How Well Do You Know the Funeral Rule?

Question 1

It is permissible to have a “sheltering” charge on the GPL:

Answer 1

Only after 3 days

Question 2

The basic service fee should include staff prior to, during, and after the funeral (T/F)

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The crematory fee must be included in the price for a direct cremation (T/F)

Answer 3

False

Question 4

If you offer a low-cost direct cremation to compete with the local market, you may change the wording for the FTC disclosure for the nondeclinable fee from “This fee is already included…” to read “Such a fee is already included…” (T/F)

Answer 4

False

Question 5

It is permissible to require “sanitary care if no embalming” (T/F)

Answer 5

False

Question 6

It is permissible to have an extra charge for embalming infectious diseases (T/F)

Answer 6

False

Question 7

It is permissible to have an extra charge for the disposition of infectious waste (T/F)

Answer 7

False

Question 8

The casket price range on your GPL should indicate:

Answer 8

The caskets you typically sell and can obtain on short notice without special ordering

Question 9

You may have three separate price lists - for burial caskets, cremation caskets, and alternative containers (T/F)

Answer 9

False

Question 10

You may refuse to sell a cremation casket for burial (T/F)

Answer 10

False

Question 11

It is legal to charge more for a memorial service than a funeral service because you’re not making any money on embalming and a viewing (T/F)

Answer 11

True

Question 12

Which of the following are not required by the FTC on a GPL (don’t consider state requirements in the answer):

• Federal Identification Number
• Name(s) of owner(s)
• Funeral home name
• P.O. address
• Street address
• Town
• Phone number
• Fax number
• Toll-free number
• E-mail
• Website
• Contact information for a state agency handling consumer complaints

Answer 12

• Federal Identification Number
• Name(s) of owner(s)
• P.O. address
• Fax number
• Toll-free number
• E-mail
• Website
• Contact information for a state agency handling consumer complaints

Question 13

You may use a cloth-covered casket as your only alternative container for cremation (T/F)

Answer 13

False

Question 14

If a family wants to donate bones, eyes, or tissues, you may charge a higher price for embalming given the extra repair work that will be required (T/F)

Answer 14

True

Question 15

Who should sign the Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected?

Answer 15

No signature required

Question 16

You must save copies of your GPL for:

Answer 16

1 year

Question 17

It is illegal to offer discount packaging, but it’s okay if you don’t get caught because everyone’s doing it (T/F)

Answer 17

Discount packages are acceptable

Question 18

The Funeral Rule doesn’t apply to preneed sellers who aren’t funeral directors (T/F)

Answer 18

False

Question 19

You must give a GPL to anyone who inquires in person, even if that person is a competitor (T/F)

Answer 19

True

Question 20

You must fax or mail a GPL if requested to do so (T/F)

Answer 20

False

Question 21

If you’ve already given the family a GPL once, do you have to give out another GPL if a change is being made to a preneed contract at the time of death?

Answer 21

Yes

Question 22

You don’t have to cooperate with consumer groups doing a funeral price survey over the telephone (T/F)

Answer 22

False

Question 23

You may copyright your GPL to keep others from using the information on it (T/F)

Answer 23

False

Question 24

You don’t have to agree to a graveside service with an immediate burial if it is requested (T/F)

Answer 24

False

Question 25

The following disclosure is required on all GPLs:

“Except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law. Our funeral home, however, requires embalming after 24 hours or for any open-casket viewing.”

(T/F)

Answer 25

False

Question 26

If you don’t have a casket price list, you must have at least the price labeled on each casket (T/F)

Answer 26

False

Question 27

If you don’t know the cost of a cash advance item, you should leave that line blank on the Funeral Goods and Services Selected (SFCSS) (T/F)

Answer 27

False

Question 28

If the consumer has purchased a funeral package, you still have to go to the trouble of listing what’s in the package on the SFGSS (T/F)

Answer 28

True

Question 29

You shouldn’t put a total on the SFGSS until you know all the cash advance prices (T?F)

Answer 29

False

Question 30

You should give the SFGSS to the consumer when?

Answer 30

At the end of the arrangements conference

Question 31

Asking permission to “prepare the body” is the same as asking permission to embalm and a more delicate way to phrase it (T/F)

Answer 31

False

Question 32

You may not charge a casket handling fee if a consumer supplies the casket, but you can raise your price for an immediate burial with casket supplied by the purchaser compared to what you would charge if the casket is purchased from you (T/F)

Answer 32

False

Question 33

You may offer an immediate burial package and limit the choice of casket to go with it (T/F)

Answer 33

True

Question 34

It is okay to have a printed GPL without prices so you can write in prices as they change (T/F)

Answer 34

False

Question 35

If you are promoting preneed packages, you don’t have to give out a GPL because there isn’t any funeral yet (T/F)

Answer 35

False

Question 36

One way to ensure your profit is to hike your nondeclinable fee way up and give away all other services such as a viewing or funeral for free (T/F)

Answer 36

False

Question 37

It’s okay to use the word “protective” on your casket price list or outer burial container price list as long as that word is used by the manufacturer (T/F)

Answer 37

False

Question 38

Even if the family did not choose a viewing and embalming, you may charge the family for “Other Preparation of the Body” (T/F)

Answer 38

False

Question 39

You may require a person to sign a statement as proof that they’ve received your GPL, to cover all your legal obligations about FTC-required disclosures (T/F)

Answer 39

False

Question 40

A secretary answering your phone does not have to give out prices if you don’t want her to (T/F)

Answer 40

True

Question 41

But you must return the call if a secretary answering your phone doesn’t give out prices (T/F)

Answer 41

True

Question 42

It’s okay to mark up cash advance items without telling the consumer in any way (T/F)

Answer 42

False

Question 43

Consumers inquiring about prices must be allowed to keep which document:

Answer 43

General Price List

Question 44

Selling outer burial containers is one requirement of the Funeral Rule (T/F)

Answer 44

False

Question 45

The list of vaults on your OBC Price List should be in ascending order according to price, with the least expensive one first (T/F)

Answer 45

False

Question 46

The same is true for the casket price list, with the least expensive casket listed first (T/F)

Answer 46

False

Question 47

If you do not have a casket showroom and sell caskets by catalog only, then you do not need a separate casket price list (T/F)

Answer 47

True

Question 48

Where should the following disclosure be printed?

“Charges are only for those items that you selected or that are required. If we are required by law or by a cemetery or crematory to use any items, we will explain the reasons in writing below.”

Answer 48

The Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected

Question 49

GPL rules don’t apply if you’re selling funeral insurance

Answer 49

If no funeral arrangements have been discussed

Question 50

You may refuse to sell an urn or casket if you are not also providing the other services (T/F)

Answer 50

False