Many people wish to provide for their funeral expenses and a funeral prepayment plan is a caring, sensible and cost-effective way to do so.
The Advantages of a Prepayment Plan
- You can choose your funeral arrangements, for your own peace of mind.
- You will save your family from having to make difficult decisions, trying to guess what you would have wanted, at such a distressing time
- Avoid rising funeral costs with an inflation-proof guarantee of our charges
- Financial security - the funeral payment is held in Funeral Planning Trust until it is needed
- There is no age limit and there are no awkward health questions
- You can make a once only payment or pay by monthly instalments, whichever suits you
- All enquiries and arrangements are treated in confidence
- Complies with the Funeral Planning Authority Code of Practice and the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
Prepayment Plan Questions and Answers
Here are some of the questions you might want to ask, but please call us on 01287 632730 if there is anything else you would like to know about the plan.
- What if I move home?
- What if I change my mind later?
- Can I buy a plan for someone else?
- Is there an age limit or health restrictions?
- How do I know the money will be safe?
- Does the plan include disbursements?
- Do you pay interest?
- Can I pay by instalments?
- What if the cost of funerals increases?
- What if I die away from home?
What if I move home?
If you move, Funeral Planning Services can transfer your plan to a Funeral Director in that area. Funeral costs vary from one area to another and you will be advised of any difference in cost at that stage.
If you move, Funeral Planning Services can transfer your plan to a Funeral Director in that area. Funeral costs vary from one area to another and you will be advised of any difference in cost at that stage.
What if I change my mind later?
If you change your mind within the first month of receiving your plan documents you can return them for a full refund, with no questions asked. If you cancel your plan at a later date, your refund will be subject to an administration charge (please refer to the terms of sale).
If you change your mind within the first month of receiving your plan documents you can return them for a full refund, with no questions asked. If you cancel your plan at a later date, your refund will be subject to an administration charge (please refer to the terms of sale).
Can I buy a plan for someone else?
Yes. Please mention this on your application - we will need the name, address and year of birth of the person to be covered but we will send all correspondence to you.
Yes. Please mention this on your application - we will need the name, address and year of birth of the person to be covered but we will send all correspondence to you.
Is there an age limit or health restrictions?
No - you can purchase a plan at any age and in any state of health, but please see the note on instalments.
No - you can purchase a plan at any age and in any state of health, but please see the note on instalments.
How do I know the money will be safe?
All payments are made directly into Funeral Planning Trust, a national fund established in 1995 of the secure deposit of funeral prepayments. The accounts of Funeral Planning Trust are monitored annually by independent actuaries and checked by independent auditors. The payment for the funeral can only be withdrawn from Funeral Planning Trust when the service has been provided or if the plan is cancelled.
All payments are made directly into Funeral Planning Trust, a national fund established in 1995 of the secure deposit of funeral prepayments. The accounts of Funeral Planning Trust are monitored annually by independent actuaries and checked by independent auditors. The payment for the funeral can only be withdrawn from Funeral Planning Trust when the service has been provided or if the plan is cancelled.
Does the plan include disbursements?
Each plan usually includes a contribution towards other expenses, such as crematorium or cemetery fees, doctors' fees for a cremation certificate and minister's or church fees - these fees are known as "disbursements". This is intended to cover most of the usual disbursements, but please note they are outside of our control and cannot be guaranteed. The amount included for disbursements will be stated on your funeral plan certificate and will be increased annually in line with the Retails Prices Index. You can include a large, or smaller, contribution towards disbursements if you wish - please ask if you need advice on this point.
Each plan usually includes a contribution towards other expenses, such as crematorium or cemetery fees, doctors' fees for a cremation certificate and minister's or church fees - these fees are known as "disbursements". This is intended to cover most of the usual disbursements, but please note they are outside of our control and cannot be guaranteed. The amount included for disbursements will be stated on your funeral plan certificate and will be increased annually in line with the Retails Prices Index. You can include a large, or smaller, contribution towards disbursements if you wish - please ask if you need advice on this point.
Do you pay interest?
No. A guaranteed funeral plan is not a savings account, it is simply a way of paying in advance for the funeral service. As the value of the Funeral Planning Trust increases over the years, so the money available to pay the funeral directors will increase to compensate for rising costs.
No. A guaranteed funeral plan is not a savings account, it is simply a way of paying in advance for the funeral service. As the value of the Funeral Planning Trust increases over the years, so the money available to pay the funeral directors will increase to compensate for rising costs.
Can I pay by instalments?
Yes, there are a range of options - please ask for details. Payment by instalments usually costs more than a single payment because of the extra administration involved, and if you die before completing all of the instalments the funeral will only be part-paid.
Yes, there are a range of options - please ask for details. Payment by instalments usually costs more than a single payment because of the extra administration involved, and if you die before completing all of the instalments the funeral will only be part-paid.
What if the cost of funerals increases?
Funerals, like everything else, are affected by inflation and the cost of a funeral will almost certainly increase before you need one. However once you have purchased a prepayment plan the funeral specified will be provided for when it is needed without any further charge to you or your family (but please refer to the notes on "disbursements"). This is one of the most important benefits and why it has become so popular with our clients in recent years.
Funerals, like everything else, are affected by inflation and the cost of a funeral will almost certainly increase before you need one. However once you have purchased a prepayment plan the funeral specified will be provided for when it is needed without any further charge to you or your family (but please refer to the notes on "disbursements"). This is one of the most important benefits and why it has become so popular with our clients in recent years.
What if I die away from home?
We recommend that you take out travel insurance when you go on holiday, especially if you travel abroad, which usually covers bringing you back home if necessary. Alternatively we can quote for the extra cost involved.
We recommend that you take out travel insurance when you go on holiday, especially if you travel abroad, which usually covers bringing you back home if necessary. Alternatively we can quote for the extra cost involved.
Funeral Prepayment Plan Prices from 1st April 2011 to 31st March 2012
Each plan may be personalised to suit your own individual needs.
| Basic | Traditional | Superior | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The funeral directors services including appropriate advice, support and guidance and attending to all necessary arrangements. | |||
| Transfer to our premises (within 40 miles) and care of the deceased prior to the funeral | |||
| The Coffin (Suitable for cremation or burial) |
Basic simple coffin | High quality oak veneer coffin |
Solid wood coffin |
| Private use of the chapel of rest | |||
| Provision of Vehicles | Hearse only (direct to crematorium or cemetery) |
Hearse & one limousine | Hearse & one limousine |
| Each plan contains £860.00 towards disbursements. (An additional payment may be requested at the time of need). |
|||
| Cremation fees | |||
| Doctors fees (for cremation certificates) | |||
| Ministers fees / Officiant fees | |||
| Burial fees | To be discussed | ||
| Church Service | Additional fee | ||
| Total Plan Price (including administration fee) |
£2645.00 | £2915.00 | £3145.00 |