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  On October 18, 2011 the BBB initiated an inquiry around the use of Funeral Director's Statements of Death in conjunction with the sale and delivery of funeral and crematorium funeral services, and the fact that some bereaved individuals were being asked to provide a Vital Statistics Death Certificate in settling certain aspects of estate matters. A random review of service provider websites reflected inconsistancy in the disclosure around the difference between a Funeral Director's Statement of Death and the Vital Statistics Death Certificate.
  
  The BBB also spoke with a solicitor in the Province who indicated that he encounters a need to obtain a Vital Statistices Death Certificate on behalf of estates quite frequently. The BBB then spoke at length with the Registrar for the Council who asked that the concerns be provided in writing.
  
  Working with the Registrar as a representative of the Council and its Board the BBB effected first an informational notice to its affiliated and licensed members speaking to the BBB concerns about transparency, clarity and disclosure. This message was issued on November 10th by email.
  
  Subsequently the Registrar called the BBB in February to advise that the Council's Board of Directors had also issued an informational statement to its Membership advising the industry service providers that a Funeral Directors Statement of Death is not accepted for estate transactions involving real estate and that in those circumstances a formal Death Certificate issued by the Provincial Vital Statistics Branch would be required. The Statement also noted that the Funeral Directors Statement of Death is not universally accepted by all Life and Casualty Insurers.
  
  The BBB advises that the Council has been supportive and cooperative throughout the process, and advocates for full transparency and disclosure in both selling and providing funeral and crematorium services to the public. The Council also has a complaint and consumer concern process available on its website at www.fcscs.ca.
  
  The BBB encourages consumers to ask or request that at least one copy of a formal Government issued Vital Statistics Death Certificate be included in the negotiation and purchase of funeral and crematorium services with a licensed service provider.