https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/taking-action/case-update-acting-attorney-general-michelle-henry-announces-major-step-toward-victory-for-consumers-headstone-businesses-put-to-rest/ JANUARY 24, 2023 HARRISBURG- Acting Attorney General Michelle Henry today announced a settlement with the gravestone and engraving company "1843 LLC," and its owners Gregory J. Stefan Sr., Gregory J. Stefan Jr., and Gerard Stefan. According to court documents, the company often failed to deliver gravestones and gravestone engravings in a timely manner, or not at all. The Office of Attorney General entered into an injunction last year regarding the Stefans' and their business, 1843 LLC, to prevent them from causing consumers additional grief when obtaining a headstone for their deceased loved ones. The Defendants have now agreed to continue the injunction into the future, among other agreements, and this settlement will include restitution to be paid to consumers who were harmed. "The Stefans didn't just take advantage of people, but preyed on those grieving loved ones at a difficult time in their lives," said Acting Attorney General Henry. "This settlement will finally ensure that all Pennsylvania consumers who were harmed are made whole. The Office of Attorney General will continue to use every tool at its disposal to ensure that Pennsylvanians are treated fairly." Stefan Sr. was initially sued by the Office of Attorney General in 2015 as the sole operator of Lifestone by Stefan, LLC and Stefan Memorials, Inc. Stefan Sr. and his sons later moved their family business to a new company, 1843 LLC. That lawsuit alleges that the Defendants charged consumers for headstones that were never delivered or were delivered late, denied customers full refunds when requested, and solicited consumers in misleading and deceptive ways. In January 2021, the Office of Attorney General filed a contempt petition against Lifestone, Stefan Memorials, and Stefan, Sr., which resulted in a judgment for more than $300,000 in restitution, civil penalties, and costs, and an injunction against Stefan, Sr., that prevented him from owning, managing, or having any significant involvement in any business that provides or engraves headstones for consumers. Later in 2021, the Office filed suit again, this time against 1843, LLC, Stefan Sr., and his two sons for charging consumers for headstones that were delivered late or never delivered, and for not paying full refunds to consumers who requested those refunds. The complaint also asserts that the Defendants were known to call Pennsylvanians who had recently lost loved ones and falsely claimed that they were the preferred vendor for or were affiliated with a cemetery. The settlement terms have been made part of the court record during the trial on January 9, 2023 and requires court approval to become final. The court will also determine whether to impose civil penalties upon the Defendants for violations of the Unfair Trade Practice and Consumer Protection Law. read more

Apparently this business is still out there scamming people. The cemetery confirmed that they do not work with him and it's a scam. They attempted to call me from either a 215 area code or a Maryland area code when they called me incessantly trying to schedule an appointment. I believe he went by the name of Chuck. The cemetery owner had heard of him and informed me he served jail time for doing this before. She took down that info and gave it to the police at that time. They do whatever they can to get info to seem like they were sent to you but usually they just scan the obits. Hence how he knew my name, that I was his daughter, and which cemetery we used. DO NOT GIVE MONEY TO THIS COMPANY. When you're grieving scammers cash in. Anyone who is waiting please contact the police. read more

This is in follow-up to the nightmare we have been experiencing dealing with "1843 Memorials" aka "Alessi Memorials" aka "Memorial Company". The same day that I posted this review on yelp I received a call from area code 215-475-6844. That was on June 9, 2019. The woman stated that "Stefan", the owner, said that the engraving would be done by the end of August, to which I inquired do you mean of 2019? And she verified yes by the end of August 2019. Today we went to Saint Peter and Paul cemetery and to our surprise the engraving that was paid for in full in December 2018 was still not completed. We then proceeded to 1843 memorials located at 1000 Cedar Ave. in Darby PA. No one was there. We asked a local police officer what we should do and he said to take these idiots to small claims court. So now I am making it my full-time job to find others who are in the same dilemma and ensure that everyone gets their money back. read more

1843 Memorials - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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We ordered a headstone in June of 2019. It's now June 2021 and still no stone. We called over and over again without any returned calls. I then called and left a message like I was looking to purchase a stone. They called me right back. Then promised the stone in a couple weeks... nope still not here. I'm going to compile a list of people who were scammed and try to have criminal fraud charges started. Please contact me via email Marylehman1978@gmail.com read more

This company is scum, I paid them 2800.for my husbands headstone January 2018. I live I south jersey. They solicited me and had all my information. To date October 27, 2019. after repeated requests I have not received the headstone. Took advantage of a widow took all my money. I really don't believe I will be getting the headstone. I'm calling channel 6 news. Please please do not use this company. Barbara pisko read more

1843 Memorials / Alessi Memorials sent a brochure to my mother after my father's obituary was published. The pictures of their work, if it was their own work, was of various memorials. My mother liked the pictures and asked me to call them. They arrived a few days after and had papers to display sizes and designs they could do. My mother paid $7,000.00 dollars for the main stone and I spent slightly more on the individual markers. Well, my father died 5 - FIVE years ago and $14,000.00 DOLLARS later we still have NO HEADSTONES OR MARKERS and no response from the company. read more

I figured out this guy was a scam after 6 weeks with no drawings or dates. If you have a contract with this company try to get your money back and contact the Pennsylvania Attorney General and your local police department. read more

I've been trying to get in touch with this business for awhile now.. I've paid out close to 3200 for my son's headstone Mr Greg kept reassuring me everything was fine.. I just sent them an 100.00 on my payment plan.. I call them for update for my invoice.. No way to contact them.. The Cedar Ave location no longer assist.. These folks are robbing people who has lost their love ones.. I will be getting in contact with my lawyer whom I'm already suing a company over my son's death.. this company is next. not to mention I know people in high places.. Y'al are scamers taking so much money from people.. read more

I am in charge of a cemetery in Northampton PA. Apparently this company called a parishioner and said they were from Our Lady if Hungary Cemetery. The grieving spouse paid them in full. I tried to contact this company "leave a message so we can get to the right person", no reply. They have not provided the stone, never contacted us about a footer(foundation) and are not affiliated in any type of way with the cemetery or church. This is text book definition of fradulant practice. read more

My father's estate paid 1843 Memorials $905 in October 2018 to clean his grave stone and engrave death year. As of September 2020 (more than 2 years later), WORK NOT STARTED. DO NOT give your money or business to this company. We've demanded a refund so that we can get the poor man's gravestone engraved. Our BBB complaint will simply add to their "F" rating - wish our estate attorney would have done research first. read more

Too bad there isn't a way to rate this company with a big fat Zero. This company will NOT return a phone call. Friend of family paid in full for a monument for his wife; we tried to cancel the contract the following week (Nov. 2019). Sent certified mail, which was not picked up; sent regular mail requesting refund; left numerous messages at all three office locations; never got a call back. Poor old guy still does not have a monument for his wife's grave, is out almost $8,000, and these people won't even give him the courtesy of a return phone call. Very, very unprofessional and unreliable. read more

This place is a rip off, Total scam, stole from my 90 year old father. Still waiting 2 years for a head stone for my Mom. Never returns calls. Do Not Give Them ANY Money. read more

My mom paid for my grandmother's headstone in full. She was buried in May 2018 and as of August 2020, my grandmother's headstone has yet to be engraved. My mom reached out last winter and a representative told her that they needed to wait for nice weather to complete the engraving. I have tried to contact them via phone and their website since then but have received no answer. Our next step will be to take legal action. DO NOT use this company. UPDATE: After I posted this review, someone named Greg left voice messages on my and my mom's phones blaming the delay on Covid-19, the schedule of the person who carves the stones, and the weather. He said he would call us again to clear up the issue. We have yet to receive another call from him. We've called two different numbers linked to this business numerous times and neither have answered. Greg called my mom at 6pm after I had tried to get in touch with him all day. He told us that he didn't know if the engraving had been completed or not. My mom requested a refund for services not delivered. Greg told her to send a request by email, get a lawyer, and then hung up on her. After sending a refund request email and following up the next day, Greg emailed me back and said that the job had been completed. I have seen with me own eyes that the engraving is now complete however the stone cleaning that we paid for has not been completed. I'm doing some research now that's telling me this engraving job should have only cost around $400 on average. My mom paid $1,595. This was a horrible experience all around. Please do not use this company. read more

They came to the house in July 2019 , said they will take care of us and have the stone ready 6-8 weeks, we paid up front, 7 months later still waiting, call a few times, phone calls never returned, still waiting. Now it is March 19 2020, still waiting, called a few times lady answered last month took my information and have not heard nothing back. read more

Two months ago, I posted this review on Yelp: "Contract paid in full, June, 2017. Work still uncompleted as of March, 2019. Repeated phone calls go unanswered. Stay away from this business." The businesses owner contacted me within minutes of the Yelp post, and said the job would be completed by the beginning of April, 2019. Then asked me to remove the post. I said the post would be removed when the job was finished. The job is still not finished; repeated phone calls still go unanswered. Since the owner apparantly only responds to Yelp posts, I am posting this update. More updates to follow, I'm sure. read more

My father passed away in January and they somehow contacted my mother about order a stone. They came out to the house which seemed so comforting and were so accommodating on helping her pick out the right stone. But then it went bad from there. It is now September and no head stone. There have been multiple attempts to contact them and no one calls back. Please have the decency to return calls. I understand that COVID happened but that is still no excuse not to acknowledge your paying customers!! This was a big expense for a grieving widow on a fixed income so the least you owe is a call letting her know that her husband will be represented with his stone. If you are reading this please reach out. If you can't deliver return my mothers money ASAP so she can go else where for a stone. Or I'll have to contact my attorney!! read more

After a year of waiting we still do not have my Aunt's stone. we were told every few months for the last year it was going to be put up in a few weeks. come to find out last week the stone has not even left the quarry in VA yet! We gave them one more week or they will be talking to our lawyers. BIG TIME SCAMMERS!! i suggest you go elsewhere or be prepared to wait a very long time. DO NOT USE. read more

I'm so upset with this outfit! I signed a contract on 11/13/2018 and pd $1600.00 for cleaning and adding my father's name to an existing headstone and was told the work would be done in Spring of 2019, then I was told August/September 2019. Here it is April 10, 2020 and still no engraving done.. I guess I'll have to go to small claims court. read more

DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY! They received payment for my mother's memorial in January of 2018 and we still do not have a headstone. We were told it would take three months and that it would have been done in spring of 2018. They have avoided our phone calls numerous times. Today I found out that they changed their name to Lifestone Memorials. They prey on people who are at their most vulnerable! read more

This company deserves a class action lawsuit for failure to provide services "paid for in advance" either on time as promised, or failure to provide at all. Where do we start ? read more

$9,000 gone. Grandfather died over a year ago and no headstone delivered. Won't pick up phone or call back. LAWSUIT COMING FOR WAY MORE THAN $9,000. We are talking JAIL TIME. read more

DO NOT USE! Bad customer service, no return calls, cannot speak to a live person when you call. Ordered a headstone in February 2020 with expected due date of Summer 2020. No updates or contacts from company or Greg headstone still not in. Purchased a headstone and paid in full approximately $3,700. Called and received a call back days later saying checking for information, then there was a problem with footings, however, they only went to cemetery after the call. Have called twice with no return calls. Greg never answers his phone, voicemail is always full. This is tragic and emotional to families they have no concept as to what they are putting people through. Plus they take your money....our next steps is breach of contract and refund. How terrible a company to do this to people in grief. read more

Placed an order February 2020 for headstone with approximate delivery date summer 2020 paid in full over $3500. No contact from company saying delay. Called company in October can never get a live person takes days for return calls still with no updated information. Mailbox is full on Gregg the representative. Still waiting a return call from almost a week ago. They obviously do not care about the emotion involved with this. Would NOT recommend. If I could give a half star I would read more

we were scammed. they took my money and then ghosted us. I paid for engraving on a headstone over a year ago (Feb 2020) and they promptly disappeared. Multiple business "addresses" including one at a UPS Store. No phone calls returned recently. Early on we got a few "it will be done by ..." replies from a woman. My brother finally talked to the people at the cemetery who said this crew is well know for scamming money from people. Do NOT give them money. Originally Lifestone memorials--(I got the number for this crew off the original Lifestone paperwork from dad) they had previous attorney general lawsuit against them. STAY AWAY FROM THEM! read more

They are probably the worst company, after numerous attempts to call, email and go to the office, no response on when my Mom's monument will be installed, ordered and paid in full October 2019. The woman Mary told us it would be installed the 27th or 28th and today she left a message stating that there is no date in place to install. I need them to explain to my 97 year old Dad, WWII Vet , why he can not go to pay homage to his wife's grave properly. Shame on you for stealing from the bereaved. read more

THIS COMPANY IS A SCAM!!! My grandmother passed away in January 2020. We got a phone call and a home visit, every thing seemed fine at first. They said they were referred to us by the funeral home. As of today, September 16, 2020. No one from this company has reached out to my family! We've been calling since May 2020 but no answer, only getting the voicemail. We gave them some time because we understood COVID could be delaying the engraving process but this is ridiculous! DO NOT GIVE MONEY TO THIS COMPANY, THEY ARE SCAMMERS!!! What this company is doing to people during a time when they are still grieving is disgusting!! read more

They did the most beautiful job for my aunt Fran's monument. It glistened in the sun. The most beautiful stone in the cemetery.

Can someone help me here I Oder a stone from these guy but saw all the reviews on them. Try calling them for a refund but no answer been calling them for almost 3 months. Please help me and my brother been saving up for my dad stone then this happen. read more

Scam of a company. They solicited my father after my mother's passing. After this review I am contacting the better business bureau. 6 months of repeated phone calls, no answer. Left a messages and none were returned. Called the memorial place my mother is buried in and they have not heard from the company at all. Today I called and to my surprise someone answered. She could not give me any status update, could not answer how long it takes to get a grave marker made. When I told her we've been calling for months with no answer she didn't know what to say and said "I don't know why am here in and out" I wonder why because none of our question could be answered anyway. I was told the main office would have to call me back. It was clear I was being rushed off the phone. So I said this was the last call and if I didn't get an answer we are going straight so small claims. She responded with "ok I'll tell them" and laughed nervously. No problem, looks like small claims it is which is already in motion for sure. Shame on you for doing this to grieving family members. How disgusting. read more

NO STARS. I agree with other reviews this company is absolutely horrible. I paid for a headstone for my parents grave in February 2020 today is December 16 and I still don't have a headstone. I've been given different delivery dates and most recently was told it will be done sometime in the winter weather permitting. After multiple calls and emails I have not gotten satisfaction. This is outrageous! I would advise anybody who's looking for a reputable, timely company that provides good customer service to keep looking. 1843 Gallagher Memorials is the complete opposite of that. Do not do business with this company if you want to avoid adding additional misery to your already unbearable grief. read more

My sister and I purchased a headstone for my grandparents in July of last year (2019) and still have not gotten the headstone. Call all three numbers and get the machine, leave a message and no returned call. Email the address on their website, no reply. Use the contact me form on the website, no reply. My next move is small claims court. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!!!!! NOT EVEN TO PICK UP YOUR GARBAGE!!!! read more

My Mom passed Aug. 2019. My Dad paid for the headstone. Today, 10/5/20...no headstone. Called ..no answers. I am filing a police report.

if I could give this business a half star, I would... bottom line - if you are searching for a local business to do a headstone for your loved one's grave: STAY WAY FROM 1843 Memorials, and ANY other stone dealer associated with Greg Stefan. they are crooks and criminals and have scammed TONS of people out of their money and not delivered what was promised. read more

We ordered a Tombstone in September of 2018 and almost 2 years later still nothing. We are furious and will be seeking legal action once the 2 year anniversary of our beloved Son, brother, father, and cousin has passed! HIGHLY UNACCEPTABLE AND UNPROFESSIONAL! read more

78 year old mother contracted with 1843 LLC and paid in full back in January 2018. It's about two years later and after repeated phone calls, letter to owner Gregory Stefan with copy to PA Attorney General, no gravestone installed and no reply to letters. Shame on this company to take advantage of a widow. Zero stars if it were possible. read more

DO NOT GO TO THIS HORRIBLE BUSINESS. We paid a deposit almost a year ago and we still don't have a stone for my poor Mother in Law. They steal from poor vulnerable people at a time when they need help. They are disgusting. We have reported them to the BBB and contacted the DA's office. We now have contacted a lawyer. STAY AWAY! Not sure how they remain in business! read more

I too have had similar issues as other's have shared on Yelp. Contracted for engraving December 2018, paid in full, services still not provided after repeated phone calls and visit to Philadelphia location. Please submit a complaint to the State Attorney General of PA to stop 1843 Memorial (aka Memorial Company) from their deceptive and unconscionable practices. This organization needs to be stopped from taking advantage of people who have lost family members, including veterans, during a time of sadness and vulnerability. read more

I placed and paid for my husband's name and dates to be engraved onto an already existing tombstone back in October, and was told it would be about 12 weeks, so I was given a completion time of 'winter/spring'. It's now July, almost coming up on the anniversary of his death and it's still not done. I've been calling every few weeks for months & have called twice this week as well as emailed and haven't gotten a call back yet. Were it not for the fact that my in laws used this company to purchase the stone & have had all of the engraving thus far done though them, I would probably think twice and would have done a little more research before contacting them. read more

this company has finally fulfilled our order after two years, continuous phone calls, contacting the attorney general, and the locals news channel. do not allow your family or friends to be taken advantage of. this business seeks out business and claims to have been sent by the funeral home. read more

If I could give this company negative stars I would. My mother passed away in October 2019. I got a phone call and a home visit in December 2019. Very nice man. Put me at ease and I picked out what we wanted he even created the personal design that I had made for it. I paid the first initial deposit which they cashed right away. The headstone was supposed to be installed in March, and I didn't hear from them. After calling them repeatedly for over two weeks, and even the lady at the cemetery calling them, I finally got a call back. they claim that because of the Covid pandemic, that they were very backed up but not to worry because I was high on their list and I will be taken care of right away. it is now almost the middle of September, I have been calling them for two weeks, leaving a voicemail every single day. I even called everyone of the numbers that's listed for this company, because this company does go by many names. I also got the Attorney General involved who told me that this company has an ongoing investigation. my mother's one year anniversary is coming up and I just want to install the headstone for her so that we can have a proper gathering in her memory. I don't understand how hard it is to call somebody back. You're supposed to be a professional company. But from the reviews on here I see that I'm not the only one who this is happened to. this is a complete disgrace, the fact that you called call people who have lost somebody they love dearly, and you put on this comforting façade, and then completely ignore them after that. it's not right. Just install the headstone, allow this family to finally find peace and comfort. read more