It is estimated that as many as 68 percent of those that died in California in 1998 did not pre-plan any of their funeral or cemetery arrangements. That fact indicates that people do not want to address the subject. This statement is still relevant today, because in the twenty-three years since those words were written, those basic facts have not changed. Buyers, on the other hand, are often totally at a loss to know what to do. This leaves consumers vulnerable in a number of ways.
Regulators can promote consumer awareness through basic consumer information.
Information that provides accurate, usable explanations about consumer rights and options in nontechnical terms is an essential part of consumer awareness and education. In 1998, California enacted legislation requiring funeral establishments and cemeteries under the bureau's jurisdiction to make the bureau publication, Consumer Guide to Funeral and Cemetery Purchases , available to consumers. Providing consumers with basic market integration information can additionally enhance consumer choice and awareness. Yet, on a basic level, consumer reluctance to address cemetery and funeral arrangements will not be reversed by consumer guides and information. Many consumers will only want the information when they critically need it - when a loved one dies, or when they have a complaint against a licensee.