NEWSLETTER Issue No. 4 ©1999/Darryl J. Roberts May 1998 Additional/Back Issues Dear website visitor, I want to thank all our readers for the many suggestions and questions sent to me via this newsletter. In this issue, I am reprinting with the sender's permission, a particular question and my response.  I believe it is important that we all be informed regarding the issue of prepaying for funerals and burials. Darryl J. Roberts (Received via e-mail) Dear Sir, I find this an interesting topic. I am currently paying for a funeral plan that I thought would save my children much heartache. Now I am wondering if I were as wise as I thought. How possible is it to revise or even rescind such plans? Thank you for your work, Marty Barry Dear Marty, It is always a good idea to preplan and prepay for your deathcare needs because it allows you and your loved ones to deal with the issue in a less emotional atmosphere. There are several items that must be considered when preplanning that the industry will not typically explain to the consumer (or will purposely misinform the consumer). First, the consumer should demand in writing or as part of the contract that the goods and services purchased are guaranteed to be delivered at death with no additional charge. Many contracts written today state just the opposite, explaining that the consumer will have to pay the difference, if any, in the value of the preplanned purchase and the purchase at death even if the same goods and services are used. Remember, the seller has made money from your funds from the moment you purchased until time of delivery which is reason for him to guarantee no additional cost to the consumer. Second, consumers must insist in writing that the goods and services purchased are totally portable from location to location. Consumers deserve the right to utilize the goods and services they have purchased at any facility. Who knows where one will be or if a particular facility is suitable several years from now? Third, consumers should always use insurance as their funding vehicle because of the significant savings that are available through insurance products. An insurance product will save the consumer 10-40 percent and still purchase the same funeral. If your preplan does not utilize all three of the above items, you should cancel if you can. Many states have laws that require a full refund of your prepurchase. But, even if there are no such laws in your state, a reputable facility will give you a full refund. I would be happy to work with you in examining your contract and or getting you a refund if you wish. Darryl J. Roberts

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