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ICFA Code of Ethics
Revised Code of Ethics was approved
by ICFA Board of Directors, March 24, 1999.
We, the members of the International Cemetery and Funeral Association, are ever mindful of the need for sensitivity when serving individuals during their time of grieving. We are aware of the professional nature of service we render to our community. Therefore, we pledge:
- To acknowledge that ours is a business of remembrance and memorialization. Our primary mission is to help families maintain and enhance memories of their loved ones.
- To serve with compassion, fairness, and honesty, being ever mindful of our customers' emotional state and the sensitive nature of our service.
- To respectfully accommodate all races, creeds, and ethnic customs, within our ability to do so.
- To provide consumers with useful and accurate price information.
- To provide our customers with plain language contracts that explain our mutual rights and obligations; to clearly describe in our contracts the services, merchandise, and interment spaces purchased.
- To ensure that our customers have a full understanding of the pricing, terms and conditions affecting the services, merchandise, and interment spaces purchased from us.
- To reserve adequate funds from the preneed sale of services, merchandise, and interment spaces to assure performance or delivery at the time of need. Preneed contracts should clearly disclose the nature of the transaction and should contain a written explanation of how the customer's rights will be protected, which should include whether the prices are guaranteed, the disposition of any excess prepaid funds, and what happens if the selected merchandise or interment spaces are not available at the time of need and substitution is necessary.
- To clearly disclose in our preneed contracts whether the opening and closing/ entombment fee has been paid in advance and whether an outer burial container will be required at the time of need.
- Not to mischaracterize the preneed purchase of services, merchandise, and interment spaces as a form of financial investment whereby the purchaser will realize a monetary profit.
- Not to state or imply that an offer referred to in an advertisement, sales promotion, or presentation is connected with a government agency or other organization when that is not the case.
- Not to misuse the term "free" in advertisements, sales promotions, or presentations. If an allowance is offered, it will be bona fide and the comparative prices for non-qualifying persons will be disclosed. Any such allowance or discount shall not be made by adjusting upward the prices of other items offered in connection with the purchase.
- To use due diligence in the hiring process and in training of all staff prior to their serving the public to ensure that all information they provide is accurate, reliable and complete.
- To promptly investigate any allegations of misconduct involving our staff or agents or complaints involving our facilities, and to take appropriate action.
- To support and assist the Association in its investigation of complaints lodged against any member involving a violation of this Code, including the prompt discipline of any member found guilty of such violation. Additionally, any member found in violation of this Code may be reported to state and federal authorities for possible prosecution under applicable laws.
- To properly maintain our cemetery grounds in acknowledgment of our mission as guardians of a nation's heritage.
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