The outer burial container price list: Information and use If you sell outer burial containers and do not list the retail price of each such container on your General Price List; you must prepare a separate printed or typewritten Outer Burial Container Price List (OBC Price List). The term “outer burial container” refers to any container designed to be placed around the casket in the grave. Such containers may include burial vaults, grave boxes, and grave liners.
You must give enough descriptive information about each outer burial container in your OBC Price List to enable consumers to identify the specific container. You need list only those containers that you usually offer for sale and that do not require special ordering. “Special ordering” means purchasing an outer burial container that is not in stock and not part of your regular offerings to your customers. However, the Rule does not require you to offer any particular outer burial containers; in fact, it does not require you to sell any outer burial containers. The Rule does not require listing the containers that you offer in any particular order. The OBC Price List can be in any form, including in a notebook or on a chart, as long as it contains the required information, including the heading “Outer Burial Container Price List,” displayed in a clear and conspicuous manner. You do not have to list containers that you keep in your inventory to fill pre-existing pre- need contracts, but which you no longer regularly offer for sale. Nor is it necessary to prepare a new price list if a container is temporarily out-of- stock. You can simply tell the consumer which container is not available when you give the consumer the OBC Price List. (See also Sample 3: OBC Price List, at the end of this course.) the GPL, you do not have to give the OBC Price List for retention. However, you may do so if you wish. Some funeral providers present their outer burial container selections through a book containing photographs of the various containers offered for sale. If you choose this approach, you must incorporate all the information required for the OBC Price List into the book. In addition to using an OBC Price List as described above, you must show this price list to anyone who wishes to modify the particular container already purchased under a pre- need contract.
Information to be included on the OBC price list The OBC Price List must contain the following basic information: ● The name of your business; ● The caption: “Outer Burial Container Price List”; ● The effective date of the price list; ● The retail price of each outer burial container you offer that does not require special ordering, with enough information to identify the container; and ● The following disclosure: In most areas of the country, state or local law does not require that you buy a container to surround the casket in the grave. However, many cemeteries require that you have such a container so that the grave will not sink in. Either a grave liner or a burial vault will satisfy these requirements. You do not have to include the phrase “in most areas of the country” in the disclosure if your state or local law does not require a container to surround the casket in the grave. Using the OBC price list You must show this price list to all persons asking about outer burial containers or their prices. You must offer this price list when you begin to discuss outer burial containers, but before showing the containers . Consumers must be able to look at the price list before discussing their options or seeing the actual containers. (The Rule does not require that you display outer burial containers in any specific manner. Note, however, that many states have regulations regarding the manner of display.) Again, it is not enough for you to tell consumers about price information or to place price cards on top of individual containers or models of containers. You can use individual price cards, but only in addition to an OBC Price List. Unlike
STATEMENT OF FUNERAL GOODS AND SERVICES SELECTED: COST INFORMATION AND DISCLOSURES
If arrangements are made over the telephone, you should give the consumer the Statement at the earliest possible date. Example : On Wednesday evening, Mrs. Shelley calls you to make funeral arrangements for her father and tells you that she will come to the funeral home on Thursday morning to finalize such arrangements. When Mrs. Shelley arrives the next morning, you should give her the required GPL and confirm the arrangements made. Then, once you finalize the arrangements, you should give Mrs. Shelley the Statement. If a consumer makes all funeral arrangements by telephone, you should make a reasonable attempt to give a completed Statement to the consumer before a final disposition of the remains occurs. If the consumer does not visit the funeral home in person before the final disposition, you should still give or send a completed Statement to the consumer as soon as possible. The Rule requires you to include cost information and specific disclosures on the Statement.
The Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected (Statement) is an itemized list of the goods and services that the consumer has selected during the arrangements conference. The Statement allows consumers to evaluate their selections and to make any desired changes. The Rule does not require any specific form, heading or caption on the Statement. The information required on the Statement, described below, can be included on a contract or any other document that you give to customers at the conclusion of the arrangements discussion. The categories of goods and services listed on the Statement (or other similar document) should generally correspond to the items listed on the GPL, so that customers can easily compare the two documents. You must give each consumer a completed Statement at the end of the arrangements discussion. If arrangements are made in person, you should give the Statement at this time. Giving a consumer a copy of the Statement at the funeral or mailing it to the consumer at some later date does not meet the requirements of the Rule. Note : The Rule does not address the manner or timing of payment. That is between you and the customer.
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Book Code: FTX1625
EliteLearning.com/Funeral
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