A New York funeral residence chain has to cough up a whole bunch of hundreds of {dollars} to prospects for alleged predatory and misleading practices, in keeping with a settlement with town.
Bronx-based R.G. Ortiz Funeral Houses pays $600,000 to grieving households and $100,000 in civil penalties for actions corresponding to refusing to inform households the place the stays of their family members had been, town’s Division of Shopper and Employee Safety introduced.
“Cash won’t ever heal the injuries R.G. Ortiz’s conduct inflicted, however we’re proud to carry this enterprise accountable and safe justice for our neighbors,” division Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga stated in an announcement.
The enterprise has eight completely different funeral houses within the 5 boroughs and primarily serves Spanish-speaking communities.
Since 2018, 74 customers submitted complaints to the company outlining R.G. Ortiz’s predatory and misleading practices together with misrepresenting or concealing the costs of companies provided and failing to supply companies that customers paid for. The company hit the chain with over 82 violations.
In a single alleged incident, R.G. Ortiz offered a useless man’s physique “sitting inside a plastic bag” for a viewing, town’s client watchdog stated.
One other time a buyer’s beloved one smelled of decomposition.
As a part of the settlement, 28 customers will obtain roughly $104,000 in funds, with $500,000 left for different customers who can come ahead with complaints on-line in English (and in Spanish).
An individual who answered the cellphone at Ortiz headquarters stated nobody was instantly accessible to remark.
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