Last week, NFDA was informed by a state association that Heritage Cremation Providers isusing yet another alias in an attempt to deceive funeral homes.

NFDA has issued warnings to funeral homes regarding the operations of Heritage Cremation Providers, an internet middleman that holds itself out to the public as a locally-owned and trusted funeral home providing low-cost cremation services. In fact, Heritage Cremation Providers is an unlicensed seller of funeral and cremation services with a long track record of consumer fraud and abuse. State Funeral Boards in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Oregon and Tennessee have all taken action against Heritage Cremation Providers; however, because Heritage Cremation Providers can hide behind the internet, it is virtually impossible for a state board to be able to shut it down. Despite efforts of state regulators, they continue to peddle low-cost cremation services to the public through its website.

We received word from a state association that Heritage Cremation Providers – which also operated under the names Families First Funeral Home and Funeral Services – appears to be doing business as “The Funeral Group.” As in the past, NFDA members who receive calls to provide cremation services for Heritage Cremation Providers, Families First Funeral Home and Funeral Services and The Funeral Group are advised to refuse those requests.

As we have recommended in the past, funeral homes should always investigate when they receive a request for services from out-of-state funeral homes that they are not familiar with. If you have not previously dealt with a particular out-of-state funeral home, ask for its contact information and confirm through NFDA’s website, state board licensing listings and funeral home directories that it is an operating funeral home. Since nearly every funeral home has a website, this will be helpful in confirming who owns and operates the funeral home that is requesting you to provide cremation services.