Planning, for the future. Flexible funeral plans. Choice50 Funeral Plans are provided in association with Golden Leaves Limited

Transcription

1 Planning, for the future. Flexible funeral plans Choice50 Funeral Plans are provided in association with Golden Leaves Limited

2 Taking care of those you love Immediate certainty with Choice50 Every day at Funeral Partners we help families and friends to arrange the funeral of someone they love. You may have arranged a funeral yourself, so perhaps you re thinking about how to help the people that one day you ll leave behind. By taking out a Choice50 funeral plan you ll know that your funeral is taken care of and you can support your family or friends at an upsetting and difficult time. The Choice50 funeral plan is a straightforward, cost-effective way to pay for the funeral you want. It could be the right choice for you if you want the reassurance of fixed payments, protection against inflation, full cover after six months and entitlement to a rebate if you have overpaid. Planning and paying for your funeral is one of the most thoughtful things you can do to help those close to you cope with bereavement. Why not do it today and get on with living your life? If you need any help completing your application, talk to our customer advisers for free on and they will put you in touch with your local branch who will explain anything you re not sure about. Why choose the Choice50 funeral plan? Lower monthly payments than many other plans Monthly payments are fixed and will not increase Full cover starts after just six months Immediate cover for accidental death Protection against inflation and rising funeral costs Guaranteed acceptance no medical or health checks Provided in partnership with Golden Leaves Ltd A rebate promise on overpayment at time of death Choice50 is the only funeral plan to offer full cover after just six months, fixed payments and a rebate promise. No other plan offers you the combined value of these three benefits*: > You re fully covered after only six months Many plans expect you to pay fixed monthly payments for at least 12 months, or even two years, before you are entitled to be fully covered. With our Choice50 funeral plan, you are fully covered after just six months, and immediately covered for accidental death from the outset*. > Your monthly payments are fixed from the start You can relax knowing your monthly payments will never go up and neither will your funeral director s costs which are guaranteed**. > Receive a rebate if you ve overpaid with our overpayment rebate benefit With some funeral plans people end up paying more in than is actually paid out for the funeral when they die. Our Choice50 plan is different. If you have paid more than Golden Leaves receives from the policy to fund the funeral service on death, your estate will be eligible for a rebate. The rebate of up to 100%* of the overpaid fixed monthly payments depends on the type of plan, the age of the plan holder at time the policy is taken out, and the date of death and would be calculated and paid by Golden Leaves. * Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for full details. ** Unless a change in legislation or taxation materially affects the whole of life policy purchased by Golden Leaves Ltd.

3 Why the Choice50 funeral plan? 3,500 3,400 3,300 3,200 3,100 3,000 2,900 2,800 2,700 2,600 2,500 2,400 2,300 2,200 2,100 2,000 1,900 1,800 1,700 1,600 1,500 1,400 1,300 1,200 You don t need us to tell you that everything seems to go up in price every year. Unfortunately it s just the same with funeral costs. How this plan protects you against rising costs. > Pay now save money You don t need us to tell you that everything seems to go up in price every year. Unfortunately it s just the same with funeral costs. Recent 2013 research by the University of Bath s research Institute puts the average cost of a very basic UK cremation funeral at 3,456 an increase of 80% in eight years far higher than the general rate of inflation If this trend continues, the average cost of a funeral in 2020 will be over 6,000 But because this Plan pre-pays your agreed funeral services at today s costs you are unaffected by any future price rises. > A real alternative to saving for your funeral A plan like this can offer a better financial option than putting money in a savings account to pay for future funeral costs. Since 2000, funeral costs have soared but interest paid on savings accounts has remained very low. The amount of money, which would have paid for a funeral back then, plus the small amount of interest earned over the years, would not cover the cost of an average funeral today. Your family would be left with a substantial extra amount to find, quite apart from having to access your savings account to pay for the funeral. > A sound financial decision We re proud to say that the Choice50 plan offers much better all-round value than other plans currently available offering the same services. With us, your fixed monthly payments are not just fixed, they are also lower than many other plans. Also, you won t have to make any more payments after the age of 90, although you will still be covered for the rest of your life. Don t forget too that unlike some funeral plans where you may have to wait for up to two years before you are fully covered, with our Choice50 plan you will be fully covered after just six months. However, there are some costs we cannot control. These are third party expenses known as disbursements, which include fees for the cemetery, crematorium, doctors certificates or clergy, for instance. All of our plans will include a sum of money to be used towards these costs. This contribution is paid out when you die, and although it grows in line with the indexation of the plan, to keep pace with inflation, it is possible that there may be a little more to pay at the time of the funeral. Your plan is with Funeral Partners, who have local funeral directors throughout the UK. If you move house your plan will move with you. You can be sure of our quality of service wherever you are. 1,100 1, Choice50 Funeral Plan Building Society Investment 1977 Shortfall University of Bath s Institute for research s Cost of Dying Survey ** Building Societies Association, average savings rates Jan 2000 Jul Past performance is not necessarily a guide for the future.

4 Choose a plan to suit you The Choice50 funeral plan offers three different options so you can choose the funeral arrangements you would prefer and can afford, whether it s something simple or more elaborate. Choice50 Plan This plan provides the professional services of your Funeral Partners funeral director, a hearse to meet the mourners and a simple coffin. It also includes a contribution towards disbursements such as cremation, cemetery or clergy fees. Funeral Partners covers the whole of the UK but if you are in an area without a branch then we will ensure that a local Funeral Director is available to help. Choice50 Plus Plan This plan provides all the elements specified in the Choice50 Plan but gives you more flexibility in your arrangements. It also allows for one limousine to transport the mourners and family to and from the service. Choice50 Plus Extra Plan The plan includes all the elements specified within the Choice+ Plan as well as an upgrade to a higher quality coffin. Choice50 Choice50 Plus Choice50 Plus Extra Funeral Partners funeral director s professional services Advice on funeral registration, documentation and certification Removal from place of death to funeral director s premises within 25 miles in normal working hours Care of deceased prior to funeral Chapel of rest available for family and friends to visit during working hours At the weekend or out of hours At the weekend or out of hours Simple coffin Higher quality coffin Attendance of conductor and four pallbearers on day of funeral Transport of the coffin from our premises direct to the crematorium or cemetery The funeral cortege to proceed from our premises via your home and then on to the place of service and/or crematorium/ cemetery Provision of one limousine Full listing of floral tributes Disbursements Unique Funeral Partners additions > Special details If you would like additional services not included in the plan, such as the purchase of a new grave or a service at a local church, please let us know. We will be happy to discuss these with you. Although we cannot include these extra costs in your plan we can help with the arrangements. The cost of these additional services would need to be paid separately at the time of the funeral. Please call your local branch if you would like a more detailed chat about all your options. Call > Disbursements A contribution towards ministers and doctors fees, crematorium or cemetery fees. The amount contributed towards these costs may still require additional payment from estate/executors at the time of funeral. The cost of the funeral director s services is guaranteed to be met in full. (See Terms & Conditions) > All our plans include the following unique additional benefits: 100 off the cost of a will or legal services from our partner company. 100 off the cost of a headstone or memorial if purchased through us. A 10% discount on any additional services we provide ourselves and/or the cost of upgrading an element of your plan. The additional costs of these services would need to be paid separately at the time of the funeral.

5 Making it easier for those left behind Making funeral arrangements can be especially difficult for those who are grieving the loss of someone special. By planning your funeral, you will spare your family and friends the burden and confusion of organising the day themselves. Planning your own funeral will also ensure your preferences are respected and followed as closely as possible. > Make your wishes known Have you thought about any special details you d like for your funeral? Your Choice50 plan lets you record your funeral wishes, such as the poems, readings, hymns or music you want to be played. In fact, any aspect of your own funeral that matters to you and is close to your heart. There s no charge for changing or adding to these at any time. Should any of your requests incur extra costs which aren t included in your plan, of course we will let you know. > What if you wish to purchase with a single lump sum payment? The Choice50 plan can only be purchased by fixed monthly payments. However our traditional Choice Funeral Plans can be bought with a single payment. Please ask your arranger for details or call our customer service advisors free on and they will put you in touch with your local branch.

6 What would you like to know? Call our customer advisers for free on They will put you through to your local branch if there is anything that you want explaining. > Am I the right age for this plan? Our plan is suitable for anyone between the ages of 50 and 75 years of age. If you are suffering from medical conditions, there are no medical questions asked and you will be fully covered after just six months. > Can I take out this Plan for someone else? Yes, just fill in the applying for a third party box on the application form with your details. We ll then make sure all the correspondence is sent to you and complete confidentiality is assured. > Suppose I m not in good health at the moment? We promise to accept your application regardless of your current state of health. > What if I live to be 100? No matter how old you are, no matter how much funeral directors fees may rise, neither you nor your family will ever be asked for a penny more for the services guaranteed by your funeral plan. Remember there are no fixed monthly payments to pay after age 90 either unlike other plans that could well keep charging you until you are 100! > Suppose I die before I have paid six months of instalments? During the first six months, the full benefit will only be paid in the event of accidental death (terms & conditions apply). Otherwise all of the fixed monthly payments you have paid will be paid to Funeral Partners to provide your funeral, and will be paid to the appointed funeral director to be used as a contribution to the funeral costs. > What rebate will I get if the instalments I ve paid total more than my funeral benefit pays out? Our plan is the only one to offer a rebate should the benefit selected, plus indexation, be less than the total amount you have paid. This could range from a minimum rebate of 10% up to a 100% rebate, dependent upon the plan selected, your age at inception and the total amount you have paid. The rebate is calculated and paid by Golden Leaves. (See Terms and Conditions)

7 You can put your trust in us We want you to feel completely confident that by trusting us to ensure your funeral arrangements, you are in the safest hands possible. A funeral is a time to say goodbye and to remember the life of the person you love. It s our privilege to be at your side. When someone you love dies, you can depend on us. We ll take care of you and your loved one every step of the way. We have been funeral directors for generations: this is a way of life for us. We ll always be straightforward in our dealings, and we ll always keep our word.

8 Taking out your plan is simple and straightforward Your Funeral Director will be able to help you decide what plan is best for you. If you are not sure who to speak to please call us free and we will put you through to your local branch We ll send you your Certificate of Entitlement to funeral services and your Membership Card. Please keep them in a safe place. There will also be a spare copy of the certificate to give to your next of kin so they know you hold this plan and they know how to proceed when the time comes. If you change address, please notify us as soon as possible so we can update our records. Call our customer service advisors free on: Lines open 9am 5.30pm Monday to Friday or by visiting

9 Stable Block, Hare Hatch Grange, Bath Road, Hare Hatch, Reading RG10 9SA Our Funeral Plans are provided in association with Golden Leaves Ltd. Copyright Golden Leaves 2014