Yes, it’s a real rule – regulated by the Federal Trade Commission – and if it’s violated by those in the death care industry, the offender can be slapped with a hefty $10,000 fine! Put into effect in 1984, the Funeral Rule is designed to protect your rights as a consumer. A key component of the rule is the requirement of a General Price List, or GPL. A funeral provider is required to give you one, but only if you request it – another reason that it pays to do a little research first. The GPL must contain a specific, itemized list of the types and prices of caskets and outer burial containers offered by the funeral provider, but it doesn’t stop there. The GPL also makes several other types of disclosures, among them …
Right of selection and basic services fee
Many people opt for a “package deal” offered by most funeral homes (casket, vault, funeral services, etc.) for one price, because they aren’t aware of the option to buy items separately. Even if you buy piece by piece, you aren’t required to purchase all of your funeral goods and services from one place – and if you do purchase items from different funeral providers, none of them are allowed to charge you extraneous fees. For example, if you choose a casket from a different provider, the funeral home where the services will be held can’t charge you a “casket handling fee.” However, if you buy anything at all from a funeral provider, even just one item or service, they are allowed to charge you a “basic services fee.” This fee covers services that are common to most funerals regardless of the type (securing necessary permits, coordinating arrangements, etc.) – but whatever it covers must be clearly documented in the GPL. If you feel it’s unfair, ask the funeral provider to further explain why the fee is necessary.
A funeral provider cannot refuse you service if you only buy one thing from them, and they can’t offer you one item only on the conditionthat you buy another – so if someone tries to convince you otherwise, they’re in violation of the Funeral Rule.