Pre-paid funeral plans

Transcription

1 Pre-paid funeral plans Thoughtful, responsible, caring... just three of the reasons people choose to take out a pre-paid funeral plan We re at the Heart of the Community

2 Reasons for choosing to pre-arrange a funeral Peace of mind that the funeral will be as you planned it. 2. A funeral plan relieves your family from making decisions that they are unsure of. 3. Our plans are tailored to your specific needs so that you don t have to pay for parts of a standard plan that you don t need. 4. Protection against rising costs - the cost of funerals increase every year, so with prices charged at today s rates you can fix the cost. 5. Funeral plan s do not count as an asset when calculating the value of an estate when considering long-term healthcare allowances; nor when the taxman wants to apply death duties. We re at the Heart of the Community

3 How much will the funeral plan cost? A funeral is made up of two parts. Firstly, the disbursements that the funeral director pays on your behalf and adds them to your final bill, these include church fees, doctors fees, cemetery or crematorium fees, organist fees as well as optional extra services such as newspaper notices, service sheets, marker crosses, floral tributes etc. Secondly, there are the funeral directors charges which include the hearse, professional services, coffin and any limousines etc. With so many options, we do not offer packaged funerals, we prefer that you understand the options available locally and only pay for the ones you want.

4 Commonly asked questions and answers... Will my money be safe? Yes, we invest the monies in whole of life insurance policies between us and the Co-operative Insurance Society Ltd (CIS) one of the countries biggest insurance company s. Will there be anything else to pay for? No, as long as the contracted funeral is adhered to there will be no additional charges. Can I make changes to the arrangements at a later date? We recognise that circumstances can change and we will be happy to try and accommodate these changes but additional costs will be charged at the rate applicable at the time the change is being made. What if I die abroad or away from home? If the return home (repatriation) has not been included in the plan then it will be charged at the price prevailing at the time ordered. If you intend to travel abroad it is advisable to take out the usual holiday insurance which covers the cost of repatriation. Who will need to know of my plans? The arrangement between you and the funeral director is confidential. However, we would recommend that a copy of the plan is either left with a responsible person (e.g the matron of your residential home or a solicitor) or in an obvious place where it will be found before funeral arrangements are made. Can I take the plan out for someone else? Yes, we will arrange for the plan to be sent to your address and confidentiality is assured. Can I pay by instalments? Yes, by standing order over 12 monthly instalments including the deposit. What happens if death occurs before the instalments are complete? We simply deduct the amount of monies you have paid up to that date from the final invoice and you pay the remaining balance. We re at the Heart of the Community

5 What to do next? When you are ready, contact one of our branches listed on the back of this leaflet and either make an appointment to visit them to discuss the arrangements or if you prefer, we can visit you in your home and make arrangements. What happens when death occurs? Your next of kin or executor should contact the nearest Heart of England Co-operative Funeral Services branch, the telephone numbers and addresses can be found on the back cover of this booklet. To redeem the plan your next of kin or executor will need to sign any statutory forms (the funeral director will organise these for you) and release a copy of the death certificate (called a Copy of entry into the Register ). The funeral will then be carried out to the specifications you laid out in your plan. Pre-arrangement estimate form (to be filled in by Funeral Arranger)

6 Terms and conditions 1. Such funeral to be arranged at some date, as yet unknown, at an approximate date consequent upon the death of the client being advised to the funeral directors. Simply states the time scale which is unlimited but will become effective at a reasonable time following the death of the client. 2. No further charge will be made in respect of these arrangements outlined overleaf. Additional services, if requested by the client or person arranging the funeral will be charged for at the rate prevailing when requested. For example an additional limousine may be required or the client may pass away on holiday requiring return from that place to home. 3. In the event of the client s domicile at the time of death being more than 100 miles from a branch of the funeral directors or associate companies. The client has three choices:- a) Withdraw the sum deposited less the administration fee, and make local arrangements. b) Make local funeral arrangements and sum deposited less the administration fee, will be paid over to the funeral director upon proof that the funeral has taken place. You will be required to pay any balance remaining to the funeral director. It must be remembered that funeral costs vary considerably from town to town and funeral directors. c) Arrange for the deceased to be brought back home and invoke the contract. In this case the cost or repatriation would be additional and dealt with under clause An administration fee of eighty pounds will be applied to every funeral plan, this is included within the funeral price and will be used to cover administration costs. Should the bond be cancelled this fee is non-refundable. In the event that no funeral is required or the costs are paid by an insurance claim. For example as a result of an accident, the principal sum less the administration fee will be paid to whoever is designated. This may be a charity or a friend, executor or relative who survives the client. 5. The funeral plan will not be issued until, all monies have been paid in full. 6. If the bond holder should pass away, before the bond is fully paid, all monies paid to date less the administration fee can be credited towards the funeral expenses. However, any shortfall will remain outstanding and must be settled within our normal terms and conditions for payment. If after signing this authorisation you wish to cancel, you can do so without penalty for a period of 28 days from the date of signing, after this period irrespective of how long the funeral bond has been in existence the money you have already paid will be refunded less an administration fee of eighty pounds. You should inform the funeral plan office in writing if this becomes your intention. A copy of this agreement should be lodged in a safe but obvious place and close relatives or suitable persons should be advised of its existence. We re at the Heart of the Community

7 Pre-arrangement estimate form (to be filled in by Funeral Arranger) Date of Estimate Clients Name Address Staff Name Name for Plan Address Postcode Telephone No. Postcode Service at Our Charges Professional Services Bringing the Deceased into our care Preparation of the Deceased Hearse Limousine(s) Coffin/Casket Cremated Remains Casket (a) Sub Total Disbursements (Payments made on your behalf) Doctor s Minister/Officiant Church Crematorium/Cemetery/Churchyard Organist Gravedigger Grave Purchases* Obituaries Acknowledgements Floral Tributes Interment/Scattering of Cremated Remains Marker Cross New Memorial (b) Sub Total (a + b) Grand Total *This does not include the purchase of a new grave or cremated remains plots. NB since cemeteries can become full, the only way to ensure that a grave or cremated remains space is available in a specific cemetery is for you to pre-purchase it (the funeral arranger will advise you on this).

8 HEART OF ENGLAND CO-OPERATIVE FUNERAL SERVICES AT: Gillivers, Church Road BARLESTONE CV13 0EE Telephone: High Street BEDWORTH CV12 8NF Telephone: Ansty Road COVENTRY CV2 3EX Telephone: Asian Funeral Services Foleshill Road, Foleshill COVENTRY CV6 5AJ Telephone: Lower Holyhead Road COVENTRY CV1 3AX Telephone: High Street DAVENTRY NN11 4HT Telephone: Kings Walk EARL SHILTON LE9 7NL Telephone: Central Avenue NUNEATON CV11 5BB Telephone: Warwick Street ROYAL LEAMINGTON SPA CV32 5JR Telephone: Bilton Road RUGBY CV22 7AL Telephone: A Division of the Heart of England Co-operative Society Limited.