Does the rule require the GPL be given to keep? A verbal offer of a GPL is not enough to comply with the Rule. You cannot merely tell consumers that a GPL is available for inspection. You also cannot show them a GPL in a booklet or binder where it appears that there is only one copy available or that the booklet is solely for the funeral director’s use. You must physically offer consumers a General Price List that they can keep and take home with them. If the consumer does not want to accept or look at the General Price List, you do not have to What about the GPL and pre-need arrangements? You must give out a General Price List in all pre-need situations. Because you may sell different goods and services on a pre-need basis, your pre-need GPL may vary from the GPL you use in at-need situations. However, any General Price List that you use for pre- need arrangements must include all required disclosures and offer goods and services on an itemized basis. You cannot offer only package funerals to pre-need customers. In addition, you must give a GPL to anyone who wishes to modify the funeral goods or services already purchased Information required on the GPL identifying information The General Price List should be printed or typewritten, and must contain the following identifying information: ● The name, address, and telephone number of the funeral provider’s place of business, including (where relevant) the address and telephone number for each branch; Required disclosures on the GPL The Rule also requires you to make six disclosures on your General Price List. These disclosures discuss: 1. The consumer’s right to select only the goods and services desired; 2. Embalming; 3. Alternative containers for direct cremation; 4. The basic services fee; 5. The Casket Price List; and 6. The Outer Burial Container Price List. Each of these disclosures is discussed in the following sections. You must place these required disclosures on the General Price List exactly as the Rule provides. (See also Sample 1: GPL, at the end of this course.) In addition, you must use the identical wording given in the Rule. You cannot edit or paraphrase. Note : You can include additional information, such as a reference to your own state laws. But you cannot change the FTC language or add anything that will modify the FTC language. 1. Right of Selection The first disclosure informs consumers that they have a right to select only the items they want to buy, besides a non-declinable basic services fee. You should place this statement immediately above the prices of the goods and services that you offer. The statement should read as follows: The goods and services shown below are those we can provide to our customers. You may choose only the items you desire. However, any funeral arrangements you select will include a charge for our basic services and overhead . If legal or other requirements mean you must buy any items you did not specifically ask for, we will explain the reason in writing on the statement we provide describing the funeral goods and services you selected. You must include the third sentence of the disclosure, indicated in boldface above, if customers cannot decline the basic services fee. You may add the phrase “and overhead” after the word “services,” as shown above, if the fee includes the recovery of overhead costs.
do anything else. However, you should do nothing to discourage customers from looking at the GPL, such as telling them that it is unnecessary or difficult to understand. Note : You cannot charge a fee for the price list or place any conditions upon giving consumers information that the Rule requires you to give to them. You must give all required information to anyone who asks, free of charge. under a pre-need contract or to a survivor who must pay an additional sum because prices have increased since the time the arrangements were pre-planned. Example : Mr. Stone made pre-need arrangements before his death. His wife wants to change the casket and the services that he bought under the pre-need contract. You must give Mrs. Stone a General Price List at the beginning of the discussions and show her a Casket Price List before she looks at any caskets.
● The caption “General Price List”; and ● The effective date of the price list.
2. Embalming The second disclosure tells consumers that the law does not require embalming. The statement should read as follows: Except in certain special cases , embalming is not required by law. Embalming may be necessary, however, if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing. If you do not want embalming, you usually have the right to choose an arrangement that does not require you to pay for it, such as direct cremation or immediate burial. Delete the phrase, “Except in certain special cases,” indicated in boldface above, if state or local law in the area where you do business does not require embalming for a viewing and a funeral. If you want to add information about state law requirements, you can do so after the FTC disclosure. You should place this disclosure in immediate conjunction with the price for embalming. Note : “In immediate conjunction” means that the embalming disclosure must appear directly next to the price for embalming. You should not put the disclosure on a separate page or anywhere else on the GPL apart from the embalming price. (See also Sample 1: GPL, at the end of this course.) 3. Alternative Containers The third disclosure informs consumers that they may use alternative containers (see the revised Rule presented later in the course for a full definition of this term) for direct cremations. This disclosure must read as follows: If you want to arrange a direct cremation, you can use an alternative container. Alternative containers encase the body and can be made of materials like fiberboard or composition materials (with or without an outside covering). The containers we provide are ( specify containers ). You should place this disclosure in immediate conjunction with (directly next to) the price range for direct cremation. At the end of the last sentence, you should describe the specific kind of container(s) that you offer. If you don’t arrange direct cremations, you don’t need to include this disclosure on the GPL. 4. Basic Services Fee The fourth disclosure tells consumers about any “basic services fee” (the fee for the professional services of the funeral director and staff) that you will add to the total cost of the funeral
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Book Code: FTX1624
EliteLearning.com/Funeral
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