Finance Options

Finance Options

Pre-Paid Funeral Plans

Many people wish to provide for their own funeral expenses and to plan their own funeral arrangements. A Pre-payment Funeral Plan is a caring, sensible and cost effective way of do so.

The Advantage of our pre-payment plan over a savings account or insurance policy is that you can pay now at today’s prices, and beat inflation, no matter when the service might be required. The Funeral Planning Trust will pay our fees at the time of the funeral.

Our Funeral Pre-payment Plans are administered by the Funeral Planning Services Limited in association with a network of Independent Funeral Directors throughout the UK. Funeral pre-payments are held in a Funeral Planning Trust and monitored by the Funeral Planning Authority.

“Most of us, as we get older, expect to provide the money to meet our funeral expenses. We’re not morbid. It’s to do with independence and responsibility. Leaving everything in order for our relatives and friends. The fact is that funerals cost money, and we want to take care of the cost”

As Funeral Directors we are often asked about paying for a funeral in advance, and our Pre-payment Plans have been developed to meet this need. These plans offer the personal service you would expect from a local Independent Funeral Director, with good value and complete security, and we are proud to recommend it.

The Advantages of a Prepayment Plan
  • You choose your funeral arrangements, for your own peace of mind.
  • You 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 the Funeral Director’s charges.
  • Financial security – the funeral payment is held in Funeral Planning Trust until it is needed.
  • The service will be provided by us.
  • There is no age limit and there are no awkward health questions.
  • You can make a once-only payment or pay by monthly instalments, which ever suits you.
  • Complies with the Funeral Planning Authority Code of Practice and Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
Commonly Asked Questions
How will I know the money will be safe?
All payments are made directly into the Funeral Planning Trust, a national fund established in 1995 for the secure deposit of funeral payments. 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 when the service has been provided or if the plan is cancelled.

Does the plan include disbursements?
Each plan includes a contribution towards other expenses, such as crematorium or cemetery fees, doctor’s fees for a cremation certificate and minister’s or church fees – these fees are known as “disbursements”. This contribution is intended to cover most of the usual disbursements, but please note that they are outside our control and cannot be guaranteed and they may require topping up at the time of the funeral. The amount included for disbursements will be stated on your funeral plan certificate.

Funeral Charges & Disbursements
The final cost of a funeral is influenced by a number of factors and mainly under your control. These include:
  • The type of funeral i.e. burial or cremation.
  • The location of the funeral
  • Whether there is to be a separate Service before or after the committal
  • The style of coffin and furnishing
  • The number and style of funeral vehicles required
We will give you at the time of making the funeral arrangements a written itemised estimate of the final charges, this will include any disbursements we pay out on your behalf to third parties.

Disbursements
These are the charges applied by third parties i.e. Ministers, crematorium, grave digger, doctors. We will pay these on your behalf, but will require the total of these disbursements to be paid to us before the funeral.

Professional Fees
Professional fees include conducting the funeral and supplying all staff and vehicles necessary to fulfil the arrangements. Our professional services in making all the arrangements and supplying the selected coffin. Care of the deceased and necessary hygienic treatment and processing all statutory and non statutory documentation.

Help with the cost of a funeral
If you have a problem with financing a funeral you should speak to the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) immediately. This should be done before you confirm the funeral order with us. The DWP will only fund or contribute towards the cost of a funeral if the immediate family is unable to pay for the funeral and the potential claimants and their immediate family are in receipt of certain State benefits.

The form required for making claims to the Department for Works and Pensions is Form SF2000. This can be obtained by attending or telephoning any DWP office, or from any Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

Please inform us immediately if you are considering claiming from the DWP so we can advice you on what the DWP will consider acceptable funeral arrangements in these Circumstances.

Our Terms and Conditions
Payment is due on invoice which will be sent to you approx 7-10 days after the funeral. Accounts remaining unpaid more than 30 days will be liable for interest of 2% per month on the outstanding balance.

Contact Us for more information