Funeral Prepayment Plans
Funeral Planning
ServiceS limited
A N I N D E P E N D E N T F A M I L Y B U S I N E S S
Clifton House, Bebington Road, Rock Ferry, Wirral CH42 4QA
Telephone: 0151 645 4396
Castle Buildings, 179 Telegraph Road, Heswall CH60 7SE
Telephone: 0151 342 6949
Miniver House, The Cross, Neston CH64 9UB
Telephone: 0151 336 4184
146 Allport Road, Bromborough, Wirral CH62 6BB
Telephone: 0151 334 1727
32 Upton Road, Claughton Village, Wirral CH41 0DF
Telephone: 0151 653 0077
31 Mellock Lane, Little Neston CH64 4BN
Telephone: 0151 353 1954
www.charles-stephens.com
M
any people wish to provide for their funeral expenses and a funeral prepayment plan is a caring, sensible and cost-effective way to do so. The advantage of a prepayment plan over a savings account or life insurance policy is that you can pay now, at today’s price, and beat inflation – no matter when the service might be required. Our fees will be paid by Funeral Planning Trust at the time of the funeral.Funeral prepayment plans are provided by Funeral Planning Services in association with a network of independent Funeral Directors throughout the UK. Funeral prepayments are held in Funeral Planning Trust until required – the Funeral Director is not paid until after the funeral.
• You can choose your own funeral arrangements, for your own peace of mind.
• You will save your family from having to make difficult decisions, trying to guess what you would have wanted, at such a distressing time.
• All options are clearly specified with fixed prices – or you can choose a personalised plan with every detail exactly as you want it. • Avoid rising funeral costs with an
inflation-proof guarantee of the Funeral Director’s charges.
• Financial security – the funeral payment is held in Funeral Planning Trust until it is needed. • There is no age limit and there are
no awkward health questions. • You can make a once-only
payment or pay by monthly instalments, whichever suits you. • All enquiries and arrangements
are treated in confidence.
• The service will be provided by Charles Stephens Henry Norman Funeral Service.
The advantages of a Charles Stephens
Prepayment Funeral Plan
Complete
peace of
mind
“It’s the sensible
thing to do, and
very easy. I would
recommend
O
ur wealth of experience as an independent family business goes all the way back to 1896. During the course of more than a century the firm of Charles Stephens Funeral Directors has been providing the people of Wirral with the kind of funeral they would wish for themselves and their loved ones. Generations of Wirral folk have trusted Charles Stephens and his family to make the right decisions at the most poignant of times.Today is no different as our team of fully qualified professionals continue
the tradition of providing the very best of funeral services.
Our staff remain committed to the vision of the company’s founder and the help and support you will receive is apparent from the moment you first make contact.
About our service
Choosing a plan
is easy...
J
ust select one of our comprehensive plans and note any special wishes on the application form, or discuss a fully personalised option with us, to meet your exact requirements..Disbursements
Each plan includes a contribution towards other expenses, such as crematorium or cemetery fees, doctors’ fees for a cremation certificate and minister’s or church fees – these fees are known as “disbursements”. This is intended to cover most, if not all, of the usual disbursements, but please note that they are outside of our control and cannot be guaranteed. You may wish to inform family members/next of kin that a small fee may be left to pay at the time of the funeral. The amount
included for disbursements will be stated on your funeral plan certificate and will be increased annually in line with the Retail Prices Index. You can include a larger (or smaller) contribution towards disbursements if you wish.
Plan Prices
Please refer to the current price list or application form.
“I’m so pleased
with the plan
that at every
opportunity
I will tell my
This plan includes the following:
• Guidance on all aspects of the funeral and registration of the death
• Removal of the deceased from within 10 miles of our premises, during office hours.
• Care of the deceased in accordance with the wishes of the family, as well as facilities for viewing at our Chapel of Rest. • A high quality veneered coffin. • Making all the arrangements and
providing staff for the funeral service.
• Supply of a hearse and bearers with one limousine (if required). • The cortege can leave from
a private address prior to the funeral service at a local church, followed by committal at the local crematorium, churchyard or cemetery .
• Listing floral tributes and/or charitable donations.
Along with your plan you can specify if there any special wishes that you would like to be carried out, for example you may wish to write down whether the funeral will be a burial or a cremation service.
Just note down any wishes under section 3 on the application form and we will make sure they are followed through.
This provides the best service
with the following additions to
the Prenton Plan:
• A craftsman made coffin of solid wood with panelled sides, a double-raised lid and superior furnishings.
• Taking the coffin into church the evening before, if required. • Listing mourners’ names.
A funeral is a very personal
matter and many people have
particular wishes.
If none of these plans suit your requirements then please let us know and we will prepare a personalised funeral plan just for you, to allow for whatever services you require.
The
Prenton
Plan
Your Special
Wishes
The
Claughton
Plan
The
Personalised
Plan
The
Plans
This plan covers the essentials for a simple funeral, including guidance on all aspects and arrangements of the funeral, providing staff for the funeral, local removal, supply of a basic coffin and a hearse to meet the family at a local crematorium or cemetery. It does not include facilities for viewing, or a limousine.
The
Ashton
Plan
What if I die away
from home?
We recommend that you take out travel insurance when you go on holiday, especially if you travel abroad, which usually covers bringing you back home if necessary. Alternatively we can quote for the extra cost involved.
What if I move home?
If you move, Funeral Planning Services can transfer your plan to a Funeral Director in that area. Funeral costs vary from one area to another and you will be advised of any difference in cost at this stage.
What if I change my
mind later?
If you change your mind within the first month of receiving your plan documents you can return them for a full refund – with no questions asked. If you cancel your plan at a later date, your refund will be subject to an administration charge (please refer to the terms of sale).
Can I pay by
instalments?
Yes, there is a range of options – please ask for details. Payment by instalments usually costs more than a single payment because of the extra administration involved, and if you die before completing all of the instalments the funeral will only be part-paid.
Is there an age limit or
health restrictions?
No - you can purchase a plan at any age and in any state of health, but please see the note on instalments above.
Can I buy a plan for
someone else?
Yes, please mention this on your application – we will need the name, address and date of birth of the person to be covered but we will send all correspondence to you.
Do you pay interest?
No. A guaranteed funeral plan is not a savings account – it is simply a way of paying in advance for the funeral service. As the value of the Funeral Planning Trust increases over the years, so the money available to pay the Funeral Director will increase to compensate for rising costs.
What if I change my
mind later?
If you change your mind within the first month of receiving your plan documents you can return them for a full refund – with no questions asked. If you cancel your plan at a later date, your refund will be subject to an administration charge (please refer to the terms of sale).
What if funeral costs
increase?
Funerals, like everything else, are affected by inflation and the cost of a funeral will almost certainly increase before you need one. However, once you have purchased a prepayment plan, the funeral specified will be provided for you when it is needed without any further charge to you or your family (but please refer to the note on “disbursements”). This is one of the most important benefits and why it has become so popular with our clients in recent years.
How do I know the
money will be safe?
All payments are made directly into Funeral Planning Trust, established in 1995 for the secure deposit of funeral prepayments. The accounts of Funeral Planning Trust are monitored annually by independent actuaries and checked by independent auditors. The payment for the funeral can only be withdrawn from Funeral Planning Trust when the service has been provided or if the plan is cancelled.
www.funeralplanningtrust.co.uk
Questions
&
Answers
“It is not
sufficient to
leave funeral
instructions
in a will, as
the will may
not be read
until after
the service.”
Your
Funeral
Plan
Guarantee
FUNERAL
PLANS
A Code
of Practice
Funeral Planning Services is registered with
the Funeral Planning Authority and is bound by the
Code of Practice for funeral plans, which ensures:
• Fair terms and conditions for the customer
• Security of funds – with strict controls over
the custodianship and regular monitoring by
independent experts
• A procedure for independent arbitration of
complaints.
A full copy of the Code of Practice is available on
request. This plan complies with the requirements of
the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
W
ithin 28 days, Funeral Planning Services will send you a Funeral Plan Guarantee Certificate confirming your plan details and that there will be nothing more to pay for the services itemised. For instalment plan customers, your payment plan will be confirmed and the guarantee certificate will be issued when the final payment is received.The plan comes complete with practical information for your relatives or executor on what they should do at the time of the funeral, your personal wishes for the funeral and where your important documents are kept. Everything is designed to make things as easy as possible for your family and friends.
Purchasing a plan is easy...
and it only takes a few minutes to deal with
1
Decide which plan suits you best and tick the appropriate box on the application form, or discuss your special wishes with us.2
Choose whether to make a single payment or, if you prefer to pay by instalments, decide over what period (up to five years).3
Do you have any questions? If so, please ask us or, if you prefer to contact Funeral Planning Services direct, please call them onFREEPHONE 0800 41 30 46
4
Send us your application together with a cheque for either the full amount or the first instalment (you will receive a banker’s order form to cover the remaining payments). Please make your cheque payable to Funeral Planning Trust so that your payment goes directly into the trust fund. Please do not send cash in the post.Funeral Prepayment Plans
Funeral Planning
ServiceS limited
