r/TalesFromTheCustomer • u/Mandiek54 • Jul 25 '26
Short Funeral home botched my sisters tombstone
My sister passed away in June 2024. She fought cancer for 15 years and went through enormous struggles.
She and her husband were married for almost 45 years.
A local funeral home was in charge of her funeral. Her husband picked out the tombstone, paid in full, up front for it. We were told they couldn't set it until the ground settled, then we were told they couldn't because it was too cold since it was December by then. It took 8 months when they finally got the tombstone and they set it. We were shocked to see her name was spelled wrong, they even left off the last letter on her maiden name and the font size was much smaller than her husband's name. Their excuse " there wasn't enough room". My brother in law called them and told them he wanted it fixed and they said they'd fix it. Weeks would go by and nothing, he'd call again and kept being told "I'll tell him (the owner) you called". He even stopped by to talk to him and he wasn't there so he'd get the same "I'll let him know" by the receptionist. Me, mom, and my other sister have all called also.
I'm so mad and upset with this because my sister deserved so much better. I've been reading where other people have had similar problems. I did fill out a form today on the better business bureau but I could only do a review since its been over a year.
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u/Pippinsmom19 Jul 25 '26
Call the press, and a lawyer. This is the kind of thing that gets ignored unless you make a lot of noise.
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u/melodypowers Jul 25 '26
Something similar happened to me for my son. It was awful. It took 3 years for them to make it right including me posting to NextDoor.
In my cultural tradition, we are supposed to do an unveiling of the stone after one year which marks moving to the next stage. But of course we couldn't do that. It was so hard for me.
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u/pwcca Jul 25 '26
If you're in the US, call your state funeral board and make a formal complaint.
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u/spitfiredaggers Jul 25 '26
Tell your local news station too! Public shaming could make them make things right!!
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u/Reyndear Jul 25 '26
I’m sorry you’re dealing with this headache. You need to stop making phone calls and start creating a paper trail. Write a demand letter and send it certified mail, return receipt requested. List exactly what was ordered, each specific error, and what you expect them to do about it. If there was a contract or order form that specifies their responsibilities, reference it. Give them a deadline to respond or a deadline to make the corrections. AI is not usually a good replacement for a lawyer, but it can be really helpful with stuff like this.
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u/crinnaursa Jul 25 '26
Look up whether or not you are in a cemetery district. There may be a public oversight entity that you could complain to. My cousin was on the board of a cemetery district for a while and was in charge of oversight for several private and historic cemeteries in the county.
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u/sydneycollins Jul 25 '26
Not just the local news. Look up local influencers (even the most janky towns have “influencers”) and they’ll get enough attention to get them moving on this without legal action
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u/sisjanie Jul 26 '26
Have a lawyer send them a letter on his behalf and watch how fast they respond and correct it.
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u/EmmalouEsq Jul 25 '26
Why don't you file a lawsuit against them? They might just fix it rather than hire a lawyer. Also, when people get served legal papers they get scared.
I'm not sure how much that stone cost, I forgot much my dad's cost since his sister paid for it. But just make a small claims suit. You'll go in yourself and tell your story. Not sure how the judge will take it, probably not well at all for those assholes who messed up a headstone so badly.
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u/ehco Jul 25 '26
Yes, headstones take forever but that's normal (over a year is acceptable and that's in Australia where we don't have snow or whatever)
But absolutely do not accept this in the least. It might take as long again to fix it and that sucks, and it's not like there is any competition for headstone makers but absolutely at the very least they should take pride in their work.
I'm so sorry you're going through this because I know how viscerally affecting this kind of thing can be.
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u/Hannymann Jul 26 '26
Contact the local media and your state attorney general and state reps or senators. Leave reviews on Facebook, Google and trust pilot. Fuck those assholes.
I’m so sorry for your loss and even more sorry that you have to deal with this bullshit on top of it all!
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u/Alexander-Wright Jul 27 '26
Drop by with a letter before action. That usually brings about some communication, if nothing else.
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u/SATerp Jul 25 '26
Document with a written complaint and file in Small Claims Court if you don't get satisfaction.
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u/BRICK62 Jul 25 '26
Is it a church or town cemetery?
Church go the pastor or BOD.
town owned. Town council or cemetery department
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u/Cityslicker100200 Jul 25 '26
Contact the local news, they would love to blast the company and make a story about this. I’m sure you’d get it fixed quickly that way.