8 Ways Funeral Homes Will Try To Rip You Off 殡仪馆八招诈你钱

链接：http://www.lifeinsurancequotes.org/8-ways-funeral-homes-will-try-to-rip-you-off/
编译：斯眉

8 Ways Funeral Homes Will Try To Rip You Off
殡仪馆八招诈你钱

For years, the funeral industry operated with little regard for consumer rights, pushing and selling services to their customers that were costly and unnecessary and keeping prices hidden until it came time to pay the bill. But as of 1984, funeral homes are required to follow regulations outlined in the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule, which was written to bring more transparency to the industry. However, funeral scams still exist. Here are eight you should be aware of.
多年来，殡葬行业在保护消费者权利方面一直乏善可陈，不断向客户推销和兜售高价、不必要的产品，而且对定价遮遮掩掩，直到客户结账时发现上了当。1984年，美国联邦贸易委员会颁布了一系列规定，要求殡仪馆必须按章办事，提高丧葬业的透明度。然而，葬礼上的诈骗仍然屡见不鲜。以下八条提示您应该记在心上。

1. Hiding the less expensive caskets:

　　A funeral home’s “casket room” is like a car dealership’s showroom. Once you get over the shock of walking into a room filled with caskets, you’ll have to brace yourself for the prices of these shiny, beautifully finished models. The Federal Trade Commission requires funeral homes to provide consumers with a list of all of the caskets they have available, including descriptions and prices. Realize that less expensive caskets may be hidden away, or painted in unattractive colors to discourage a purchase. You can even buy cheaper caskets online from Walmart and Costco.
　　
1、藏起便宜棺材：
　　
　　殡仪馆的“棺材卖场”犹如汽车经销店的展厅。一旦您强忍悲伤走进这个摆满棺材的房间，必须勇敢面对的，不仅是光鲜精美的各色棺材，还有令人咂舌的价格。美国联邦贸易委员会要求殡仪馆为消费者提供当前所有棺材的信息，包括产品说明和价格列表。要注意的是，稍微便宜一些的棺材有可能未被摆在现场，或者在色彩上毫无吸引力，试图借此打消消费者的购买欲望。建议您不妨登录沃尔玛和好市多等零售商的网站，在线购买棺材盒可以省下不少银子。

2. “Protective” caskets:

　　When it comes to funeral scams, so-called “protective” caskets deserve a special mention. Funeral homes may try to sell you a casket that will supposedly protect and preserve the body of your loved one thanks to a rubber gasket designed to prevent water from entering the casket. Take note: this is a total crock. Gaskets do nothing to preserve a dead body, and in fact, since they trap oxygen and gas inside, they can cause a casket to explode once it has been buried. Funeral homes typically charge $700 or more for “protective” caskets, and may even remove and reuse rubber gaskets without your knowledge.
　　
2、“保护性”棺材：
　　
　　说到葬礼诈骗，所谓的“保护性”棺材特别值得一提。殡仪馆可能企图卖给您一款特制棺材，据说里面设计安装了橡胶垫圈，可以防水，能够让您心爱之人的尸骨得到妥善保存，长期不朽。请记住，这全是一派胡言。实际上，棺材在收纳遗体上毫无用处，因为被埋入地下后，氧气和气体渗入其中，棺材会发生爆裂。通常情况下，殡仪馆会为每一副“保护性”棺材向事主开价700美元或更高的费用，他们甚至可能趁您不察觉的时候，拿掉并重新使用橡胶垫圈。

3. Pricing:

　　For a long time, funeral homes were not required to share and explain their pricing, leaving consumers in the dark as to what they were actually purchasing and ultimately spending. The aforementioned Funeral Rule mandates that funeral homes break down (i.e. itemize) their prices, and allow their customers to purchase only what they want. Funeral homes can and will offer you package deals, but they must offer their products and services individually as well.
　　
3、定价：
　　
　　长期以来，殡仪馆无需对外公布和解释产品和服务的定价标准，以至于消费者对自己实际购买和最终花费的金额一头雾水。上述葬礼规则强制殡仪馆必须逐项列出产品和服务的价格，并允许他们的客户只购买自己想要的东西。殡仪馆能够而且愿意为您提供一揽子服务，但前提是他们事先必须分门别类地将每一项收费说个清楚明白。

4. “Mandatory” embalming:

Some funeral homes may tell you your state requires that they embalm the body of your loved one, and of course that’s going to cost you more money. But embalming is not mandatory, except in situations where the body is being transported by air to another funeral home or when the service includes an open casket viewing of the deceased. So remember, Federal Trade Commission regulations state that funeral homes may not embalm for a fee unless, given those circumstances, it is required by law, or expressly approved by the customer.
4、“强制性”防腐：

    有些殡仪馆可能会告诉你，根据当前的现状，有必要对您心爱之人的遗体进行防腐处理，当然，这意味着您得掏出更多钱。但尸体防腐不属于强制性规定，除非尸体要在露天条件下转送到另一间殡仪馆，或者按照有些服务要求，必须开棺验尸。所以请您记住，美国联邦贸易委员会条例规定，殡仪馆不得对尸体防腐处理收费，除非法律要求这样做，或者得到客户的明确认可。

5. Pay-in-advance scams:

This is a service that seems like a good idea, but in practice is usually a way to rip off a customer. A prepaid contract with a funeral home is supposed to guarantee a set of goods and services upon the death of the customer. But once the customer in question is dead, funeral homes may only provide some of the services, claiming they need to be compensated for inflation, or steal the prepaid funds, disappear, and leave your loved ones stuck with having to pay for your funeral. Consider instead opening up a “payable on death” account with your bank, which will generate interest and can be used for the costs of your funeral when you pass.
5、预付诈骗：

    这项服务似乎是一个好主意，但在实践中，它通常成为蒙骗客户的鬼花招。与殡仪馆签订预付合同的目的，原本应该保证在客户逝世时获得一系列产品和服务。但是一旦签约客户死亡，殡仪馆可能只提供一部分服务，他们声称自己需要应对通货膨胀，或者窃取预付资金，更有甚者，有的殡仪馆干脆原地蒸发，您的亲人只得自掏腰包支付丧葬费用。推荐做法是在银行设立一个“死亡支付”账户，它产生的利息可用于支付您身后的葬礼开销。

6. Up-selling:

While funeral homes may stop short of asking you if you want fries with your casket, they may try to convince you to add on products and services you simply don’t need. Customers who buy into the above mentioned prepaid plans may receive sales calls from “grief counselors” who will push them to upgrade the plans they’ve already paid for. Be aware too that you may be pushed into buying a good or service that is provided in a package you’ve already purchased.
6、追加销售：

     虽然殡仪馆可能不再大肆推销棺材惹您生气，但他们仍有可能竭力想说服您购买更多产品和服务，而那些往往是您根本不需要的。一些购买过上述预付计划的客户或许会都收到“悲伤辅导师”打来的电话，怂恿他们进一步完善预付过的丧葬计划。同时要留意的是，您可能也会被要求在已购套餐项目之外再购买一项产品或服务。

7. Cremation:

Direct cremation can save you hundreds of dollars in funeral costs, but be aware that there are options when it comes to cremation. You are not legally required to purchase a casket with a cremation. But if necessary, you can purchase an unfinished box for use prior to cremation. Funeral homes should not charge you for embalming, since there is no public viewing with direct cremation. Also, you aren’t required to purchase a specially constructed, expensive urn to contain the remains. Crematories can instead place your loved one’s remains in metal, plastic, or a cardboard container. Ask the crematory to explain their process, and how they will track the body of your loved one. This may sound horrible, but you want to be sure that after cremation, they give you the right person’s ashes!
7、火化：

    直接火化可以使丧葬费用节省数百美元，但您要知道，当涉及到火化时，也可以有多种选择。美国法律没有要求尸体只能放在棺材中火化。但是如果有必要，你可以在火化之前，购买一副半成品箱子装殓遗体。因为火化尸体不需要在众目睽睽下进行，所以，殡仪馆不应向您收取防腐费。与此同时，您也不必购买价格不菲的特制骨灰盒盛放遗骸，火葬场可以将您心爱之人的骨灰放置在金属、塑料或纸质容器中。请向火葬场询问安葬的整个流程，包括如何找到您心爱之人的遗体。这听起来有点儿可怕，但必须确保在火化后，他们交给您手上的骨灰毫无差错！


8. Laying on the guilt:

The term “grief counselors” is a real misnomer when it comes to describing a person who takes advantage of another person’s fragile emotional state in order to make money. When dealing with a funeral home, partner up with another family member, your spouse, or a close friend, and bring them with you to any face-to-face meetings. Having a trusted person next to you can help you remain objective and make decisions that are practical, smart financially, and not based on a salesperson trying to guilt-trip you into upgrading to a $5,000 coffin.

8、落井下石：

    “悲伤辅导师”这个词纯属用词不当，因为当事主处于悲痛之际，有人却在利用这种脆弱的情绪状态大发利市，狂赚昧心钱。在与殡仪馆打交道时，最好不要独自前往，而应与其他家庭成员、配偶或亲密的朋友一起来处理，让他们参与您与殡仪馆的面对面交涉。如果在身边有一位值得信赖的人，就能防止您意气用事，帮助您在费用方面做出实用而聪明的决定，而不是单凭销售人员的一面之词，为免除内疚，冲动地一掷千金，买回来一副5000美元的棺材。