Consumer Protection BC has issued a cease-and-desist order against a Chilliwack funeral home it alleges misappropriated money from a trust account holding money from prepaid contracts.
The discovery of a trust fund shortage, allegedly due to misappropriation, now has the consumer regulator warning clients of McLean’s Funeral Services they “will not receive those future services and the business is most likely unable to refund you” and should make alternative end-of-life plans.
“As the situation unfolds, Consumer Protection BC has suspended McLean’s funeral and crematorium licences and issued a freeze order on remaining assets. Despite these efforts, it is unlikely that McLean’s Funeral Services customers will be made whole again,” the regulator stated in a public bulletin on July 23.
Consumer Protection BC states it is assessing whether a “small group of consumers may receive partial refunds but there is no guarantee.”
Those clients actively receiving funeral services have been directed to proceed as planned, the regulator stated.
Consumer Protection BC did not make clear how much money has been allegedly misappropriated but repeatedly made clear the outlook is not good for clients: “Information gathered so far indicates that the business will not be able to fulfil its contracts or provide refunds to customers.”
