P | 604-488-9839
Frequently Asked Questions
Browse the list of our most frequently asked questions. If you have other questions, you can call us at 604-488-9839 or email us at abasiccremation@telus.net and we’ll be happy to help you.
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How are you different from other cremation providers?
A Basic Cremation Inc. costs up to 80% less than many funeral homes, depending on which place you call. We are privately owned unlike the other cremation services, who use words and phrases like “when all you want is a simple cremation”, “we come to you”, “an affordable cremation”, “lowest cost cremation guaranteed”, “no service by request”, “family-owned”, “arranged directly” or “deal directly with the crematorium”, “because that’s all we do” and “just cremation” etc. in their names and websites.
Unknown to the public, they are actually either owned by/affiliated to traditional funeral homes who practice what we call “2-tier” or “double-standard” pricing. The price depends on whether you call the “parent” funeral home number or their cremation service number. Their funeral home price typically starts from three or more times as much as their cremation service price, and some charge quite a bit more to meet you at your home! If you object that their funeral home price is too high, they will refer you to “someone they know” who will “do it for less” but it’s really one of their own staff in the next room at a different phone number, so you’re really still dealing with the same people! This is NOT the case with A Basic Cremation Inc.
Some of the funeral homes will actually offer to ”match our price”, but all that really means is that they just tried to take advantage of you, since they actually CAN do it at a lower price after all! Think about it for a minute…..instead of being fooled into thinking they just gave you a GREAT DEAL, in fact, they just tried to rip you off! Why didn’t they simply quote the lower price in the first place instead of offering you a “great deal” by suddenly dropping their price to “match” OUR LOWER PRICE? NOT good business!
At A Basic Cremation Inc., we have only one Basic Package, and these days, most arrangements (i.e. signing the cremation documents) are done online by email (or fax) – all you need is access to a printer/scanner (or fax) and/or a smartphone or tablet.
If you are unable to sign the cremation documents via email (or fax), we will go to you within the Lower Mainland to sign them. Whichever way the cremation documents are signed by you, we will personally deliver the ashes and death certificate(s) to you when they are ready in approx. 7 -10 days of signing and the date we transfer your loved one.
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We are also different from other cremation services in that:
We do not use flimsy cardboard “cremation containers” to cremate your loved one 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 that will not collapse or even bend when your loved one’s remains are placed in them. Please note that these containers are good for up to a maximum of 300lbs (136kg). For someone in excess of 300lbs, we will have to use a bigger and stronger cremation container at an additional cost to you, please request our current price list.
We do not EVER 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. You are entrusting the care of your loved one to us, surely we can trust you to pay us when we return with their ashes (or just prior to delivery)! We accept E-transfers, personal cheques, bank drafts, and cash.
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Where are you located?
A Basic Cremation Inc.’s home-offices are located in Coquitlam, but you don’t have to worry about coming to us because we will email (or fax) the cremation documents to you to sign, and if you are unable to that, we will go to you anywhere in the Lower Mainland to sign them. The arrangements comprise of completing and signing the Cremation Contract and Cremation Authorization, taking up very little of your time.
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Where do you take our loved ones’ remains to?
Your loved one’s remains are transferred directly to the crematorium in Abbotsford to await the necessary documentation for cremation. The cremation can only be legally performed after 48 hours have passed from the time of death, and all the necessary documentation is in place. However, the remains will be transferred to the crematorium as soon as practically and logistically possible.
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How long does it take?
Under normal circumstances, we will deliver the ashes and death certificate(s) together in 7-10 days from the day: 1. The cremation documents are signed, 2. Your loved one is transferred to the crematory, AND 3. The doctor or Coroner has faxed the signed medical certificate of death to us, whichever is later.
Delays in the release by the hospital or Coroner, any delay in the doctor or Coroner faxing the signed medical certificate of death to us, or a Coroner’s investigation into the death, all of which are out of our control, will delay the cremation and delivery accordingly.
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What are the costs?
A Basic Cremation Inc. costs significantly LESS, please see our Basic Package page. Optional extras such as the purchase of an urn, viewing, dressing, witnessing the start of the cremation, transfer from a private residence (for an expected home-death), rush transfer, after-hours/weekend/holiday transfer, ‘300lbs and over transfer, container and cremation surcharge’ (for individuals 300lb and over), or permanent scattering of the ashes will incur additional fees – PLEASE REQUEST OUR CURRENT PRICE LIST.
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What if we want to have a viewing or witness the start of the cremation?
This can be arranged with sufficient notice, and only in this instance would you have to go to the crematory in Abbotsford, which levies additional fees for a viewing and witnessing the start of the cremation. Viewing does involve some additional work, and the use of the viewing room and witnessing the start of the cremation does interrupt the crematorium's busy schedule, hence the additional fees.
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What if we don’t want the ashes back?
You can authorize us when you sign the cremation documents to scatter the ashes permanently on your behalf, for a very nominal fee as this is an extra service. The ashes will be scattered at sea at our convenience, by a charter-boat company we hire.
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What about burying or shipping the ashes?
We can provide you with a list of cemeteries, and you will deal directly with the cemetery of your choice. As an extra service, we will deliver the ashes directly to any cemetery in the Lower Mainland for you at no extra charge. In the case of shipping, we will package and ship the ashes for you prepaid. All shipping, packaging, and handling costs plus tax are additional.
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What if we want to have a service?
We don’t offer funerals or memorial services by choice. You can arrange this directly with a church or other facility or just have friends and family gather in your home or a local community hall, recreation hall, church hall, or restaurant banquet room for a reception and celebration. You can also search online or in the Yellow Pages for a suitable hall or reception facility in your area, and you would arrange the service and/or reception directly with them. We can, however, recommend a Minister or Celebrant for the service.
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What about newspaper death notices?
Obituary notices can be very expensive, and we find that most families prefer to place obituaries and death notices directly with the newspapers themselves, so we do not offer this as part of our service. Remember to prepare the obituary notice before you contact the newspaper and have your credit card number ready for them. They tend to prefer that you email or fax the notice in rather than telephone it in, but do call or check online prior, as pricing and procedure vary from newspaper to newspaper.
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Why aren’t you a member of the BBB?
A Basic Cremation Inc. is fully licensed and regulated by Consumer Protection BC. If you need to confirm our good standing and licensing status, please contact Consumer Protection BC, as it is they, and NOT the BBB, who license and regulate the entire cremation, funeral, and cemetery industry.
We STRONGLY DISAGREE with the fact that all the funeral homes and cremation providers, who are listed as “members in good standing” of the BBB, charge exorbitant prices, and some of them practice the double-standard, 2-tier pricing and price-matching!!!We STRONGLY DISAGREE with the fact that all the funeral homes and cremation providers, who are listed as “members in good standing” of the BBB, charge exorbitant prices, and some of them practice the double-standard, 2-tier pricing and price-matching!!!
All it takes to be a “member in good-standing” of the BBB is to pay them an exorbitant annual membership fee. To us, this is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!
So PLEASE contact Consumer Protection BC to confirm our credentials, good standing, and licensing status – www.consumerprotectionbc.ca and NOT THE BBB!
