STATE OF TENNESSEE

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INSURANCE

BOARD OF FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND EMBALMERS

BURIAL SERVICES SECTION

DAVY CROCKETT TOWER, 2ND FLOOR

500 JAMES ROBERTSON PARKWAY

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE  37243-1144

PHONE (615) 741-5062

FAX (615) 532-1903

tn.gov/commerce/boards/funeral

 

The Consumer Complaint Process
Our Mission is to Serve, Protect and Educate Consumers

IF YOU HAVE A CONSUMER COMPLAINT YOU MUST CONTACT THE BUSINESS FIRST
Try talking to a manager. Most problems are resolved at this level. If you are still not satisfied, try contacting the owner of the business or the business’s corporate headquarters. If you are still not satisfied after contacting the business, then you may file a complaint with the Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors & Embalmers or Burial Services.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, PLEASE REMEMBER...

We cannot recover or order the refund of any money or property to which you may be entitled. You must institute a civil lawsuit for this purpose and hire your own legal counsel, if necessary. Be aware that you should act before the statute of limitations expires. A statute of limitations sets forth the maximum period of time, after certain events, that legal proceedings based on those events may be initiated.

WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO FILING A COMPLAINT?
Follow these four steps to help prevent delays in processing your complaint:

The establishment, funeral director, embalmer, preneed seller or cemetery must be licensed / registered by the Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers or Burial Services.

Answer all questions on the complaint form. Briefly describe your complaint and include all important facts. Either type or print clearly and legibly when using the printable complaint form.

Provide copies of any documents that would support your complaint. DO NOT mail original documents; these will not be returned.

Don’t forget to date and sign the complaint form before sending it by mail, facsimile or electronically.

WILL YOU NOTIFY ME WHEN YOU RECEIVE MY COMPLAINT?
After we receive your complaint form, it takes about two weeks to fully set up your file. We will then notify you through the mail when your file has been created. At that time your complaint will be given a complaint number and assigned to a specialist. Please refer to this number on any future communication.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE BEFORE I HEAR ANYTHING AFTER THAT?
A letter and copy of your complaint will be sent to the person or business that the complaint is being filed against for a response. They will be given fourteen (14) business days to respond to this office.

WHAT IF THE BUSINESS DOES NOT RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINT?
The Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors & Embalmers and Burial Services were established with the intent of enforcing the Tennessee Funeral Laws and assisting consumers who have suffered loss as a result of deceptive business practices. If a business does not respond, legal action may be taken including investigations, hearings, suspension and revocation of license and cease-and-desist of operations.

MAY I CALL FOR AN UPDATE ON MY COMPLAINT?
It is not necessary to call and check on the status of your complaint; you will be notified by mail when we receive any information regarding your case

WHAT IF I NEED TO CONTACT MY SPECIALIST ABOUT AN UPDATE TO MY COMPLAINT?
If you need to provide us additional information, please do so in writing. You must include your full name and the complaint number on all correspondence to our office.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
When the business does reply, the complaint is forwarded to our legal department for review and then presented to our Board for a ruling.

Warning: The information submitted on this internet form is not secure/encrypted during its transmission from your computer to the State of Tennessee's computer system. It is secure once received on the State's computer system. Please be aware of this fact and do not enter sensitive information.

Click here for printable version