Funeral Planning - Funeral Arrangements – Advanced Funeral Directive

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Independent Funeral Choice - Sudden Death

Funeral Planning - Funeral Arrangements – Advanced Funeral Directive - evansaboveonline.co.uk

APPOINTING A FUNERAL PLANNER / UNDERTAKER

I would advise, especially in relation to sudden death, never confirm an appointment for funeral arrangements, over the telephone with any funeral planner / undertaker. If you do not desire to go to their place of business, ask them to visit with you at your home to make funeral arrangements. I would stress at this point, should they refuse, seek another. If it is absolutely necessary that someone attend the funeral undertaker’s office, ask someone that you trust implicitly. At all times request:

Written estimate of costs: Costs charged by an undertaker / planner are composed of two basic elements

1. the cost of the undertaker / planner professional services which may include such items as laying out the body, use of chapel of rest, the coffin itself, the hearse and providing pall-bearers at the funeral etc.

2. cost of any disbursements which the funeral undertaker / planner makes on your behalf which may include items like charges levied by the crematorium or church, inserting notices in newspapers, and fees for official documents required

There is no legislation requiring funeral businesses to all use the same terms and conditions. The legislation states that where a business uses a standard contract term it should not, contrary to good faith, cause a significant imbalance in the rights and obligations of parties to the detriment of the consumer. In other words, all terms should be fair?

Note: that terms and conditions can vary from firm to firm, but need to remain in accordance with codes of practice of the funeral association, but only if the funeral undertaker is A MEMBER OF AN ASSOCIATION, i.e. NAFD or SAIF. Terms and conditions template of the NAFD, contain all the ingredients required, but there is a facility so that member companies can simply edit their trading style? It is also the case that should a firm not supply you with a copy of their terms and conditions prior to a contract being agreed, they are not at liberty to rely upon them should there be a dispute.

Given my own experience, I would advise, to always insist, that funeral service requirements, are placed in writing, signed by both parties thus forming a contract, and clipped to a copy of the funeral undertakers terms and conditions.

Example:

Contents to be placed in coffin to be specified by (you).

Attire to be worn by the deceased as specified by (you)

If using the facility of a chapel of rest, visitors to be approved by (you)

Agree provision on any subsequent vehicles hired, for any floral tributes etc.

Written something as simple as:

I wish (name of the deceased) to be dressed in attire provided by me and all contents to the coffin, to be approved by me. All visitors to the chapel of rest, to have gained (your) permission in the first instance, prior to visiting (name of deceased) etc.

PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT PRE-PLANNED FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS DO NOT HAVE TO BE LEGALLY UPHELD. IT IS ALSO THE CASE THAT COMPANIES CAN GO INTO LIQUIDATION AND IT COULD PROVE DIFFICULT TO RECLAIM MONIES PAID

It could prove useful to discuss funeral plans with the Funeral Planning Authority http://www.funeralplanningauthority.com/index.html

Plans for funerals frequently have to be quite flexible, and last-minute changes of mind are not unusual. For this reason there is often a variation between the funeral undertaker’s estimate and the bill finally charged. Perhaps there were more mourners than anticipated and an extra limousine had to be provided, or the relatives decided on a different coffin from that originally chosen, or a casket was required to hold the ashes after cremation. This is perfectly acceptable, but it is important that both the estimate and the final invoice should give a detailed breakdown of all the costs so that you can see where any 'extras' have been added. If you are mindful of specific requirements, ask that they be drawn up in writing and that both parties sign the document and clip to copy of the terms and conditions.

If you are responsible for payment for the funeral and are in receipt of state benefit, you may qualify for a funeral payment from the social fund.

If you do, and you have decided to conduct the whole of the arrangement for the funeral yourself, you can request that the payment be made direct to yourself. Always request that information about this payment be clearly explained to you. Receiving an information booklet is not always practical when in shock.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS