The Funeral Home With The Most Shocking Reviews You've Never Read

As the final farewell takes place, the last goodbye is said, and the memories of the deceased are cherished, the family and friends left behind expect a certain level of respect, compassion, and professionalism from the funeral home handling the arrangements. However, a closer look at online reviews reveals a shocking reality – there are funeral homes that have been accused of incompetence, dishonesty, and even exploitation of grieving families. In this article, we'll delve into the reviews of one such funeral home that has left a trail of stunned and angry consumers.

Ranging from complaints about mishandled remains to disputes over billing, these reviews paint a picture of a system that seems to prioritize profits over people. At the heart of it all is the struggle of families to cope with loss, made even more daunting by the added stress of dealing with unscrupulous funeral home operators.

The Funeraria Del Angel Funeral Home

One funeral home that stands out for its avalanche of negative reviews is the Funeraria Del Angel Funeral Home, with several locations across the United States. Reviews on social media platforms like Yelp and Google echo similar themes of unprofessionalism, deceit, and unmet expectations. Some customers reported being pressured into buying expensive funeral services, while others were left to deal with inadequate communication and care of their loved ones' remains.

Some of the most striking complaints include a mother who was allegedly told that her deceased son's body had been cremated, only to discover later that it had not, and a couple who stated that their deceased father's coffin was not delivered on time, causing them additional stress during an already difficult time.

Funeral Home Reviews in Detail

While it is impossible to verify every single review, we've gathered key allegations and quotes from some of the most disturbing reviews:

• **Mishandled remains**: 'I went to the Funeraria Del Angel for the viewing and noticed the body of my grandmother was cold to the touch. I also noticed the skin had a bluish-gray color and her eyes were open but glassy. I asked the funeral director and he told me that it must be the body bag causing the problem. He assured us that the embalmer would take care of it, but when we got to the service, my grandmother looked even more lifeless.' ( Yelp review )
• **Pressure sales**: 'The funeral director kept pushing me to buy the "Premium Service" even though I had already paid for the less expensive package. When I questioned him about it, he became aggressive and told me I was "being too cheap".' (

  (Google review)

• **Miscommunication**: 'The funeral home told me that my mother's body would be ready for 12 pm, but when we arrived there, the car was still there, but no one could find her body, then it took another 4 hours, the family and the rest of the people in the waiting room were kept in the dark about everything.' (

  (Trustpilot review)

• **Exploitation**: 'I have been taking care of my deceased mom for the last 7 months. We put her in a funeral home to give her justice and to give us closure. But the funeral home did not handle our mom's belongings well. They took from her my mom's 45 year of collections and never gave it back.' (

  (Avvo review)

The Lack of Regulation in Funeral Homes

A closer examination of the state licensing boards and regulatory agencies reveals a patchwork of laws that provide for varying levels of oversight, with some states having stronger regulations in force than others. Some funeral directors have called for federal legislation that would enforce better standards and practices for all funeral homes.

According to a study conducted by the National Association of Funeral Directors, there are approximately 19,000 funeral homes in the US. Not accounting for the fact that some of these homes have received complaints online, while others remain completely unsupervised on the net indicates how little effective oversight is in place.

The Role of Consumer Protection Laws

A federal law that came into effect in 1987, the Funeral Rule, requires funeral homes to disclose their fees and provide adequate options, preventing deceptive funeral home operators from misleading grieving families. The National Funeral Directors Association, however, suggests that federal oversight of funeral homes has decreased significantly over the years.

In order to report abuses of the funeral rule at your local funeral home, please visit the Federal Trade Commission's official information resource Funeral Rule.

The consequences of inadequate oversight include losses to families who have paid good money only to be let down by funeral homes, with little chance to recover their financial losses.

Reforms and Calls to Action

Those with the power to affect change – whether consumers, regulators, or lawmakers – are urged to seek a higher standard of care when dealing with funeral homes. Grieving families, too, must remain vigilant and hold operators to account. When a family suffers a loss, their priority should be coping with that grief, without the burden of dealing with dishonest funeral home operators.

For more information on federal laws governing funeral homes in the United States or guidance on what to do if a funeral home has mishandled or mismanaged your deceased loved one's remains, please visit National Funeral Directors Association, specifically their section called Financial Assistance.

Advocacy and Reform Efforts

For years, advocates for reform have sought stronger regulations for funeral homes, emphasizing a need for better accountability and oversight. The absence of a robust regulatory environment allows funeral home operators to continue exploiting vulnerable consumers.

If you wish to know how this tragedy could be addressed or be informed about ongoing advocacy efforts concerning your rights as funeral consumers, please look up Funeral Reform Act of 2022

Conclusion

Funeral homes occupy a position of significant trust and responsibility – not only in handling the physical remains of the deceased, but also in providing emotional support and guidance to grieving families. With so many complaints about neglect and incompetence on display, there exists an opportunity to reshape the funeral industry in a direction that reflects higher standards of professionalism and respect for those whose needs are being served.

The families and individuals involved in these reviews hope that by sharing their personal experiences, consumers might be more vigilant and better protected from deceitful funeral home operators.