Consumer Protection In The Funeral Industry
Consumer protection in the funeral industry
We are please to share this article by BC Consumer Protection about their mandate as it relates to the funeral sector.
Consumer Protection BC is a not-for-profit regulator responsible for overseeing certain industries and specific consumer transactions in the province. For example, they licence and regulate travel agencies, payday lenders, debt collectors, and the cemetery and funeral industry. The regulator is also responsible for enforcing rules for certain transactions, like online purchase and fitness contracts.
Consumer Protection BC’s purpose is to license and inspect their regulated businesses, respond to consumer inquiries, investigate alleged violations of consumer protection laws, and educate consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities.
Funeral Laws in BC
Consumers making funeral arrangements for loved ones or making their own end-of-life decisions have protections in these often-challenging circumstances.
Funeral services are governed in BC under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act (and regulations) and the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act (and regulations). This includes the licensing of cemetery and crematorium operators, funeral providers, funeral directors, funeral embalmers and apprentices.
Consumer Protection BC oversees those laws, and these businesses must hold a licence with them. The law protects consumers by requiring that funeral providers:
- Provide detailed contracts about their services to consumers so they know what to expect
- Follow proper authorizations before delivering funeral services so the right people are making end of life decisions
- Meet certain facility requirements
- Respectfully handle human remains
- Display price lists on their premises
- Hold prepaid money in trust
Consumer tips:
- You are allowed to supply your own casket or container for burial or cremation, as long as it meets certain specifications.
- In BC, there’s a system in place for who gets to control your remains after death. This is called “rights of disposition” and Section 5 of the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act lists the order of priority.
- Pricing for funeral services is not regulated and can vary. However, funeral providers must have a copy of all their prices available onsite or on their website. The showroom must display at least six different containers (or replicas) and one of them must be their lowest-priced model.
- If you prepay for funeral services, you have certain cancellation rights for these contracts in BC.
Always check that a funeral home or provider is licensed using Consumer Protection BC’s online search feature. Learn more about your rights for funeral services by exploring Consumer Protection BC’s website (which includes a link to a complaint form) and by reading their funeral services blog posts.