ComplaintsforForest Park Funeral Home and Cemeteries

• Initial Complaint

  11/20/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  The owners and management of the Forest Park East on 3700 St Vincent in Shreveport, LA have let the cemetery go. This is a historic cemetery with perpetual care that they are not doing. They are charging exorbitant and unreasonable fees for any work related to monuments, open/closing grave sites, etc. Examples of the disrepair that they are ignoring include upkeep of the grounds, broken and buckling walkways, no water, knocked over monuments along with general neglect. The street through the grounds are in very bad condition. The cemetery condition has been reported in the local media, but nothing has improved. I have attached reviews and links with numerous reports of issues. Please assist. 

• Initial Complaint

  08/10/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My entire family is in mourning over the sudden loss of our beloved Mother ****** Monday.???? We are all in mourning and shock dealing with our loss as well as ANGER, embarrassment and shame at the way my beloved Mother was treated during her burial at Forest Park West (**** ********** *** **********). Her burial was July 1, 2023. It was a complete DISASTER! She was cremated and a small hole was dug above my Father's grave. It was almost 100 degrees outside so we had a small ceremony in the mausoleum for the family and guests. Then, to our HORROR when approached the grave....we had to walk through long dead grass, unraked dead grass all around the headstones, No green AstroTurf around the burial site. We never got to see the headstone except an image a staff member showed us on the computer. Even WORSE, there was a ROTTEN PIECE of WOOD covering the small hole for her urn! The grounds keepers were not in uniform, all around as far as the eye could se the grounds looked terrible! Forest Park literally had almost nothing to do except dig a small hole, put something nice & pretty over the hole, cover the dirt with green carpet and the surrounding area, mow, weed eat, rake or blow away dead grass. That's it. *We declined the tent* From the carbon copy we have thy charged us over $2500 for "Professional Services" for what? All a staff member did was read our Mother's obituary in the mausoleum. That's not worth $2,500. Also charging a grieving, in shock family over $7,900 for a small hole and a headstone IS NOT worth over $7,900. We are not asking for a full refund but there needs to be a SUBSTANTIAL refund. We didn't mind paying for the headstone, but the groundskeepers need to go do their job and keep the grounds that people pay them to do. The grounds were in horrible shape. We feel totally taken advantage of during the worst time in our lives! Sincerely on behalf of the Monday children, ******** ***********

  Business response

  08/17/2023

  August 17, 2023
  
  
  
  Ms. ******* ******
  
  Re:  ********* ***** ********* ******** ***********
  
  Dear Ms. ******,
  
  Thank you for your letter dated August 10, 2023, regarding complaint number ********, referencing Mrs. ******** *********** and her experience with Forest Park West Cemetery in Shreveport, La.        
  The comments and concerns regarding Mrs. ************* recent experience at our cemetery are appreciated.  We extend our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.  Please let us know if future service does not resolve your concerns.
  Please see the enclosed, supporting documentation outlining the ****** ******** *****) families  purchases.    
  
  06/04/2023:  Paid in full One 2nd Right of interment – One Perpetual Care – One Granite Memorial Footstone – One Installation Fee – One Memorial Care Fee – One Professional Service Fee
  
  
  
  Based upon the information shared by Mrs. ******** daughter, ******** ***********, Forest Park West Cemetery submitted a partial reimbursement refund of the Professional Service Fees to the purchaser on the contract, Mrs. ******** daughter, ******* ***** in the amount of $500 (attached). This is reimbursement for the areas of concern Mrs. *********** shared. Forest Park West Cemetery supplied all items covered under the Professional Service Fee for the service and inurnment.
  
  We are respectfully requesting the complaint to your office be removed and closed. 

  Customer response

  08/31/2023

  Hello BBB Team,   
  I have not received any contact from Forest Park West Cemetery. Therefore.... I do NOT consider this complaint closed under any circumstances.
  If needed... I will issue a new complaint.  I have not received a single phone call, text, email or letter either from the BBB or Forest Park West. Nothing. 
  
  Feel free to call me or write me regarding this complaint. Thank you.

  Kind Regards,
  
  ******** ****
  *** ****** ***
  ******** ** *****
  
  cell:  ************
  email: ***********************
  
  

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩