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Chilliwack funeral home investigated for 'misappropriating' funds

McLean's Funeral Services 'no longer viable' and some customers who pre-paid will not get refunds, says Consumer Protection BC
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Ron Browne (left) congratulates councillor Stewart McLean on election night 2011 at the Best Western. The former councillor's company McLean's Funeral Services is under investigation. (Chilliwack Progress file)

McLean's Funeral Services of Chilliwack is under investigation for misappropriating funds put away for customers' funeral arrangements.

Consumer Protection BC announced July 23 it had suspended both the funeral provider licence, as well as the funeral director licence of owner Stewart McLean, a former, two-term city councillor in Chilliwack.

The agency put out the release to alert affected customers about the investigation and business failure of McLean's Funeral Services, and crematorium.

"We have been investigating the misappropriation of consumer money that was prepaid for future funeral services," said Tatiana Chabeaux-Smith, spokesperson for the Consumer Protection BC, a not-for-profit regulator.

When someone pays a funeral provider ahead of time for funeral arrangements, they have to put 80 per cent in trust until the funds are needed. The McLean's licence suspension comes after the business failed to comply with an agreement it had with the regulator regarding those funds.

"We followed our progressive enforcement model to attempt to remedy the situation with limited consumer impact. It has become clear that the business is no longer viable, and that most of the funds paid for those future funeral services are not available."

They are guiding customers through the process.
 
"Customers of the business are encouraged to determine how this will impact their end-of-life plans," according to release.

At this point it appears that McLean's will not be able to fulfill its contracts or provide refunds to customers, and the consumer agency is now focused on reaching impacted families to notify them that an investigation has been underway.

"If you are actively receiving funeral services from McLean’s Funeral Services, please resume as planned."

They are working with the business "to serve families with services in process," to complete any contracted and expected cremations.

"If you have prepaid for funeral services with McLean’s Funeral Services, you will not receive those future services and the business is most likely unable to refund you."

Customers are being asked to fill out a form on their website with contacts used to provide updates as appropriate or call it in at 1-888-564-9963 (and press 5).

"Customers of McLean’s Funeral Services that require funeral services in the future will need to make alternative arrangements with a different funeral provider."

A small group may receive partial refunds but there is no guarantee.

"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."

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Jennifer Feinberg

About the Author: Jennifer Feinberg

I have been a Chilliwack Progress reporter for 20+ years, covering city hall, Indigenous, business, and climate change stories.
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