Pre-paid funeral plans - Heart of England Co-operative Society

www.21stcentury.coopPre-paid funeral plans‘Thoughtful, responsible, caring...just three of the reasons peoplechoose to take out a pre-paidfuneral plan’We’re at the Heart of the Community

Reasons for choosing to pre-arrangea funeral...1. Peace of mind that the funeral will be as you planned it.2. A funeral plan relieves your family from making decisions that theyare unsure of.3. Our plans are tailored to your specific needs so that you don’t haveto pay for parts of a ‘standard plan’ that you don’t need.4. Protection against rising costs - the cost of funerals increase everyyear, so with prices charged at today’s rates you can fix the cost.5. Funeral plan’s do not count as anasset when calculating the value of anestate when considering long-termhealthcare allowances; nor when thetaxman wants to apply death duties.We’re at the Heart of the Community

How much will the funeral plan cost?A funeral is made up of two parts. Firstly, the disbursements that thefuneral director pays on your behalf and adds them to your final bill,these include church fees, doctors fees, cemetery or crematorium fees,organist fees as well as optional extra services such as newspapernotices, service sheets, marker crosses, floral tributes etc.Secondly, there are the funeral directors charges which include thehearse, professional services, coffin and any limousines etc.With so many options, we do not offer ‘packaged funerals’, we preferthat you understand the options available locally and only pay for theones you want.

Commonly asked questions and answers...• Will my money be safe? Yes, we invest the monies in whole of lifeinsurance policies between us and the Co-operative Insurance Society Ltd (CIS)one of the countries biggest insurance company’s.• Will there be anything else to pay for? No, as long as the contracted funeralis adhered to there will be no additional charges.• Can I make changes to the arrangements at a later date?We recognise that circumstances can change and we will be happy to tryand accommodate these changes but additional costs will be charged at therate applicable at the time the change is being made.• What if I die abroad or away from home? If the return home (repatriation)has not been included in the plan then it will be charged at the priceprevailing at the time ordered. If you intend to travel abroad it is advisableto take out the usual holiday insurance which covers the cost ofrepatriation.• Who will need to know of my plans? The arrangement between you andthe funeral director is confidential. However, we would recommend that acopy of the plan is either left with a responsible person (e.g the matron ofyour residential home or a solicitor) or in an obvious place where it will befound before funeral arrangements are made.• Can I take the plan out for someone else? Yes, we will arrange for the planto be sent to your address and confidentiality is assured.• Can I pay by instalments? Yes, by standing order over12 monthly instalments including the deposit.• What happens if death occurs before the instalments are complete? Wesimply deduct the amount of monies you have paid up to that date fromthe final invoice and you pay the remaining balance.We’re at the Heart of the Community

What to do next?When you are ready, contact one of our branches listed on the back ofthis leaflet and either make an appointment to visit them to discuss thearrangements or if you prefer, we can visit you in your home and makearrangements.What happens when death occurs?Your next of kin or executor should contact the nearest Heart ofEngland Co-operative Funeral Services branch, the telephone numbersand addresses can be found on the back cover of this booklet. To redeemthe plan your next of kin or executor will need to sign any statutoryforms (the funeral director will organise these for you) and release acopy of the death certificate (called a ‘Copy of entry into the Register’).The funeral will then be carried out to the specifications you laid out inyour plan.Pre-arrangement estimate form(to be filled in by Funeral Arranger)

Terms and conditions1. Such funeral to be arranged at some date, as yet unknown, at an approximate dateconsequent upon the death of the client being advised to the funeral directors. Simply statesthe time scale which is unlimited but will become effective at a reasonable time following thedeath of the client.2. No further charge will be made in respect of these arrangements outlined overleaf. Additionalservices, if requested by the client or person arranging the funeral will be charged for at therate prevailing when requested. For example an additional limousine may be required or theclient may pass away on holiday requiring return from that place to home.3. In the event of the client’s domicile at the time of death being more than 100 miles from abranch of the funeral directors or associate companies.The client has three choices:-a) Withdraw the sum deposited less the administration fee, and make local arrangements.b) Make local funeral arrangements and sum deposited less the administration fee, will bepaid over to the funeral director upon proof that the funeral has taken place. You will berequired to pay any balance remaining to the funeral director. It must be remembered thatfuneral costs vary considerably from town to town and funeral directors.c) Arrange for the deceased to be brought back home and invoke the contract. In this case thecost or repatriation would be additional and dealt with under clause 2.4. An administration fee of eighty pounds will be applied to every funeral plan, this is includedwithin the funeral price and will be used to cover administration costs. Should the bond becancelled this fee isnon-refundable.In the event that no funeral is required or the costs are paid by an insurance claim. Forexample as a result of an accident, the ‘principal sum’ less the administration fee will be paidto whoever is designated. This may be a charity or a friend, executor or relative who survivesthe client.5. The funeral plan will not be issued until, all monies have been paid in full.6. If the bond holder should pass away, before the bond is fully paid, all monies paid to dateless the administration fee can be credited towards the funeral expenses. However, anyshortfall will remain outstanding and must be settled within our normal terms and conditionsfor payment.If after signing this authorisation you wish to cancel, you can do so without penalty for aperiod of 28 days from the date of signing, after this period irrespective of how long thefuneral bond has been in existence the money you have already paid will be refunded less anadministration fee of eighty pounds. You should inform the funeral plan office in writing ifthis becomes your intention.A copy of this agreement should be lodged in a safe but obvious place and close relatives orsuitable persons should be advised of its existence.We’re at the Heart of the Community

✃Pre-arrangement estimate form(to be filled in by Funeral Arranger)Date of EstimateClients NameAddressStaff NameName for PlanAddressPostcodeTelephone No.PostcodeService atOur ChargesProfessional Services £Bringing the Deceased into our care £Preparation of the Deceased £Hearse ££Limousine(s) £Coffin/Casket ££Cremated Remains Casket £(a) Sub Total £Disbursements(Payments made on your behalf)Doctor’s £Minister/Officiant £Church £Crematorium/Cemetery/Churchyard £Organist £Gravedigger £Grave Purchases* £Obituaries £Acknowledgements £Floral Tributes £Interment/Scattering of Cremated Remains £Marker Cross £New Memorial ££(b) Sub Total £(a + b) Grand Total £*This does not include the purchase of a new grave or cremated remains plots. NB since cemeteriescan become full, the only way to ensure that a grave or cremated remains space is available in aspecific cemetery is for you to pre-purchase it (the funeral arranger will advise you on this).

www.21stcentury.coopHEART OF ENGLANDCO-OPERATIVE FUNERAL SERVICES AT:‘Gillivers’, Church RoadBARLESTONE CV13 0EETelephone: 01455 29035610 High StreetBEDWORTH CV12 8NFTelephone: 024 7631 4823184 Ansty RoadCOVENTRY CV2 3EXTelephone: 024 7665 0619‘Asian Funeral Services’346 - 354 Foleshill Road, FoleshillCOVENTRY CV6 5AJTelephone: 024 7666 567611 Lower Holyhead RoadCOVENTRY CV1 3AXTelephone: 024 7622 58268 High StreetDAVENTRY NN11 4HTTelephone: 01327 707905Kings WalkEARL SHILTON LE9 7NLTelephone: 01455 84440034 Central AvenueNUNEATON CV11 5BBTelephone: 024 7638 253552 Warwick StreetROYAL LEAMINGTON SPA CV32 5JRTelephone: 01926 42866538 Bilton RoadRUGBY CV22 7ALTelephone: 01788 576099A Division of the Heart of EnglandCo-operative Society Limited.