2-4-2008 - GPL UPDATE   
     The response to the last "In The Loop" article regarding GPLs has been incredible. Many of our members have called in to make sure their GPL is compliant with the latest FTC ruling. It is quite gratifying to know that so many members read and rely on our updates. Please know that any information that you provide to MFDEA regarding your GPL is kept totally confidential and will NOT be retained by our office.
Many members have had questions about clergy cars, flower vehicles and the like. The best rule of thumb is simply this: Is the charge on your GPL something that you charge EVERY customer on EVERY funeral?  If that is the case, the charge should be part of your General Non-Declinable Fee.
     In other words if the charge an item the customer cannot decline, then, by definition, it should be a part of your non-declinable fee!
     One of the very good outcomes of this recent FTC ruling is that it is pushing funeral homes to carefully review the items that the funeral homes DO routinely provide their customers, but for which they have never considered the cost.
     Do you routinely but 10-20 miles on one of your vehicles for each funeral doing things like picking up death certificates, delivering flowers or guest books? If so, you should factor in the costs of gas and vehicle maintenance in order to get a true picture of what you are spending to provide your services. Look for more GPL information in upcoming email alerts and in the Missouri Funeral Director Magazine.
     On another GPL note, Everestfuneral.com has started to again make cold calls to funeral homes in Missouri asking about prices on the GPL. Here is the rule on dealing with such calls: Don't Get Stung: What You Need to Know About Everestfuneral.com's Calls to Funeral Homes
     Two years ago, Everestfuneral.com launched what they billed as a funeral planning and concierge service. One of the products offered is a “PriceFinder Report,” which offers a comparison of funeral home pricing data in a specific geographic area. To compile these reports, Everest contacts funeral homes by phone and asks for information contained in their GPL. Everest has recently contacted a number of NFDA-member funeral homes. If you receive a call from Everestfuneral.com, or anyone else, you have certain obligations under the Funeral Rule: Disclosing Prices Over the Phone: The Funeral Rule requires funeral directors to answer telephone inquiries regarding funeral services and prices. Therefore, if you receive a call from an Everest representative, or any consumer, for that matter, inquiring about the cost of various goods and services, you MUST provide that information over the telephone. This requirement applies even though Everest is not a consumer; you are required to provide this information to anyone who calls regardless of whether the caller is a consumer. 
     Mailing or Faxing a Price List: The Funeral Rule only requires funeral homes to distribute a GPL if there is a face-to-face discussion involving funeral prices, arrangements, services or goods. Therefore, you are not required to mail or fax your GPL to Everest or anyone else who calls and requests a price list. It is up to you to determine whether you want to honor that request, but you are not required to do so
     NOTE: Everest is NOT affiliated with either the MFDEA or the NFDA although some people have reported that, in the past, they have implied some sort of affiliation. Call Don Otto at 573-635-1661 if you have further questions.