West Virginia Attorney General issued the following announcement on June 1.
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has reached a settlement with a burial vault retailer to resolve allegations the company accepted payment for items that it did not deliver.
The business, Moreland Burial Vault Company, will pay West Virginia more than $18,600 to fully reimburse affected consumers. It also agreed to pay the state $1,544 in civil penalties with the potential of nearly $5,000 in additional penalties should the company or its owners violate terms of the settlement.
The Attorney General met with affected consumers Tuesday.
“Burial monuments and memorials represent a sensitive purchase with precious meaning to the consumers involved,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “It is imperative that all companies, but especially those dealing with burial and funeral services, deliver the goods and services that consumers expect. This case demonstrates that our office will vigorously enforce consumer protection laws no matter how small or large the violation may be.”
The out-of-court settlement resolves complaints that Moreland Burial Vault Company of Moundsville and its owners – George A. and Nancy L. Bernett of Washington, Pa. – accepted payment, yet failed to deliver monuments and memorials to 10 consumers.
The affected families, who reside in Beech Bottom, Glen Dale and Moundsville, will receive full restitution payments of between $896 and $5,084.
The settlement further requires Moreland Burial Vault to prepare a contract with specified details for any future sale of burial monuments or memorials, including headstones, benches, plaques, pictures, vases and candleholders or any related service, such as engraving.
The company must also comply with installation and completion dates set forth in each consumer’s contract, according to the settlement. It further limits any deposit to 10 percent of the purchase price and prohibits the company from demanding additional payment until the products are fully installed and/or completed.
In a related matter, Moreland Burial Vault agreed to resolve similar allegations with Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro. The two-state settlement requires Moreland Burial Vault to pay $4,826 to cover consumer restitution and other matters in Pennsylvania. It also agreed to $3,000 in suspended civil penalties should the company or its owners violate terms of the settlement.
The company furthermore agreed to additional restitution should any other consumers come forward with a similarly valid and legitimate complaint in either state.
Original source can be found here.