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1. How are you different from other cremation
providers?
A Basic Cremation costs only $775.00, which is between 35% to 80% less than most funeral homes, depending on where you call. A Basic Cremation is privately owned by PRESTON WEBB, unlike other cremation-only providers, who use words like "simple", "we come to you", "come to us and save", "lowest cost cremation guaranteed", "no service by request", "family-owned" and "just" in their names and ads.
Unknown to the public, they are actually either owned by and affiliated to funeral homes who practice 2-tier pricing. The price depends on whether you call the "parent" funeral home number or their cremation-service number and on whether you go to their office or they go to your home. Their funeral home price typically starts from twice as much as their cremation-only price and they charge quite a bit more just to go to your home!
At A Basic Cremation we have only one basic price and we ALWAYS come to your home, or anywhere in Greater Vancouver that is convenient to you, to make the arrangements. We will first come to make the cremation arrangements and subsequently to deliver the ashes & Death Certificate, within a week of the arrangements. You DON'T EVER have to step into a funeral home or crematorium unless you choose to.
We are also different from other cremation providers in that:
a. We do not use flimsy cardboard containers to cremate your loved one's remains in. These containers are just that - flimsy cardboard boxes, which show no respect or dignity to your loved one. We ONLY use rigid wood based cremation containers which will not collapse or even bend when your loved one remains are placed in it.
b. We do not require or demand "payment up-front" or even a deposit when making the arrangements, as most of our competitors do. In fact, we actually prefer that you not pay us until we complete everything and return your loved one's ashes and the Death Certificate to you at your home or other location convenient to you. You are entrusting the care of your loved one to us, surely we can trust you to pay us when we return!
2. Where are you located?
A Basic Cremation's registered office is in Coquitlam but you don't have to worry about coming to me because I ALWAYS come to you to make the arrangements and to deliver the ashes and Death Certificate when they are ready. The arrangements comprise of completing two very basic forms and the CPP/OAS Notification of Death, taking about 30 minutes of your time.
3. Where do you take our loved ones' remains to?
Your loved one's remains are transferred to the crematorium to await documentation and cremation. The cremation can only be done after 48 hours have passed from the time of death & all the necessary documentation is in place. However the remains will be transferred to the crematorium as soon as possible.
4. How long does it take?
Under normal circumstances, we deliver the ashes & Death Certificate to the family within a week of the day the arrangements are made. Occasional delays such as a late hospital release or difficulty in reaching a physician for the medical certificate of death, or a Coroner's investigation into the death can sometimes extend this delivery period slightly, though this is rare.
5. What are the costs?
A Basic Cremation costs $775 for everything, including the GST, one Provincial Death Certificate & the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority fee. (See Our Basic Package). Optional extras such as the upgrade of the cremation container, the purchase of an urn, additional Death Certificates, viewing, witnessing the start of the cremation, placing the death notice for the family or permanent scattering of the ashes do incur optional additional fees, but $775 is a FAIR PRICE, and we ALWAYS come to you, so why pay more?
6. What if we want a viewing or to witness the start of the cremation?
This can be arranged with sufficient notice. Only in this instance would you have to go to the crematorium. The crematorium levy's an additional fee for a viewing and witnessing the start of the cremation. Viewing does involve some additional work and the use of their viewing room and witnessing the start of the cremation does interrupt the crematorium's busy schedule.
7. What if we don't want the ashes back?
You can authorize us in writing during the arrangements to scatter the ashes permanently on your behalf, for a very nominal fee as this is an optional, extra service.
8. What about burying or shipping the ashes?
We can provide you with a list of local cemeteries and you would deal directly with the cemetery of your choice. If you wish we can deliver the ashes directly to any cemetery in the Greater Vancouver for you. In the case of shipping, we will package and ship the ashes for you pre-paid. All shipping, packaging & handling costs are extra.
9. What if we want to have a service?
A Basic Cremation is for families who either do not wish to have a service or who want to arrange the memorial directly with a church or other facility, or just have friends and family gather in their home or local hall for a reception and celebration of life. We can refer you to a local church or reception facility in your area and you would arrange the service or reception directly with them.
10. What about newspaper death notices?
In my experience most families prefer to phone, fax or e-mail these in directly themselves. Remember to have your credit card number ready when you contact them. In return for permission to place our name and number at the bottom of your notice, we will help you to write the notice and place it for you directly from your home. Without our name & number at the bottom of the notice, there is a nominal fee to place the notice. (British Columbia only) |
