Sierra View Memorial Park & Mortuary

It remains to be seen if Sierra View actually sends the check in a timely manner This is a poor, minimally acceptable resolution to the concern

The [redacted] family contacted us regarding their mother, who passed away in the state of Washington. The cemetery had a prearrangement contract on file, written back in 1977, which included her burial space, marker and setting fee, urn and cremation fee. The family did not understand why this contract...

did not cover the funeral home in WA, charges for cremation. [redacted] explained that the cremation charge was placed on the cemetery contract but that charge is for the cremation process. This does not include all the other fees that a funeral home would charge for cremation (transportation, cremation container, refrigeration, document fees). The family wanted Sierra View to pay for all the funeral home charges in Washington. After some discussions we decided to refund the complete amount of the contract to the family. Usually we do not refund property, but understood that a complete refund would help pay for most of the charges from the funeral home in Washington. As for paying for all the charges incurred, again only the cremation and the urn were prepaid (the rest were cemetery items) and we would have honored that amount if the family wished to use our services or pay that amount to the out of state funeral home. We also would have ordered the urn, and had it shipped to WA. We don't believe that we are responsible for the other funeral charges from the WA funeral home.

Review: In 1977, My mom, J[redacted], contracted with Sierra View and Hutchinson and Carnes (now all one company: Sierra View) for a pre-paid cremation and burial. When dad died in 1989, the contract was honored, and $1400+ in services were provided for his funeral. Now, because my mom was with me in [redacted], WA when she died last week, S.V. has spent the past week denying responsibility or flexibility with the contract. Their first offer, on Tuesday, Feb. 9, was to send a check for $150 to us and offer no services, was unwilling to work with a modestly priced crematorium in [redacted], and "clear their books"! When my wife protested, they offered to complete the burial, but required that we pay for the already paid for cremation here in [redacted] ($1100...again, not the most expensive option, a modest community agency to do the cremation). Emotionally and financially drained, and horrified that the arrangements that my mom took comfort in knowing everything was taken care of at this most stressful time, my wife, [redacted], contacted [redacted], who "generously" offered to refund the original $699.63 to us "but it will take 3 to 4 weeks" that mom paid in 1977!The interest alone on that hard earned money that they paid on for 5 long years would well take care of EVERYTHING for my mom...here in [redacted], even in 1989 when my dad died, there was over $1400 credited for his funeral with "all the bells and whistles" including body services, viewing, reception, burial, monument...you get the idea. [redacted] over at Sierra View just called my wife. After a draining 3 days of heated calls, he says his boss; [redacted], "went to bat for me",and they will issue a check for $1,091.63 sometime in the next 3 to 4 weeks.This check does not cover her cremation and the cheapest urn available, no condolences, no services, no burial, nothing else. Shame SHAME on Sierra View Mortuary for stealing this couple's peaceful life closure.They have made plenty of money from my folks.I fear S.V. will retaliate for this complaintDesired Settlement: Although I am thankful that my wife shamed them into promising to issue a check for $1091.63, I would like them to first, issue that check in a timely manner, and second,actually look at making a FAIR settlement and issuing an additional check for the legitimate amount for the services she contracted for. In 1998, they made that adjustment for my dad, and credited an additional $1405 toward his expenses. Surely, she should be afforded the same consideration for the intervening years?

Business

Response:

The [redacted] family contacted us regarding their mother, who passed away in the state of Washington. The cemetery had a prearrangement contract on file, written back in 1977, which included her burial space, marker and setting fee, urn and cremation fee. The family did not understand why this contract did not cover the funeral home in WA, charges for cremation. [redacted] explained that the cremation charge was placed on the cemetery contract but that charge is for the cremation process. This does not include all the other fees that a funeral home would charge for cremation (transportation, cremation container, refrigeration, document fees). The family wanted Sierra View to pay for all the funeral home charges in Washington. After some discussions we decided to refund the complete amount of the contract to the family. Usually we do not refund property, but understood that a complete refund would help pay for most of the charges from the funeral home in Washington. As for paying for all the charges incurred, again only the cremation and the urn were prepaid (the rest were cemetery items) and we would have honored that amount if the family wished to use our services or pay that amount to the out of state funeral home. We also would have ordered the urn, and had it shipped to WA. We don't believe that we are responsible for the other funeral charges from the WA funeral home.

Consumer

Response:

It remains to be seen if Sierra View actually sends the check in a timely manner. This is a poor, minimally acceptable resolution to the concern.