I visited the cemetery recently to review future burial plans for my mother with covid restrictions, etc. The office manager said that there was opening/closing along with inscription costs remaining. I said that it was my understanding that my father paid for everything. I asked for the contract and he was unable to provide it. I paid $1500. So I just came across the forty plus-year-old contract and it shows the purchase including opening/closing and inscription paid in full. The contract appears simple and does not state future values to be paid. I have never planned a funeral or burial.
My dad died in 2018 and is currently residing in my closet because the cemetery wants $595 every time the niche is opened for ashes. As my father's daughter, I said there's no way in the world I'm paying nearly $1200 to open it once for Dad and then again for Mom, so he's waiting until Mom is ready, and they'll go together.
It's just a dumb charge IMO. Who buys a niche without intending to open it some day? It should be included in the price of the niche IMO.
I had this with Moms headstone. Dad died first 11 years before her so she had the headstone done for both of them leaving the date of her death blank. When I went to the place who made the stone to tell them I needed the date put on. Which was only a plaque they screwed on with 2017 on it. The cost, $188. Was not in Moms paperwork it was part of the original cost so I paid it. My DH kept saying $188 for a brass plaque 3x1 inches.
Each state has a regulatory commission for funeral homes you can contact if any problem. They will not want the grievance filed against them.
This is a tough industry. They have a huge turnover. It could be the person you dealt with truly didn’t know. If this is a branch of one of the huge conglomerates you can suggest that you and he call the headquarters while you are there to get it straight.
I helped my cousin get his mothers 70+ year old contract accepted. All was covered except the preacher and the flowers. Aunts older brother died in his mid 20s. She saw the need for a policy and purchased it at that time. She died in her 90s. A good investment. it’s interesting the manager somehow knew the funeral was paid for without a copy of tte policy and yet didn’t know what was covered. He may have a perfectly logical explanation. Regardless, I’m glad you found the policy.
Stay strong
$150. I looked it up just now. She bought it in 1942. She died in 2014.
. It did not include the cemetery.