Cost information You should list all of the individual goods and services that the consumer will purchase, together with the price for each item. You cannot simply lump together goods and services that are listed separately on the GPL. Example : Your Statement would violate the Rule if it listed only three broad categories for “Services,” “Facilities,” and “Automotive Equipment.” You may still offer funeral packages, as long as they are offered in addition to, not in place of, itemized prices. If the consumer selects a package (after you offer itemized prices), your Statement should describe the package, listing individually each of the goods and services included in the package, and state the package price. You also must list each cash advance item separately on the Statement, together with the price for each item. Cash advance items are items of service or merchandise that: Disclosures You must place the following three disclosures on your Statement. They should be set out, word-for-word, exactly as the Rule prescribes. 1. Legal requirements. The first disclosure states that you will charge consumers only for the items they have selected and that you will explain any legal, cemetery, or crematory requirements in writing. Charges are only for those items that you selected or that are required. If we are required by law or by a cemetery or crematory to use any items, we will explain the reasons in writing below. The form should leave enough space for you to identify and explain in writing any legal, cemetery, or crematory requirement that compels the consumer to purchase a specific funeral good or service. You should enter this information on the Statement before it is given to the customer. 2. Embalming, The second disclosure relates to embalming and the need for prior approval. If you selected a funeral that may require embalming, such as a funeral with viewing, you may have to pay for embalming. You do not have to pay for embalming you Telephone price disclosures You must give consumers who telephone your place of business and ask about your prices or offerings accurate information from your General Price List, Casket Price List, and Outer Burial Container Price List. You also must answer any other questions about your offerings and prices with any readily available information that reasonably answers the question. Note : You cannot require callers to give their names, addresses, or phone numbers before you give them the requested information. You can ask callers to identify themselves, but you still must answer their questions even if they refuse to do so. You cannot require consumers to come to the funeral home in person to get price information. You can use an answering machine or answering service to record incoming calls. However, you must respond to questions from callers on an individual basis. Example : Your answering machine can have a message telling consumers to call a specified number during business hours for information about prices and offerings. You need to provide the requested information when consumers call during those hours, or, you can have an
● Are described to a consumer as a “cash advance,” “accommodation,” “cash disbursement,” or by any similar term; or ● You obtain from a third party and pay for on the consumer’s behalf. (See also the Cash Advance Items section, under Disclosures, below.) Cash advance items may include such things as cemetery or crematory services, pallbearers, public transportation, clergy honoraria, flowers, musicians or singers, nurses, obituary notices, gratuities, and death certificates. If you don’t know the price of a particular cash advance item, you should enter a good faith estimate. However, you should give a written statement of the actual charges before the final bill is paid. Finally, you must give the consumer the total cost of the arrangements selected (individual goods and services plus cash advance items). did not approve if you selected arrangements such as a direct cremation or immediate burial. If we charged for embalming, we will explain why below. The form should leave enough space for you to explain the reason for embalming. You should enter this information on the Statement before giving it to the customer. 3. Cash advance items. The third disclosure relates to your charges for your services in buying cash advance items. If you charge for purchasing a cash advance item, or if you receive and retain a rebate, commission, or trade or volume discount for a cash advance item, you must make the following disclosure: We charge you for our services in obtaining: ( specify cash advance items ). You must place this disclosure in immediate conjunction with (directly next to) the list of itemized cash advance items on your Statement and specify those cash advance items to which the disclosure applies. You should not put the disclosure on a separate page or elsewhere on the Statement apart from the list of itemized cash advance items. (See also Sample 4: Statement, at the end of this course.) answering machine or answering service take consumers’ names and phone numbers so that you can return the calls at your earliest convenience. You may have an employee answering your phones who can respond to easier questions regarding your offerings and prices by referring to the printed price lists, but who refers more difficult questions to you. If you are unavailable when the call comes in, the employee can take a message so that you can return the call later. You do not have to give price and other information after business hours if it is not your normal practice to do so. You can tell consumers who call during non-business hours that you will provide the information during regular business hours. However, if a consumer calls after hours to inquire about an at-need situation, and it is your practice to make funeral arrangements during non-business hours, you should provide price or other information the consumer requests. If you are in the middle of one arrangements conference when another family calls about your offerings, you can take a message and return the call at a later time.
EliteLearning.com/Funeral
Book Code: FTX1625
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