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FTC Misrepresentation Rules on Cash Advance Items

If funeral service providers mark up the charge on cash advance items or receive a commission, discount, or rebate that is not passed on to you, the consumer, they cannot state that the price charged for the cash advance item is the same as their cost.

If there is an added charge, or if funeral service providers receive and keep a rebate, commission, or trade or volume discount, they must tell you that the price is not the same as their cost. They do this by including on the Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected the mandatory disclosure discussed in the Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected: Cost Information and Disclosures under Cash Advance Items.

The Rule does not prevent funeral service providers from adding a service charge, nor does it require them to disclose the amount of that charge. However, some states may have laws or regulations that prohibit any mark-up on cash advance items.