IS THE FIRM PURE CREMATION TRUSTWORTHY?

Technosaurus

I don't think they are 'untrustworthy' or anything - they take a body to a site, cremate it, and return the ashes, for a fee. Yes they market more than many but this option is available via other means. The fixed fee model works well as funerals do cost more depending on postcode - if you die in, say, Pontefract, then the crematorium cost is among the highest in the country for reasons best known to the council. Go 10 miles to Leeds and there's a saving there straightaway. Whereas in London it's the limos, flowers and drinks afterwards which can add to cost, etc etc. Whereas Pure offer a fixed fee regardless and that's that.

The bigger question is whether people feel that's what they want, and that's up to them based on a variety of factors. Some people have had a direct cremation for a loved one and didn't like it, some people think it's great. Such is life. I think it's important for people to explain to their next of kin what they have chosen and why, just so they are not blindsided by expecting a full funeral and then finding out their Mum has paid for something different. Even things like visiting the body mean a lot to some but not to others, so as long as everyone is aware then 'trustworthiness' of the chosen provider doesn't come into it..

One thing I would advise is that it's not a binary decision between "direct" or "full on bells and whistles crematorium". You can mix and match - indeed any funeral directors with their own chapel will be able to offer an attended service followed by direct cremation for much cheaper than the more "standard" offering of a crematorium with hearse, limo, etc.

Conversely you can have a direct cremation and then have a 'do' in a function room later at considerably less cost than a full on funeral. Someone upthread has made the point that they have opted for direct cremation and paid for it put some cash aside for their daughter to choose what to do later, which seems eminently sensible.

KxMx

Although Mum chose a direct cremation we are certainly still having a wake for her at a date of our choosing in the near future. While alive we discussed a few options.

Unfortunately the banks are being very slow at releasing her money so I don't know the financial position for certain quite yet.

Nan died December 2020 and we held off on her wake until August 2021 when restrictions had eased & better weather had arrived.

There is no law to say a wake must happen on the day of service.

Technosaurus

Hi @KxMx yes I should have said "Later on" rather than just 'later'.

One of the "best" services I've been personally involved with was done several weeks after the direct cremation took place. Partially due to financial issues but like you they also they wanted to wait for better weather - it was a lovely laid back affair that was more like a wedding than a funeral, complete with live music etc. Then it rained for a little while and there was a rainbow…

Pollycat

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81942777#Comment_81942777

That old chestnut? 🤔

You've just lost all credibility on this thread

Investmentexpert

much better to use a national company like Pure cremation that a funeral director, much cheaper for a start. Also I don’t want all the fuss of a traditional funeral. Also having compared providers they seem to be the only one that manages their trust by reinsuring it

Pollycat

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82003745#Comment_82003745

"Much cheaper for a start"?

Not what a poster up-thread said. Read it.

And you're comparing a Pure Cremation funeral to a 'traditional' funeral director funeral i.e. cars, crematorium service…

A local funeral director can provide the same service as all these companies spending money on advertising on TV.

Read the post up-thread.

Technosaurus

I know from personal experience that Pure Cremation are not even necessarily the cheapest at Direct Cremations (at least in my locality)... Several local Funeral Directors can do exactly the same - ie take body, cremate and return ashes - for slightly less, the local funeral directors simply don't advertise this as effectively as Pure, but you only have to ask.

In fact some of the local ones offer "better value" because family can visit the deceased beforehand should they wish… not all of them do this as standard though so if that's important to people, best to ask.

Pollycat

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82004454#Comment_82004454

My point exactly to the the poster who said:

"much better to use a national company like Pure cremation that a funeral director, much cheaper for a start."

I'd much rather give my money to the local funeral director who've served pretty much all of my family for many years than some new company who are chucking shedloads of money on adverts.

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82004531#Comment_82004531

Was not the OP directed towards funeral plans? Are you comparing like with like? The plan offered by Pure is fixed for the duration and the funds are held under FSCS protection. Is such a plan offered by your local firm?

Have no doubt that cheaper/same can be found for an immediate service but will they offer similar terms for a pre-paid funeral?

Technosaurus

Hi @flaneurs_lobster - no, you can get plans for such things with local funeral directors just like any other plan.

I will concede that "local" funeral plans do have a bad reputation due to a couple going bust in the not too distant past, so @Investmentexpert 's point about how Pure manage their trust might be of interest.

It's not something I have investigated in any depth as for £2k I'd personally just whack the cash in a savings account/low risk investment product as can't see costs skyrocketing - if anything cremations should be about to get cheaper as there are more private ones being built now, but that's just guesswork.