AMBIS is a member of the Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA), a nationally recognized organization which:
- Represents AMBIS with the Congress and Federal Trade Commission.
- Advocates for consumers with state legislators, industry and other non-profit organizations.
- Assists with funeral related complaints.
A Note from FCA National
The national organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Vermont. We were founded in 1963 by a convention of local memorial societies from around the U.S. We are the umbrella group to which you and more than 100 other local organizations belong (although you are all separately legally incorporated). We speak for you nationally in the media, before the Federal Trade Commission, and other regulatory and legislative bodies. We track (with your help) funeral industry trends around the country to help guard consumers against abusive or excessively costly funeral sales practices.
FCA’s RESPONSIBILITIES TO YOU
Among other things, the national organization:
- publishes more than 30 pamphlets on death, dying, and funeral planning that are free for your reproduction
- publishes a quarterly newsletter rounding up legislation, affiliate news, consumer scams, and tips from around the country
- puts the public in touch with local FCA groups through phone, email, and the Web
- consults with local groups on regulatory and legislative matters affecting funeral consumers
- puts on a national convention every two years for FCA groups with workshops on everything from lobbying for better funeral protection to how to complete a mortuary price survey
- acts as clearinghouse for complaints of abusive practices consumers experience and a knowledgeable advocate to resolve these complaints
- makes staff available for workshops or presentations at your local meetings
FCA’s BOARD
FCA national is governed by a volunteer, unpaid board of 9 directors elected biennially by the affiliated groups. The board is composed of folks like you from all walks of life who’ve joined their local FCA group to make a difference. The board meets in person twice each year.
YOUR SISTER ORGANIZATIONS
You are one of more than 100 FCAs around the country that volunteer their time to help the public. Your sister FCAs are one of your best resources for questions about fundraising, membership benefits, working with funeral homes, and getting publicity on a low budget. The best way to stay in touch with them is to join our free online discussion list. Send an email to join-deathcare@lists.listmoms.net
Before you call the national office for questions about what other FCAs do, ask it on this discussion list. You’ll probably get a faster and better answer by cutting out the middle man.
Any member of any of our groups is eligible to transfer to another group if he moves. To find a constantly up-to-date directory of FCA organizations, go to http://www.funerals.org
FUNERAL CONSUMER ADVOCACY
There’s a long history of local groups challenging mortuary practices to safeguard consumer rights. The funeral industry is wealthy, tenacious, and firmly entrenched. It it weren’t, all of us wouldn’t still be doing what we do! Following are some essential (and fascinating) books on how the funeral consumer movement came to be. NOTE: AMBIS maintains a free lending library with many of these books available.
- “The American Way of Death: Revisited,” by Jessica Mitford. Required reading. The first expose of the American funeral biz, first published in 1963; updated in 1998. Available at our bookstore at http://www.funerals.org
- “Caring for the Dead: Your Final Act of Love,” by Lisa Carlson, former FCA exec. director. A state by state guide to funeral and burial law for the consumer. More required reading – find your state’s laws here. Published in 1998, the national office keeps a list of changes to the laws that we have been able to find. Available at http://www.funerals.org/bookstore
- “Dealing Creatively With Death,” by Ernest Morgan. A practical, plain-English guide to planning simple funerals and cremations and taking family control over memorial services and the like. Also available in our bookstore.
- “Guidebook for Running a Funeral Consumers Alliance, 2005 Edition,” from FCA. This book has everything you ever needed to know about board meetings, price surveys, legal funeral options, publicity for your organization, and more. Go here *first* with questions, because the answer is probably there. EVERY board member should have a copy. Available for $10 (cost) in binder format or by email. Call national for your copy.
LAST RIGHTS
According to AARP surveys, 90 percent of the American public 50 and older has *no idea* that they have rights in purchasing a funeral that have been protected by the Federal Trade Commission since 1984. Sadly, many affiliates don’t know either. Be the smart one in class and read all about the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule at: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/funerals/index.html
Learning the Funeral Rule is not rocket science, and it’s not optional – it’s a basic requirement of being on the board of a local FCA. The knowledge will help you effectively answer consumer questions, and will help hold local funeral homes accountable to fair business practices.