Regulatory Compliance Glossary

Regulatory Compliance Glossary / Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science

Alternative Container

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 made of fiberboard, pressed-wood, composition materials (with or without an outside covering) or like materials

Alternative Price Lists

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

Cash Advance Items

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 honorarium; flowers; musicians or singers; nurses; obituary notices; gratuities; and death certificates

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

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)

Casket Price List (CPL)

A printed or typewritten list of the casket and alternative containers normally offered for sale by the funeral provider which do not require special ordering

CPL must include retail price and enough descriptive information to enable consumers to identify the merchandise

Cremation

A heating process which incinerates human remains

Crematory

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

Direct Cremation

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

Effective Date

Date the specific Price List was put into use

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

An agency of the federal government created in 1914 to promote free and fair competition by prevention of trade restraints, price fixing, false advertising, and other unfair methods of competition

Forwarding of Remains

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 preparation for transfer to another funeral provider as selected by the family (consumer)

Funeral Rule required package pricing of this service with a description of the components included

Free Items

None of the 16 items required by the Rule 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

Funeral Ceremony

A service commemorating the deceased with the body present

Funeral Goods

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

Funeral Provider

Any person, partnership, or corporation that sells or offers to sell funeral goods and funeral services to the public

Funeral Services

Any services which may be used to:

1) care for and prepare decease human bodies for burial, cremation or other final disposition

2) arrange, supervise, or conduct the funeral ceremony or the final disposition of deceased human bodies

General Price List (GPL)

A printed or typewritten list of goods and services offered for sale by a funeral provider with retail prices

GPL is considered the keystone of the Funeral Rule

Graveside Service

Ceremony commemorating the deceased at place of final disposition

Immediate Burial

A disposition of human remains by burial, without formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony with the body present, except for a graveside service

Itemization

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

Mandatory Disclosures

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

Memorial Service

A ceremony commemorating the deceased without the body present

Non-declinable Service Fee

Basic services is the only fee which the consumer cannot decline (unless state or local law require otherwise)

Funeral provider should recover expenses for services, facilities, or unallocated overhead in this charge

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

Outer Burial Container Price List (OBC PL)

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

Package Funerals

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

Person

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

Receiving Remains

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 locale of death

Funeral Rule requires package pricing of this service with a description of the components included

Services of Funeral Director and Staff

The 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 arrangements conference, planning the funeral, obtaining necessary permits, and placing obituary notices

Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected

An 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 cash advance items and total cost

Telephone Price Disclosure

Funeral provider must give consumers who call accurate information from the price lists and answer questions about offerings and prices with readily available information

Triggering Event

The occurrence of situtation that requires certain action (i.e. the triggering event for giving out the GPL is face to face meeting

Tying Arrangements

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