Howerton Funeral Home

I read some of the reviews from others and since this company does not provide headstones the reviews are incorrect. I found Howerton Funeral home of Chatham Va to be above reproach. The services are wonderful and as far as price. One of the best priced services in the area. We researched before my mother's service and found them to be thousands less than the funeral homes in Danville. Miss Lola was patient and kind with the family. She was a joy to work with. The Walters Family

We have been notified by the business and other business across the country that $500 for a ceramic photo that can fall off the tombstone at anytime is excessive and downright appauling for a funeral home to have offered the family.  We was told the picture would be engraved in the stone.  We would find out the real value of the ceramic photo at most was $79.99.  This would make the $500.00 pricing of what we did not want downright excessive and offensive to a family in a time of grief to be ripped off.  I have included this site that talks about funeral homes charging hundreds of dollars for the same thing and finding it as unfair and deceptive trade practices.  This website shows the true price and the deceptive practices that funeral homes such as Howerton attempt to pass over.  The website for their records is [redacted]  I also attached the finish product they gave us which is not what we wanted to this response also
I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.

The family of [redacted] purchased a headstone from
me on May 30, 2013. A color photo, monument and sales tax
totaled $1,202.25. Down payment of $100.00 was received at
this time.
I received payments in Jan, 2013, Oct. 2013, Dec. 2013
and final payment on January 8, 2014. Our policy...

is
to have payment in full before the work is started.
I gave this order to the granite company on January
9, 2014. The monument was installed in the cemetery
on February 7,2014.
On January 9, 20141 did not receive the photo they
wanted on the monument. I received the photo on
January 27, 2014. It takes about 30 days as the photos
are done in Canada. We summited payment on this
the same day as they require payment up front.
The photo came in the later part of February and
was installed on the monument.
When the monument was installed Ms. [redacted] was in
my office a few day later and I told her as soon as
the photo came in it would be placed on the
monument.
I feel that I have done everything that was required of me
in a very timely manner.
Sincerely, 
Lola Howerton
President -Manager
Howerton Funeral Home, Inc
Enclosed:
Copy of Contract
Copy of Payments
Copy of Finished Product

Review: I ordered a gravestone from this business. The gravestone was delivered and had no vase or picture which was part of the agreement of purchase. I setup a payment arrangement with this funeral home for a grave stone. The grave stone was unfinished and messed up floral arrangements that was already at the grave was damaged and destroyed by their delivery. I am asking for a full refund and I paid for the purchase in full and the contract was entered on 06/5/2013 and paid in full on jan 5, 2014. I have made repeated phone calls and attempts with the business to correct the problem to no avail.Desired Settlement: Full refund of the unfinish grave stone. A full refund of the flowers that was damaged. The gravestone that is already there should be for free and I should be able to take it somewhere else to have it finished. I am completely unsatisfied of how they did my father grave and the care used in putting up a unfinished tombstone.

Business

Response:

The family of [redacted] purchased a headstone from

me on May 30, 2013. A color photo, monument and sales tax

totaled $1,202.25. Down payment of $100.00 was received at

this time.

I received payments in Jan, 2013, Oct. 2013, Dec. 2013

and final payment on January 8, 2014. Our policy is

to have payment in full before the work is started.

I gave this order to the granite company on January

9, 2014. The monument was installed in the cemetery

on February 7,2014.

On January 9, 20141 did not receive the photo they

wanted on the monument. I received the photo on

January 27, 2014. It takes about 30 days as the photos

are done in Canada. We summited payment on this

the same day as they require payment up front.

The photo came in the later part of February and

was installed on the monument.

When the monument was installed Ms. [redacted] was in

my office a few day later and I told her as soon as

the photo came in it would be placed on the

monument.

I feel that I have done everything that was required of me

in a very timely manner.

Sincerely,

Lola Howerton

President -Manager

Howerton Funeral Home, Inc

Enclosed:

Copy of Contract

Copy of Payments

Copy of Finished Product

Consumer

Response:

We have been notified by the business and other business across the country that $500 for a ceramic photo that can fall off the tombstone at anytime is excessive and downright appauling for a funeral home to have offered the family. We was told the picture would be engraved in the stone. We would find out the real value of the ceramic photo at most was $79.99. This would make the $500.00 pricing of what we did not want downright excessive and offensive to a family in a time of grief to be ripped off. I have included this site that talks about funeral homes charging hundreds of dollars for the same thing and finding it as unfair and deceptive trade practices. This website shows the true price and the deceptive practices that funeral homes such as Howerton attempt to pass over. The website for their records is [redacted] I also attached the finish product they gave us which is not what we wanted to this response also

I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.