PART 453 — FUNERAL INDUSTRY PRACTICES REVISED RULE
Section: 453.1 Definitions.
(o) Person : A “person” is any individual, partnership, corporation, association, government or governmental subdivision or agency, or other entity. (p) Services of funeral director and staff: The “services of funeral director and staff” are the basic services, not to be included in prices of other categories in § 453.2(b)(4), that are furnished by a funeral provider in arranging any funeral, such as conducting the arrangements conference, planning the funeral, obtaining necessary permits, and placing obituary notices. § 453.2 Price Disclosures (a) Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices. In selling or offering to sell funeral goods or funeral services to the public, it is an unfair or deceptive act or practice for a funeral provider to fail to furnish accurate price information disclosing the cost to the purchaser for each of the specific funeral goods and funeral services used in connection with the disposition of deceased human bodies, including at least the price of embalming, transportation of remains, use of facilities, caskets, outer burial containers, immediate burials, or direct cremations, to persons inquiring about the purchase of funerals. Any funeral provider who complies with the preventive requirements in paragraph (b) of this section is not engaged in the unfair or deceptive acts or practices defined here. (b) Preventive Requirements. To prevent these unfair or deceptive acts or practices, as well as the unfair or deceptive acts or practices defined in § 453.4(b)(1), funeral providers must: (1) Telephone Price Disclosure. Tell persons who ask by telephone about the funeral provider’s offerings or prices any accurate information from the price lists described in paragraphs (b)(2) through (4) of this section and any other readily available information that reasonably answers the question. (2) Casket Price List. (i) Give a printed or typewritten price list to people who inquire in person about the offerings or prices of caskets or alternative containers. The funeral provider must offer the list upon beginning discussion of, but in any event before showing caskets. The list must contain at least the retail prices of all caskets and alternative containers offered which do not require special ordering, enough information to identify each, and the effective date for the price list. In lieu of a written list, other formats, such as notebooks, brochures, or charts may be used if they contain the same information as would the printed or typewritten list, and display it in a clear and conspicuous manner. Provided, however, that funeral providers do not have to make a casket price list available if the funeral providers place on the general price list, specified in paragraph (b)(4) of this section, the information required by this paragraph. (ii) Place on the list, however produced, the name of the funeral provider’s place of business and a caption describing the list as a “casket price list.” (3) Outer Burial Container Price List (i) Give a printed or typewritten price list to persons who inquire in person about outer burial container offerings or prices. The funeral provider must offer the list upon beginning discussion of, but in any event before showing the containers. The list must contain at least the retail prices of all outer burial containers offered which do not require special ordering, enough information to identify each container, and the effective date for the prices listed. In lieu of a written list, the
453.2 Price disclosures. 453.3 Misrepresentations. 453.4 Required purchase of funeral goods or funeral services. 453.5 Services provided without prior approval. 453.6 Retention of documents. 453.7 Comprehension of disclosures. 453.8 Declaration of intent. 453.9 State exemptions. Authority: 15 U.S.C. 57a(a); 15 U.S.C. 46(g); 5 U.S.C. 552. § 453.1 Definitions (a) Alternative container : An “alternative container” is an unfinished wood box or other non-metal receptacle or enclosure, without ornamentation or a fixed interior lining, which is designed for the encasement of human remains and which is made of fiberboard, pressed-wood, composition materials (with or without an outside covering), or like materials. (b) Cash advance item : A “cash advance item” is any item of service or merchandise described to a purchaser as a “cash advance,” “accommodation,” “cash disbursement,” or similar term. A cash advance item is also any item obtained from a third party and paid for by the funeral provider on the purchaser’s behalf. Cash advance items may include, but are not limited to: cemetery or crematory services, pallbearers, public transportation, clergy honoraria, flowers, musicians or singers, nurses, obituary notices, gratuities, and death certificates. (c) Casket : A “casket” is a rigid container which is designed for the encasement of human remains and which is usually constructed of wood, metal, fiberglass, plastic, or like material, and ornamented and lined with fabric. (d) Commission : “Commission” refers to the Federal Trade Commission. (e) Cremation : “Cremation” is a heating process which incinerates human remains. (f) Crematory : A “crematory” is any person, partnership or corporation that performs cremation and sells funeral goods. (g) Direct cremation : A “direct cremation” is a disposition of human remains by cremation, without formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony with the body present. (h) Funeral goods : “Funeral goods” are the goods which are sold or offered for sale directly to the public for use in connection with funeral services. (i) Funeral provider : A “funeral provider” is any person, partnership or corporation that sells or offers to sell funeral goods and funeral services to the public. (j) Funeral services : “Funeral services” are any services which may be used to: (1) care for and prepare deceased human bodies for burial, cremation or other final disposition; and (2) arrange, supervise or conduct the funeral ceremony or the final disposition of deceased human bodies. (k) Immediate burial : An “immediate burial” is a disposition of human remains by burial, without formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony with the body present, except for a graveside service. (l) Memorial service : A “memorial service” is a ceremony commemorating the deceased without the body present. (m) Funeral ceremony : A “funeral ceremony” is a service commemorating the deceased with the body present. (n) Outer burial container : An “outer burial container” is any container which is designed for placement in the grave around the casket including, but not limited to, containers commonly known as burial vaults, grave boxes, and grave liners.
Book Code: FTX1624
Page 81
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