas State Ofc. Bldg. 321 E. 12th Street 
Des Moines, IA 50319

Dear Ms. France,

I write to you as the executive director of the nation’s oldest nonprofit dedicated to protecting the rights of funeral consumers, and as the co-author of a book on funeral law state by state (Final Rights: Reclaiming the American Way of Death. Upper Access Books, 2011).

Convention 2012

Wednesday, 21 March 2012 23:14

Come on, you know you wanna come hang out with us in Tucson at our 2012 convention! It's open to the public, funeral directors. . .anyone. Here's the line-up.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 26 April 2012 20:26 )

Comments (2)

The Book the Funeral Industry Doesn't Want You to Read

Wednesday, 02 March 2011 22:35

"VERDICT---This book is a boon for those looking to simplify and personalize caring for the dead. The inclusion of a compilation of each state’s funeral laws, including statutory citations and guidance for those investigating home funerals and burials and body donation, make this an essential purchase for consumer-protection collections."— Library Journal

Final Rights is the definitive book on the modern funeral industry. Written by FCA executive director Josh Slocum and Funeral Ethics Organization leader Lisa Carlson, Final Rights combines journalistic investigation with practical consumer advice. The only book of its kind, Final Rights unveils the tricks of the funeral trade (and how to avoid them) while calling out government regulators who dance to the $15-billion death industry's tune when they're supposed to be protecting you, the funeral consumer.