General Chat

in september i have a policy paying out the proceeds of which i intend to pay for my funeral.
However do i invest in a funeral plan and if so which one or has anybody any suggestion on how or where i can keep this money ringfenced.

Your thoughts gratefully received

maddie

Look around at at least 2/3 find whats included and who will meet your explitic requirements and at what costs ,as all do not have an all in exclusive...…plus of course its a down to how much is going to be pre-paid into the scheme.

some will provide,,,, only 1 family car.and a limited choice of coffin and its furnishings.


keep it local if you can so you get a face to face consultation and can be welcomed to any changes that maybe wanted in time.

I know from just recent events Coop crossed all the Ts an dotted all the Is with excellent expectations and gave every inch of their worth....…..but its all down to personal choice.

Only one I know about was OH's aunt. OH was executor and in charge of funeral but it was all done already. Local CO-OP funeral directors (Strood) aunt had paid for just the hearse as she knew there was plenty of cars. Had specified which coffin she wanted. Aunt had stated hymns etc and which vicar. No flowers, which charities for donations.

All OH had to do was hand over death cert.. Very efficient, nice caring people, all went without a hitch and they sorted out ashes for us to collect.

Agree keep it local as aunt's funeral showed local knowledge made all the arrangements easy for them.

I know some only have a limited distance for such an all inclusive price.


Not long ago lady lost her OH and had a prepaid,but in her confusion and utter shock didn't realise No headstone was included,which of course is another department.

My Funeral is all arranged with my very nice local director.
Paid him all the costs for what I want for my funeral.

Not having anyone there and just a coffin in the ground.

1 Hearse and coffin and no service.

I used the Co-Op pre paid plan several years ago for my aunt, they were efficient and even though she lived over 25miles from where the funeral was taking place there were no problems i would use them again.

Just as addition, i took out the plan as my aunt lived in a Care Home and all her savings was being used to pay fees, at least i was able to release these funds with approval of Court of Protection Services as "frittering" away your own cash is not on.

Last month we had my father's cremation.

He wanted, and got, the basic service provided by our local funeral directors who are members of the 'Dignity' group.

The total cost was £3495.00

This included
Collection (at the weekend, at home) and safekeeping of his body until the cremation and embalming. Including collection of the ashes and safekeeping until the family collects. £2066.00
Crematorium fees. £1070.00
Minister/Celebrant's fee £195.00*
Doctor's fee £164.00**

* The Celebrant in our case was exceptional. Guided us through the process and spent a long time ensuring that his words at the service really reflected my Dad.

** If there is a cremation, thanks to Dr Shipman, all deaths have to be 'signed off' by an independent second Doctor.

There was a perfectly nice coffin and we only had the hearse, no cars, but the requisite number of pall bearers were supplied.

Other costs we found were....

Death certificate £11.00 and copies are an additional £11.00 each, issued at the same time. (A recent price increase)

Flowers. We had a half spray for the coffin. £75.00


I know that Dignity have a prepay option and having being so impressed by their service I am seriously considering their 'Pay now, Die later' plan (obviously not called that :-D) as, let's be honest, the cost of funerals will only ever go up.

Hope that helps as it gives very recent costings for a funeral.

Chris

thank you for your replies, certainly gives me alot to think about
Luckily have until september to decide

maddie

.For comparison, father-in-law’s funeral cost £5088 in March, excluding death certificates. Extra copies were only £3.50 when the death was registered in Feb. The 5+k did include one car & 20 copies of an order of service.

The coffin topper was paid for by the immediate next of kin, something like £150 in total.
We were very traditional & held a ‘wake’ in a local hotel. They charged £11 per head for a sandwich & cake buffet & exclusive use of the dining room. His widow wouldn’t have been able to make it up the stairs to a cheaper one. Total cost for that £374.