• American Association of Retired Persons: For free publications titled "Funerals and Burials: Goods and Services" #D13496, and "Prepaying Your Funeral?" #D13188, write to AARP Fulfillment, EEO 1104, 601 E St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20049.



• Bay Area Funeral Society: For information about joining a memorial society in San Francisco, Marin, Alameda or Contra Costa counties call (510) 841 6653 or write to P.O. Box 264, Berkeley 94701.



• California Funeral Directors Association: For information about the California Master Trust call 800-255-CFDA.



• Casket Outlet: For information about discount caskets call 510-893-6550 in Oakland, 415-552-8766 in San Francisco, or 408-261-8856 in San Jose. Consumer Casket USA, 800-611-8778, and Direct Casket, 800-732-2753, will ship to the mortuary within 24 hours.



• Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards: Provides information on laws in various states, and accepts consumer complaints about funeral providers. Call 801-392-7771 or write to the Conference at 2404 Washington Blvd., Suite 1000, Ogden, Utah 84401.



• Cremation Association of America: For free pamphlets on cremation, send a self-addressed, stamped business-sized envelope with 79 cents postage to the Assocation at 401 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611.



• Father Wasielewski: Will send information on fair prices. He says that in most cities you should be able to find a complete funeral, with metal casket, for under $2,200; cremation for under $550. Call 602-253-6814, or visit the web site at xroads.com/funerals.



• Funeral and Memorial Societies of America: For information about funerals, memorial services and memorial societies, and to get a free copy of a brochure called ''Did You Forget The Most Important Part of Funeral Planning?'' check the website at funerals.org/famsa, or write to P.O. Box 10, Hinesberg, VT 05461, phone 800-765-0107.



• Funeral and Memorial Society of Palo Alto: For information about memorial societies in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties call 415-321-2109 or write to P.O. Box 60448, Palo Alto 94306.



• Funeral Service Consumer Assistance Program: For help with resolving disagreements with your funeral director or a funeral home call 800- 662- 7666.



• Ghia Services: For consumer information about funerals and cremations, and discount caskets and urns, call Ghia at 415-282-2832.



• International Order of the Golden Rule: For information about independent funeral homes call 217-793-3322, or write to the Order at P.O. Box 3586 Springfield, Ill. 62708.



• Natural Death Care Project: For information about caring for your own dead send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to P.O. Box 1721, Sebastopol, California 95473 or visit
  dpsace.dial.pipex.com/town/square/ac026/ndcp.html.



• National Funeral Directors Association: For consumer information on funerals, funeral directors, prices and scams call 800-228-4332, or check the website at ndfa.org.



• Neptune Society of San Francisco: For information about cremation and scattering of remains at sea call 800-445-3551.



• Neptune Society of San Jose: For information about cremation and scattering of ashes at sea call 800-225-1593.



• Redwood Funeral Society: For information about memorial societies elsewhere in Northern California call 707-795-7104, or write to P.O. 7501, Cotati 94931.



• Funeral Help Program: For information on where to locate funeral wares, and advice on the national average price of most models, call 800-418-0471.

• California Department of Consumer Affairs: To file a complaint about a funeral director or cemetery, or to get information about a funeral director's license, call the Consumer Information Center at 800-952-5210.



• Federal Trade Commission: To file a complaint against a funeral director, write to the FTC at Correspondence Branch, FTC, Washington, D.C. 20580. For a free copy of the FTC guide ''Caskets and Burials'' write to Public Reference, FTC, Washington, D.C. 20580. Check the website at ftc.gov.

• Coping with Cremation: For information about cardboard caskets, check the site at cremationinfo.com.



• Consumer Casket USA: For information about caskets check the online catalog at consumercasket.com.



• Death-Related Guide: This comprehensive list is at stolaf.edu/people/leming/death.html.



• Funeral Ripoffs: xroads.com/funerals.



• Internet Cremation Society: For information about cremation check the site at cremation.org.



• National Fraud Information Center: For information about funeral fraud, check the site at fraud.org, or call 800-876-7060.



• Ultimate Request: For information about independent funeral consultants, check the site at infomrt.com/Ultimate.

• Be an informed consumer. Don't be reluctant to ask questions.



• Funeral directors offer a variety of options to meet your financial needs and wishes. Families should discuss all options before making arrangements.



• Choose a funeral director who is licensed and has a good reputation in the community.



• Avoid making a decision while under emotional stress by organizing details with your funeral director ahead of time.



• Pre-planning doesn't necessarily mean prepaying.



• The funeral provider must give you pricing information over the telephone. If you inquire in person about funeral arrangements, the funeral provider must give you a price list that discloses legal rights and requirements regarding funeral arrangements.



• Except in certain cases, the law does not require embalming.



• Funeral providers must disclose in writing if they charge a fee for paying in advance for items such as flowers, obituary notices, pall-bearers, and clergy honoraria. Some charge you their cost, others add a service fee.



• Cremations do not require a casket. Inexpensive containers made of pressboard, cardboard or canvas can be used.



• Funeral providers may not refuse or charge a fee to handle a casket you bought elsewhere.



• Funeral providers must give you an itemized statement of the total cost of the funeral goods and services you select before the funeral.

Sources: National Funeral Directors Association; Federal Trade Commission