Alerts

On this page you will find alerts related to unlicensed activity.

Click here to view all Final Orders issued for unlicensed activity

Heritage Cremation Provider and Legacy Funeral Service

The Department of Financial Services has issued an Immediate Final Order and Final Order against Heritage Cremation Provider, L.L.C., Legacy Funeral Service L.L.C., Anthony Joseph (A.J.) Damiano, and Joseph Damiano, ordering that these individuals and entities immediately cease and desist from conducting any activities related to the deathcare industry as outlined in chapter 497, Florida Statutes.The Circuit Court in Broward County issued a Final Judgment ordering that both Heritage and Legacy pay $10,000 each to the Department of Financial Services.

Immediate Final Order
Final Order
Default Final Judgement

Please see the following excerpt of an alert from the New York State Funeral Directors Association dated November 27, 2019:

We wanted you to be aware that Heritage Cremation Providers is now using various aliases in what are blatant attempts to deceive funeral homes and consumers. You may remember that Heritage is an online middleman that purports to be a locally-owned funeral home providing low-cost direct cremation services, when in fact it has engaged in repeated acts of fraud and abuse in New York and throughout the nation. In fact, regulators in several states – including New York – have taken various actions against Heritage, but because it operates solely by way of the internet, these efforts have met with limited success. Further actions are now being considered.

We received word just yesterday that Heritage Cremation Providers – which has operated under the names Families First Funeral Home and Funeral Services – is using the name “Legacy Cremation.” This is the same company name they used in Florida before that state shut them down. Heritage Cremation Providers has also taken to using the name “The Funeral Group.”

Although Colorado took similar action, Heritage appears to still have a physical presence in that State. They have also been known to contact funeral homes using the name Legacy and send them false depictions of a Colorado license and a Florida certificate of liability insurance. In fact, itemization statements they use show a Colorado address and license number, as well as a Fort Lauderdale, Florida “corporate address”.

NYSFDA continues to strongly advise our members who are called by Heritage Cremation Providers, Legacy Cremation, and The Funeral Group to provide cremation services to refuse those requests outright, given the potential legal and reputational risk – as well as potential harm to families – associated with handling calls for such a fraudulent and deceptive company....

In addition, you should always perform some basic background research when receiving a request from an unfamiliar funeral home, particularly one out-of-state....

NOTE: Heritage Cremation Providers should not be confused with any other actual local funeral home that uses the name “Heritage” or “Legacy” in its name. Heritage Cremation Providers is a wholly separate, online entity that offers discount cremation services to the public solely through its website, and has no physical presence in New York State.

Actions taken by other states against Legacy Funeral Services:

Post Updated: 2-22-2022

JGR FUNERAL SERVICES INC.

If you were sold a preneed contract by JGR Funeral Services Inc., and it has not been honored please review this Consumer Info Sheet.

If you are a consumer who has a complaint about JGR Funeral Services Inc., in relation to a preneed contract they sold you, you may fill out a Complaint Form.

If you are a consumer holding a preneed contract issued by JGR Funeral Services Inc., and you think you may want to file a claim, please read the "Consumer Info Sheet" above. It may not be to your economic advantage to file a claim; read the Consumer Info Sheet. You may fill out a Blank Claim Form (claim from C). If you want to file a claim, please complete the complaint form and the claim form, and send them to the address stated on those forms.

Post Updated: 12-2-2014

Suspicious Sales Activity

HERITAGE CREMATION PROVIDER
LEGACY FUNERAL SERVICES

The Florida Division of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services (Division) has received one or more complaints about an online business whose website gives the name of the business as "Heritage Cremation Provider" and "Heritage Cremation Provider, LLC." As of 10-9-2014 the business' website does not provide any address for where the business is located, and the website does not provide the names of any persons employed by or representing the business. The business' website provides the following toll free phone number at which the business can be contacted: 1-800-972-2070. Here to see some screen-shots of the Heritage Cremation Provider business' website. A complaint the Division has received indicates that a person answering the toll-free number identified himself only as "AJ" and was reluctant or unwilling to provide further identification. In 2001 Florida regulatory authorities revoked the Direct Disposer (cremation services) license of one Anthony J. Damiano. Here is a copy of the 2001 Order of Revocation concerning Anthony J. Damiano.

There is no entity named "Heritage Cremation Provider" licensed under Florida deathcare laws to provide, offer or arrange for cremation or funeral services in or from Florida.

The Florida Division of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services has noted another website, showing the name "Legacy Funeral Services," which website is similar in design to the Heritage Cremation Provider website. Here to see some screen shots of the Legacy Funeral Services website. The Legacy Funeral Services website does not provide any address for where the business is located, and the website does not provide the names of any persons employed by or representing the business. The business' website provides the following toll free phone number at which the business can be contacted: 1-800-970-3050. The Legacy Funeral Services website refers to "Serving West Palm Beach Famlies…." However, there is no cremation or funeral service business licensed under Florida deathcare statutes (Chapter 497, Florida Statutes) to operate under the name "Legacy Funeral Services."

It is the understanding of the Florida Division of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services that "Legacy Funeral Services" is licensed by the State of Colorado, under Colorado funeral home license number FH 706, under a license application signed 2-1-2012 by one Gioseppe Salvatore Daminao. It is also the understanding of the Florida Division of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services that a firm named "Heritage Cremation Provider LLC" is also licensed by the state of Colorado, under funeral home license number FH 728. The Florida Division of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services suggests that persons having complaints about Heritage Cremation Provider or Legacy Funeral Services, contact the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations, phone number 303-894-7800.

The Florida Division of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services recommends that consumers deal only with cremation and funeral service providers whose website gives a specific street address for the business (and not just a P.O. box), and which provides on the website the names of owners or managers of the business. We further recommend that before dealing with a cremation or funeral service business over the internet, consumers confirm from state licensing authorities in the state where they live, that the business is licensed to operate in the state where they live.

There ARE multiple good, reputable funeral and cremation service providers with the word "Heritage" or "Legacy" in their business name. Their websites will give you their address so that you can confirm they are properly licensed.

Posted: 8-15-2014