There is an element of protection and service regarding costs that a grieving family may not be aware of when they engage the help of a funeral director to help them plan a memorial or navigate the regulations of a cremation in the Lower Mainland of BC or to make funeral arrangements or hold a celebration of life. A licensed funeral home and the funeral services team are duty bound to guide a family, ethically and honestly. Families are faced with a myriad of options at a difficult time. They are very vulnerable and can be taken advantage of when it comes to expenses associated with funeral arrangement expenses.
Recently, the bounds of these practices in the industry were challenged by Richmond based Can-Trust-Funeral who reported an example of a predatory practice in the Lower Mainland.
Can-Trust cautions that overcharging practices typically show up in:
- Products: caskets and casket items, urns, flowers
- Equipment: graveside, transportation costs, decedent care, hall rentals
- Staff and administrative fee, service fees
Can-Trust-Funerals lodged a formal complaint on behalf of a family they saw were being overcharged – first for a headstone then staff to supervise its placement and an extra fee for the use of added equipment to complete the funeral services, for no valid reason.
Seamless support and cooperation for families
Families are assured that a network of funeral service providers, often come together to fulfill all the goods and services a family may need to properly honour or lay their loved ones to rest. Integrity behind all the scenes is key. Can-Trust’s complaint on behalf of the family they were guiding, led to significant costs to be refunded, and that other company to end that practice.
Protections in place for consumers
Families should also know that professional funeral directors and licensed funeral homes and funeral services uphold a high standard of case. Yet, as consumers they always have recourse as well as the opportunity to review resources available especially for them at any time in the funeral planning process — Consumer Protection BC.
Duty and personal dedication
Each of the funeral directors at Can-Trust are committed to the client who is absent – the deceased – and to the family who is present to experience and to take away memories of the funeral event. They feel it is a sacred duty they undertook with the service.
Their mission is to relieve families of undue emotional stress of dealing with the planning of funerals, cremations, memorials or a celebration of life. In addition, they safeguard the reputation that represents the trust in the ethics and integrity of the advice and the support they give to families. They follow the guidelines of the British Columbia Funeral Association.
“This incident”, says Can-Trust-Funeral’s Director, Tony Chan, “shows that if a family thinks they have been mistreated by a funeral provider, if they are in any doubt they should contact the Consumer Protection service in BC(CPBC) and get support.
We are here to help. Can-Trust-Funerals Ltd. provides reliable, straightforward and affordable service, and with compassion, always.”
Before you engage with any funeral homes, please call Can-Trust-Funeral at 604-376-7975 or email to book a free professional consultation. You are never obligated.
Our Can-Trust team of licensed funeral directors, provides funeral services in Burnaby, funeral services in Richmond, Vancouver and throughout the Lower Mainland.
Phone: 604-376-7975 E-mail: can-trust-funeral@outlook.com WeChat: Cantrustfuneral Visit us online for more information.
