Funeral Plans from Funeral Partners
Key Facts about
The benefit of a plan
Our prepaid funeral plans allow you to make arrangements for your funeral, which may protect your loved ones from uncertainty about your final wishes and risks of rising costs for the Funeral Director Services included in each plan.
Voluntary Contributions
This is only applicable for Choice Essentials & Choice Plus Plans.
We understand that some people would just like to secure the Funeral Director Services in their funeral plan, while others like to make contributions towards Third Party Fees (such as burial or cremation and celebrant or minister fees) and/or Additional Products & Services, in order to personalise the funeral service.
The amount that you contribute towards Third Party Fees and Additional Products & Services is completely your own choice. Certain Third Party Fees must be paid in addition to the funeral plan cost in order for the funeral to take place.
Any shortfall in Third Party Fees or Additional Products & Services will need to be paid for at the time the plan is Redeemed. Please read the terms of your selected Choice Funeral Plan carefully so that you know what is and is not covered.
Your Funeral Director
You can nominate your funeral plan to a Funeral Director within our nationwide Funeral Partners network. Depending upon your circumstances, you may be able to nominate a Funeral Director outside of the Funeral Partners network. Please speak to us for more information.
Joint plans
For Choice Essentials and Choice Plus Plans only, we are able to offer joint plans where you pay for one funeral plan but can select whether to Redeem the plan on the first or second individual’s death.
Joint plans are not available online and must be paid for in full or within 12 months of purchase.
Flexible to make changes
We don’t expect you to decide on everything straight away. We want you to feel comfortable with your plan, so your personal wishes can be added to or amended at any time.
If you feel the funeral plan is no longer right for you, you are able to cancel your plan (see “If you wish to cancel”) or you may be able to switch your plan to another plan provided by us. If you do switch, new Terms will apply and depending upon your circumstances, additional payments may be needed, or you may be entitled to a refund. When paying by instalments, financial changes to the plan can only be made when the plan is fully paid.
At the time the plan is Redeemed, the person responsible for arranging the funeral is able to make amendments to your plan at their expense.
Additional benefits
For Choice Essentials and Choice Plus Plans, we also include 10% off memorial masonry, additional works, cremation tablets (plaques) and vases when an order is placed with us within three months of the funeral taking place.
Support for your family
When you purchase a Choice Funeral Plan, you will have access to a free helpline offering practical support to you and your family on matters such as probate, wills, legal issues and bereavement support. This is operated by a third party.
Inform a friend or family member
You can nominate a friend or relative to become your Nominated Representative at any time. This means they can be informed about your funeral plan.
Eligibility
Choice Funeral Plans can be purchased by any UK resident over the age of 18 with no health restrictions and no credit checks.
Convenient ways to pay
You can pay for your plan in full by credit or debit card, bank transfer, cheque, or with direct debit if paying by instalments. You can pay for your plan in branch, online or over the phone by speaking with one of our team members.
Paying by instalments
You can pay by monthly instalments over one to ten years. The cost of paying for the funeral plan over a 12 month term costs the same as it would paying in full. Full payment for the funeral plan must be made before the Covered Individual reaches the age of 85. For joint plans, instalments must be paid within 12 months.
If paying over 12 months up to the maximum of 120 months, prices vary by age of the Covered Individual and overall you pay more than if you pay in full upfront.
For Choice Essentials and Choice Plus Plans, when you pay by instalments, you cannot make any financial amendments until the plan is
fully paid.
If the Covered Individual passes away within 12 months from the date of Activation, the funeral plan cannot be Redeemed unless the outstanding payments are made.
If the Covered Individual passes away after 12 months, then no further payments will be required for the Funeral Director Services, and depending upon the amount of Voluntary Contributions made for Choice Essentials and Choice Plus Plans, additional payments may be needed for Third Party Fees and Additional Products & Services.
If paying by instalment, switching is only possible once the plan is fully paid. If you want to switch before your plan is fully paid, a cancellation fee may apply.
Your money
Choice invests your money in a whole-of-life assurance policy with a UK-based life assurance company, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
If we go out of business
In this unlikely event, your money is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
Money you provide to us is protected by the FSCS up to the value of £85,000. In the event that we, or our Insurer, go out of business, you may be entitled to compensation.
Your plan moves with you
If you move home, let us know and we can discuss the possibility of nominating a funeral home closer to you. There is no charge for this, as your plan is portable and all services will still be honoured.
Repatriation Service
We do offer a repatriation service, however this is not included in our funeral plans. If the Covered Individual does pass away when abroad, the fees associated with repatriation will apply.
What you will receive
Your Information Pack will normally be sent within 14 days from when your plan is activated.
This will contain a letter confirming the total amount paid (including the amount of any Voluntary Contributions you may have made, if applicable), and include details of your funeral plan, the Nominated Funeral Director and a Certificate of Entitlement.
If you wish to cancel
If you wish to cancel your plan, please contact us. You can always cancel your plan for free within 30 days from the date the plan is Activated. From the date the Nominated Funeral Director is initially appointed, you will also have 7 days to cancel for free (nomination is required within 30 days from the date of Activation).
After these timescales, a cancellation fee of £225 will apply.
If you are paying by instalments, you can cancel for free within 12 months of Activation.
To make a complaint
We take complaints about our services very seriously and we want to hear from you.
If you have a complaint about your funeral plan, please contact us and we will promptly handle this in line with our complaints procedure, which can be viewed at choiceplan.co.uk/complaints
Please contact us if you require a copy of our complaints procedure to be sent to you in a different format.
If dissatisfied with our response, you may be able to refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service at financial-ombudsman.org.uk or call 0800 023 4567.
There for you
We are always happy to discuss your plan with you in person, over the phone or by contacting us through choiceplan.co.uk. Please get in touch with our friendly team for any queries.
Due to factors outside of our control, you may not receive the funeral service that you planned for, for example in the event of a pandemic. We will work closely with your family in these circumstances.