FTC Rule

Crematory

Any person, partnership or corporation that performs cremation and sells funeral goods.

Funeral Provider

Any person, partnership or corporation that sells or offers to sell funeral goods and funeral services to the public. To be a funeral provider you must combine goods and services- if you sell just goods or just services you are not a funeral provider and not under the rule.

Funeral Services

Any service which may be used to: (1) care for and prepare deceased human body for burial, cremation or other final disposition; and (2) arrange, supervise or conduct the funeral ceremony or the final disposition of deceased human beings.

Casket

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.

Outer Burial Container

Any container which is designed for placement in the grave around the casket including, but not limited to, container commonly known as burial vaults, grave boxes, and grave liners.

Person

Any individual partnership, corporation, association, government or governmental subdivision or agency, or other entity.

Non-Declinable Service Fee

Basic services is the only fee which the consumer cannot decline (unless state or local law requires otherwise). Funeral provider should recover expenses for services, facilities or unallocated overhead in this charge.

Basic Services of Funeral Director and Staff (non-declinable)

Basic services, not to be included in prices of other categories, that are furnished by a funeral provider in arranging any funeral, such as conducting the arrangement conferences, planning the funeral, obtaining necessary permits, and placing obituaries.

Memorial Service

Ceremony commemorating the deceased WITHOUT the body present.

Graveside Service

Ceremony commemorating the deceased at the place of final disposition.

Casket Handling Fees

Charge, fee or surcharge applied to consumers who purchase their casket elsewhere from a source other than the price list/funeral provider.

Immediate Burial

Disposition of human remains by burial, WITHOUT formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony with the body present, except for a graveside service.

Direct Cremation

Disposition of human remains by cremation, without formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony with the body present.

Tying Arrangements

Exists when a seller requires the purchase of unwanted items in order to obtain the desired item/service.

Third Party Merchandise (Wal-Mart)

Funeral goods consumers purchase from a source other than the price list/funeral provider.

Funeral Goods

Goods which are sold or offered for sale directly to the public for use in connection with funeral services.

Cremation

Heating process which incinerates human remains.

Federal Trade Commission

Is an agency of the federal government created in 1914 to promote free and fair competition by presentation of trade restraints, price fixing, false advertising and other unfair methods of compensation.

Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected

Itemized written statement provided for retention to each person who arranges a funeral or other disposition. It must include the goods and services selected and prices paid for each, itemization of case advance and the total cost.

Free Items

None of the 16 items required to be separately itemized on the GPL can be listed as free or no charge. Items not required by the rule can be listed as free.

Triggering Event

Occurrence of situation that requires certain action, i.e. giving out the GPL is a face-to-face meeting

Receiving Remains (ship-in)

One of the categories required to be itemized on the GPL (if the funeral provider offers the service). This involves services of the funeral provider after initial services have been provided by another firm at the locate of death. Funeral rule requires package pricing of this service with the description of the components included.

Forwarding of Remains (ship-out)

One of the categories required to be itemized on the GPL (if the funeral provider offers the service). This involves services of the funeral provider in the locale where death occurs and presentation for transfer to another funeral provider as selected by the family (consumer). Funeral rule requires package pricing of this service with a description of components included.

Alternative Price Lists (children)

Price lists which may be prepared for use in certain limited situations such as children/infants, for government agencies to provide for indigent persons, for agreements with religious groups, burial or memorial societies for members of their group.

Outer Burial Container Price List (OBCPL)

Printed or typewritten list of outer burial containers normally offered for sale by the funeral provider which do not require special ordering. Must include retail price and enough descriptive information to enable consumers to identify the merchandise.

Casket Price List (CPL)

Printed or typewritten list of the casket and alternative containers normally offered for sale by the funeral provider which do not require special ordering. Must include retail price and enough descriptive information to enable consumers to identify the merchandise.

Commission

Refers to the federal trade commission

Funeral Ceremony

Service commemorating the deceased with the body present (Body is present)

Exigent Circumstances

Situation requiring immediate action or urgency; FTC recognizes that funeral provider might embalm without permission.

Mandatory Disclosures

Statements required by the rule which cannot be modified or edited and must appear in a clear and conspicuous manner.

Itemization

The method of price quotation by which each unit of service and/or merchandise (goods) is priced separately.

Alternative Container

Unfinished wood box or other non-metal receptible of enclosure, WITHOUT ornamentation or a fixed interior lining, which is designed for the encasement of human remains and which is made of fiberboard, press-wood, composition material (with or without an outside covering) or like material.

Package Pricing

Use of a single dollar amount to identify the charge for a group or bundle of goods and/or services.

General Price List (GPL)

printed or typewritten list of goods and service offered for sale by a funeral provider with retail prices. It is considered the keystone of the funeral rule.