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Many people consider that a funeral pre-payment plan is a caring, sensible and cost-effective way to pay for ones own funeral. A key advantage of a pre-payment plan, when compared to a savings account or life assurance policy, is that you can pay now, at today’s price, and not have to worry about price increases (except disbursements in respect of burials), whenever the service might be required. Your money is held securely in an independent trust, established solely for this purpose, until it is needed. This trust is called the Funeral Planning Trust, for which HSBC Trust Company (UK) Limited act as custodian trustee. We request that all payment(s) are made directly to the Funeral Planning Trust. Our price guarantee applies to charges for our services and products as well as cremation disbursements. Regrettably Welham Jones cannot guarantee disbusements in respect of burials, and recommend that your plan includes 125% of today’s disbursements, or that a burial plot is purchased and reserved. Our funeral pre-payment plan is administered by Funeral Planning Services Limited, who also act in association with many other independent funeral directors nationwide. Welham Jones’ pre-paid plan allows you to tailor your funeral to both your wishes and your pocket with the choice of any casket or coffin from our range; you specify the number of limousines in the cortege - a horse drawn hearse perhaps, whether you want a cremation or a burial, a religious service or not, floral tributes or charitable donations, a funeral breakfast etc.. The choice is yours. Assisted by our experienced staff you will make the funeral arrangements that you want and can afford, without fuss or pressure by completing a Funeral Plan Application Form that can be sent on request, or downloaded. A sample plan detailing a dignified yet simple mid-price cremation is also available. Within 28 days of full payment, Funeral Planning Services will send you a Funeral Plan Guarantee Certificate and a schedule of plan details. If you have chosen to pay by instalments, your initial payment will be acknowledged and a payment schedule agreed. Plan documents, including the guarantee certificate, will be issued after your final payment. The Plan Documentation comes in a folder along with practical information, some of which you need to provide, for relatives (or an executor) to make things as easy for them as possible. It covers
When required, Welham Jones will carry out the funeral arrangements, as itemised and agreed without further payment from your estate, unless you chose a burial, in which case an additional charge might be required, or the tax treatment of funerals generally has changed. This pre-payment plan complies with the requirements of the Funeral Services and Markets Act 2000 and the code of practice of the Funeral Planning Authority, which sets out to ensure:
A full copy of the code of practice is available on request, or by download. For more information, or to see whether your question has already been answered see ‘frequently asked questions’
How much does a funeral plan cost? This depends on what you want for your funeral and how much you can afford to pay. By choosing from our current range of services and products, Welham Jones’ pre-paid plan allows you the utmost flexibility to tailor your funeral to both your wishes and your pocket.
What if the cost of the funeral increases? Funeral costs have risen inexorably over recent years, in fact faster than the rate of retail price inflation. They comprise two components, funeral directors’ charges and disbursements. Funeral directors’ charges have risen mainly as a result of employer and health and safety legislation; disbursements largely for the same reasons, and the high cost of implementing emission controls at crematoria and the scarcity of land available for burial. Once paid, however, your Welham Jones funeral plan will cover any increase in the costs of the items and services you specified without you making additional contributions with two exceptions. Regrettably, we cannot underwrite increases in future burial costs, nor can we guarantee that the tax treatment of funerals will never change. Presently, for example, funeral charges are zero rated for VAT purposes.
Will there be any other costs at the time of the funeral? If you have requested a cremation, then the answer is no. Your plan will cover the cost of Welham Jones’ services including vehicles, as itemised, and those disbursements applicable at the time you bought your plan, for example, crematorium fees, medical fees and, if requested and itemised in the plan, church and minister’s fees, organist’s fees etc. If you have requested a burial, your plan will cover the cost of Welham Jones’ services including vehicles, as itemised and a contribution toward the cost of disbursements. Your contribution will normally be for today’s cost of burial as itemised in your plan. However, at the time of your funeral, should the plan value be insufficient to cover these itemised disbursements your estate will be invoiced for the difference by Welham Jones. You may, if you wish, make an additional contribution at the outset to compensate for these additional costs.
Will my money be safe? Your payment(s) will be made to the Funeral Planning Trust, an independent trust established under the laws of England and Wales, to be held and invested by the managing trustees in accordance with the trust deed. HSBC Trust Company (UK) Ltd., a member of HSBC Group, one of the world’s largest banking groups, act as custodian trustee. The accounts of Funeral Planning Trust are monitored annually by independent actuaries and checked by independent auditors. When needed, Welham Jones will provide the agreed service as itemised against payment from the Funeral Planning Trust. Welham Jones’ funeral plans are administered by Funeral Planning Services, a company specialising in pre-paid funeral plans.
Do you pay interest? No. A guaranteed funeral plan is simply a way of paying in advance for your funeral service. As the value of the Funeral Planning Trust increases, so does the money available to the funeral director, compensating him (and you) for rising costs.
Can I pay by instalments? Yes. There are a range of options that we can discuss. It usually costs more to pay by instalments as a result of added administration costs. Remember, too, that if you die before your plan is fully paid the benefits will be pro-rated. Funeral plans paid for within six months will not be subject to price increases. Those paid for by instalments over one, two, three, for or five years will be subject to price rises – details may be obtained either from Welham Jones or direct from the Funeral Planning Services helpline on 0800 41 30 46.
What if I change my mind? If you have second thoughts your plan can be changed or cancelled. Within a month of receiving your Funeral Plan documents, there is no cancellation charge; simply return your plan documents for a full refund. Later cancellations may be subject to an administration charge.
Is there an age limit, or do health restrictions apply? No. This is a pre-paid funeral plan and not an insurance policy. You can purchase a plan at any age and in any state of health.
What if I move home? If you move home, Funeral Planning Services can transfer your plan to a Funeral Director in your new area. Funeral costs can vary from one region to another and you will be advised of any differences upon transfer.
What happens if I die away from home? It is recommended that you take out travel insurance whenever on holiday, especially if you go abroad, which usually covers the cost of repatriation. You should check with your travel insurance provider, or we can quote you for the extra cost involved.
Can I buy a plan for someone else? Yes, but please mention this on the application form as we will need the name, home address and date of birth of the plan beneficiary. All correspondence, however, will be sent to you, the plan purchaser. |
An
Independent Family Owned Company  ©
Welham Jones Ltd 2006 |
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