Funeral Prepayment Plans. How to select and pay for a funeral in advance, for your own peace of mind and to ease the burden on those you leave behind

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1 Funeral Prepayment Plans How to select and pay for a funeral in advance, for your own peace of mind and to ease the burden on those you leave behind

2 The advantages of a Funeral Prepayment Plan Many people wish to provide for their funeral expenses and a funeral prepayment plan is a caring, sensible and costeffective way to do so. The advantage of a prepayment plan over a savings account or life insurance policy is that you can pay now, at today s prices, and beat inflation no matter when the service may be required. The Funeral Director s fees will be paid by Funeral Planning Trust. Funeral prepayment plans are provided by Funeral Planning Services in association with a network of independent Funeral Directors throughout the UK. Funeral prepayments are held in Funeral Planning Trust until required the Funeral Director will not be paid until after the funeral. I m so pleased with the plan that at every opportunity I will tell my friends. 2

3 You can choose your own funeral arrangements, for your own peace of mind. You will save your family from having to make difficult decisions and trying to guess what you would have wanted, at such a distressing time. All our options are clearly specified with fixed prices alternatively you can choose a personalised plan with every detail exactly as you want it. 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 Rosedale Funeral Home. 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. It s the sensible thing to do, and very easy. I would recommend it to anyone. 3

4 About our Service osedale Funeral Home was established in 2004 as an independent family business we believe this makes a difference. Our Funeral Directors in Norfolk and Suffolk have hundreds of years of experience between them and offer a professional and competitively priced service. Our staff are trained to the highest of standards to ensure the bereaved can be confident that those who have died are in safe, respectful hands. We are dedicated to carrying out our duties with integrity and care. We are members of the National Association of Funeral Directors and abide by their Code of Practice. We are recommended by both the Good Funeral Guide and the Natural Death Handbook. Our aim as independent Funeral Directors is to provide a caring, dignified and complete funeral service for our community, including providing prepayment options. Our funeral plan customers can be assured that, when the time comes, their arrangements and wishes will be carried out with the greatest care and respect. Simon & Anne Beckett-Allen Directors of Rosedale Funeral Home It is our judgement that here you will be: Listened to with empathy, offered the full range of choice, given all the time you need, charged fairly, and empowered to arrange a funeral which reflects your wishes and values and those of the person who has died. Charles Cowling Director of the Good Funeral Guide 4

5 Choosing a funeral plan is easy... Just select one of our comprehensive plans and note any special wishes on the application form, or discuss a fully personalised option with us, to meet your exact requirements. Disbursements With the exception of the Economy Plan, each plan includes a contribution towards third party 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. The amount included for disbursements is stated on the application form and will be increased annually in line with the Retail Prices Index, but please note that these costs are outside our control and cannot be guaranteed. Plan Prices Please refer to the current price list for details. Changes to the plans We can amend any of these plans to suit you and adjust the price accordingly - please ask. Personalised Arrangements A funeral is a very personal matter and many people have particular wishes. If none of these plans suit your requirements then please let us know and we will prepare a personalised plan just for you, to allow for whatever services you require. 5

6 The Grasmere Plan This plan provides a traditional style funeral with a quality veneer coffin: Guidance on the registration of a death. Removal of the deceased from anywhere in East Anglia. Care of the deceased, including facilities for viewing in our Chapel of Rest, by appointment. A natural elm veneered coffin with panelled sides, lined interior and matching gown. Making all arrangements and providing staff for the funeral service. Supply of a hearse and bearers with one limousine for mourners. The cortege can leave from a private address prior to the funeral service at a local church, followed by committal at a local crematorium, churchyard or cemetery. Listing of floral tributes and acknowledging charitable donations. A contribution towards disbursements such as cremation or burial fees. Please refer to the note on disbursements. (see page 5) The Royal Plan This plan provides the best service with the following variations to the Grasmere Plan: A solid oak coffin with lined interior and matching gown. Supply of two limousines for mourners. Printing fifty personalised service sheets. 6

7 The Eco Plan For those who are conscious of their impact on the environment, this plan provides a similar funeral to the Grasmere plan, but with a coffin woven from bamboo - a sustainable material which has been ethically produced in a Fair Trade setting. A limousine is not included and we can advise you on other ways to make your funeral as environmentally friendly as possible. The Dovedale Plan This plan provides a simpler funeral than the Grasmere Plan: The coffin provided is finished in simulated oak veneer. No limousines are included in this plan. Facilities for viewing are available during office hours only. No allowance is included for our attendance at a church service prior to cremation. The Economy Plan This plan covers the essentials for a simple funeral i.e. a basic coffin and a hearse to meet the family at the funeral venue. It does not include facilities for viewing, a procession from the house, attendance at a church service prior to a cremation, or a limousine. This plan does not include contributions towards third party expenses. Funeral Plan Options 7

8 Questions & Answers Here are some of the questions you might want to ask, but please call us if there is anything else you would like to know about the plans. 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 below. Can I pay by instalments? Yes, there is 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 having paid all of the instalments, the funeral will only be part-paid. 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, this will usually cover bringing you back home if necessary. Alternatively we can quote for the extra cost involved. 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 this stage. Can I buy a plan for someone else? Yes, please mention this on your application we will need the name, address and date of birth of the person to be covered but we will send all correspondence to you. 8

9 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 Director will increase to compensate for rising costs. 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). 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 without any further charge to you or your family (but please refer to the note on disbursements ). This is one of the most important benefits and why it has become so popular with our clients in recent years. How do I know the money will be safe? All payments are made directly into Funeral Planning Trust, established in 1995 for 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. 9

10 Purchasing a plan is easy... and it only takes a few minutes to deal with Decide which plan suits you best and tick the appropriate box on the application form, or discuss your special wishes with us. Choose whether to make a single payment or, if you prefer to pay by instalments, decide over what period (up to five years). Do you have any questions? If so, please ask us or, if you prefer to contact Funeral Planning Services direct, call them on FREEPHONE Give us your application or send it to Funeral Planning Services together with a cheque for either the full amount or the first instalment (you will receive a banker s order form to cover the remaining payments). Please make your cheque payable to Funeral Planning Trust so that your payment goes directly into the trust fund. Please do not send cash in the post. Card payments can be made direct to Funeral Planning Services or via Rosedale Funeral Home. Everything is designed to make things as easy as possible for your family and friends. 10

11 FUNERAL PLANS A Code of Practice Funeral Planning Services is registered with the Funeral Planning Authority and is bound by the Code of Practice for funeral plans, which ensures: Fair terms and conditions for the customer. Security of funds with strict controls over the custodianship and regular monitoring by independent experts. A procedure for independent arbitration of complaints. A full copy of the Code of Practice is available on request or can be viewed on the Funeral Planning Authority website: This plan complies with the requirements of the Financial Services and Markets Act Your Funeral Plan Guarantee Within 28 days, Funeral Planning Services will send you a Funeral Plan Guarantee Certificate confirming your plan details and that there will be nothing more to pay for the services itemised. For instalment plan customers, your payment plan will be confirmed and the guarantee certificate will be issued when the final payment is received. The plan comes complete with practical information for your relatives or executor on what they should do at the time of the funeral, your personal wishes for the funeral and where your important documents are kept. Everything is designed to make things as easy as possible for your family and friends. 11

12 A family business - We believe it makes a difference ATTLEBOROUGH Yard House, High Street Attleborough, Norfolk NR17 2EH BECCLES Cross Keys House, 22 Hungate, Beccles, Suffolk NR34 9TT BUNGAY Rosedale House, 12A Upper Olland Street Bungay, Suffolk NR35 1BG DISS Rosedale House, 63 Victoria Road, Diss Norfolk IP22 4JE HALESWORTH Arcadia House, 19 Market Place Halesworth, Suffolk IP19 8BB WYMONDHAM Middleton Street Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 0AD prepaid@rosedalefuneralhome.co.uk Follow us at... rosedalefuneral rosedale-funeral-home Funeral prepayment plans provided by Funeral Planning Services Limited in association with independent, family-owned Funeral Directors throughout the UK. Registered with the Funeral Planning Authority. Funeral Planning Services Limited, Flint House, Ipswich Road, Long Stratton, Norwich NR15 2TA. Telephone: