Service Charges
You should know the licensing and day-to-day operations of Quinte Cremation and Burial Services, Ltd. are both governed by the guidelines set forth in the
Ontario Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, which is a set of routinely updated regulations concerning the operation of funeral establishments, cemeteries and crematoria. While the Act is comprehensive, in that it establishes operational conditions, standards and terms governing all aspects of funeral service; what we're most concerned with here is Division E of the Act, "
Price List and Pricing". We've done our best to remove the legal jargon within these government guidelines for the purpose of simplifying this conversation about our professional service charges. If you still have nagging questions or concerns after reading what you see here, please call us at 613-962-7900 Price Lists and Service Charges: An Overview
As stated earlier, the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act sets the standards for the availability, presentation and explanation of a funeral firm's service charges. Here's what at the heart of Division E of the Act which regulates any conversations we will have with you about funeral service pricing: when you meet with one of our staff members, he or she must provide you with a price list which is written in plain language (without incomprehensible jargon) and printed in an easily-read 10 point or larger typeface. In other words, we are obligated to talk to you about our professional service charges openly and honesty; without deception or trickery. Not only must this price list be clearly written and understandable, it must include every licensed supply and service we generally provide, in the following three (3) categories:
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Professional Service Charges: The costs for professional and staff services such as securing and completing any required forms, permits, certificates or notices, the preparation and secure care of the deceased, as well as the co-ordination of cremation, burial and/or repatriation services rendered. This section of our price list features the cost of our cremation services and burial services. Repatriation costs vary in relation to the specific situation. Should you need assistance with the return of a deceased family member for interment or cremation, please call us at 613-962-7900 for a detailed conversation about repatriation costs.
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Caskets & Merchandise: An itemized list of the prices of service-related products such as caskets, cremation containers, and keepsake remembrance items. The Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act states that for each licensed supply or service on the price list, the price list shall include a description of the supply or service sufficient enough to "identify it with certainty", the price and "a statement that the price includes the applicable taxes or that the applicable taxes are in addition to the price."
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Cash Disbursements: This section covers any payments made by the Quinte
Cremation and Burial Services, Ltd. on your behalf, such as the expected charges for newspaper publication of an obituary or death notice, cemetery charges, the cost of the Coroner's Cremation Certificate, as well as the cost for duplicate copies of the Death Certificate. (These are charged to you at actual cost must be itemized and included in the total price on your contract.)
You should realize Ontario's Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), currently set at 13%, will be applied to the professional service charges as well as to the cost of any merchandise purchased. The price list also needs to indicate three very important things: whether "the supply is available for rent", if there are "any minimum prices for a particular supply or service", and the effective date of the price list (a document which the Act states must "always be up-to-date").
Our Pledge to You
Everyone here at Quinte Cremation and Burial Services, Ltd. is fully committed to integrity and honesty in everything we do for the families and individuals living in Hastings County. In fact, since we opened our doors in 1998, our integrity has never been called into question. When you need low cost cremation or burial services we'd like you to call us at 613-962-7900 first. Let us demonstrate our honesty, integrity and commitment.