The cost of death ?

Effy

Hey,

You can get pre plan funerals with family funeral directors also, you don't have to go through Dignity or Co-Operative if you don't want to. Most FD's will offer Golden Charter or similar plans for pre paid funerals.

I don't know much about burial I'm afraid but I do work in a Crematorium and there are other memorial options opposed to a headstone (if you're being MS!) ... for instance an entry in the Book Of Remembrance (which is permanent, most other memorials are on a lease basis, I know of few places that will offer you something in perpetuity) can say whatever you wish and then maybe you can have your ashes scattered in the Crematorium grounds (this is often free of charge).

If you want a basic funeral most Funeral Directors offer a set fee for basic services ... can I suggest you do not use the internet, there is a specific company (internet based) who I guess I can't name, sadly, who we will not even allow to book a service at our site due to their complete lack of professionalism, having dealt with a family that have used them I cannot say enough how truely appalling they are!

Anyway don't suppose any of that answered the initial question but couldn't help but poke my nose in. I would agree that a basic service can cost between £2-3k

Effy

Just saw the section regarding where you would like your ashes scattered, so just ignore my rabbiting on about your local crem! If you have any queries about the cremation process or assurance that your ashes are your ashes, feel free pm me and I'll happily let you know how everything is done..... hope that's not to macabre for anyone on here, just know that this is something a lot of people are concerned about!

Incyder

cheers effy, good info.
Yes, I guess that is the one big question everyone would like the answer too. Are the ashes 100% of the person or are there others mixed in ?

BreamoreBoy

IIRC years ago a woman buried her husband in the hills where they used to walk for a tenner. The only restriction was you can't be buried near a water course.

harveysmummy_2

For my hubby's funeral I paid just over 3.5K

as it was a very sudden death and we hadn't spoken about what our wishes were (he was only 38!) I decided to do a church service and then have a cremation, the ashes were later interned at our local church so the above included

-the coffin
-the church service
-the funeral flowers from me (a big white heart of roses) and my son ('DADDY' in red/white roses)
-the hearse with 2 extra bearers (his 4 best mates also carried him)
-the cremation
-the ashes box
-the internment

the stone plaque set me back an extra £300+

HTH

Effy

Incyder wrote: »

cheers effy, good info.
Yes, I guess that is the one big question everyone would like the answer too. Are the ashes 100% of the person or are there others mixed in ?

In a nutshell ....No others mixed in, they are yours, there is identification that will follow you through every step of the process

ironlady2022

Dekazer wrote: »

I don't wish to speak for others, but I personally see the appeal in knowing that all the arrangements are paid for in advance in order that my loved ones would not need to stump up for it. It all depends on one's circumstances (currently I would be covered by my employer's death in service cover), but if I thought my family would be financially disadvantaged by my death, I would want to ensure that I left them sufficient to cover it - or paid in advance!

I completely agree. It's already a distressing time when a tragedy happens and if it's one less thing to think about for your lived ones then great. They will be appreciative of it but you just won't see it. Also the costs of funerals are going up no doubt and you can save yourself some bob if it's paid up front and time if arranged in advance.

OnAndUp

I feel that it's very important on a website like MSE, people see the harsh realities of these funeral plans, as people may otherwise have read this thread and thought that Golden Charter's funeral plans were good as no-one else had posted otherwise.

I have recently had dealings with Golden Charter after my Grandad passed away. I just wanted to share my experience so people make sure they know how these plans work.

He purchased their Standard Plan for £1050 in 1999 which is now supposed to be worth £2700 if you took the plan out today. You really have to read the small print as things that you would naturally expect to be covered for a funeral are not.

It makes me so mad :mad: he died obviously thinking that he had paid for everything, which would be the whole point of taking out one of these policies. We went with everything on the Standard Plan that he had chosen not changing anything. BUT there is still another £600+ to be paid.

It's SO wrong, the £600+ is broken down into:
£165 for the Church fees, heating & organist
£40 leaflets
£100 to put the notice in the 2 local papers where he lived
£250 to purchase a grave (you can't exactly have a funeral burial without one!)
£50 for conveyance of the body to the chapel of rest as he died on a Saturday i.e. out of "normal office hours" (that one makes my blood boil the most!).

None of these things are extravagant or even in addition to what most people consider the norm for a funeral.

I'm quite good at understanding financial documents but even I would have been a bit fooled by the way they market it. There are graphs showing how the amount you pay will meet the shortfall for the cost of a funeral when you die.

There is a sheet with the glossy brochure -
10 Important Questions
Question 1. Does the Funeral Plan Guarantee that my family or estate will never be asked for another penny? YES - Once your plan is paid for, there will be nothing more to pay for the selected arrangements unless you change the plan details.

Obviously we never changed the plan details or any of the arrangements but "selected arrangements" is the clever misleading wording in that statement.

I would just like this to be a warning to everyone who buys one of these type of plans to make sure you know exactly what you are paying for and make sure you read the small print and if your not sure about anything ASK!

[Deleted User]

Was about 2.5K for a basic funeral with cremation and service at the crematorium 5 years ago. That included tea and sandwiches at the funeral directors place.

Errata

Looks pretty straightforward to me, this from their website for £2700 -

• The funeral director's services
• Attending to all necessary funeral arrangements
• Advice on the Certification and Registration of Death, and related documentation
• A Simple Coffin, suitable for burial or cremation
• Local conveyance of the deceased from the place of death within mainland UK to a suitable resting place within 15 miles, during normal office hours
• The care of the deceased prior to burial or cremation
• The provision of a hearse to a local cemetery or crematorium
• Cremation or burial where locally available
• Fees payable to doctors and clergy
• Viewing and other services are available at additional cost