How to find the cheapest direct cremation plan

*The Sunlife cost of dying report averafe funeral costs - £4,417

Frequently asked questions

• What happens if my family decide they want a funeral service?

  • If your family decide they don’t want direct cremation, they can cancel the plan and receive a refund minus the cancelation fee.

• Can viewing at the chapel of rest be arranged?

  • Viewing is not usually available with a direct funeral however families could always agree a collection time that allows for visiting first.

• Is my money safe?

  • When you buy a prepaid cremation plan your money is held in either a trust fund or a life insurance policy.

    Trust based plan – The trust should be independent of the plan provider, which means your money is protected if something were to happen to the company.

    Insurance based plan - The policy is regulated and therefore protected by the Financial conduct Authority.

    Choosing a company that is registered with and therefore regulated by the Funeral Planning Authority means you are also protected by their controls and safeguards.

• What is the cheapest funeral I can have?

  • One of the cheapest funeral options you can have is direct cremation, if you’re happy to have a cremation without a service.

    Alternatively you could arrange everything yourself without paying for the services of a funeral director. In fact, legally you can even be buried in your own back garden if you wish, however there are stipulations and your family may have difficulty in selling the property in the future.

    Another cheap option which avoids paying for a funeral altogether is donating your body to science; although there are no guarantees that your body will be accepted when the time comes. Therefore it could help to have an alternative plan in place to ensure the basic funeral costs are covered – which is where direct cremation could help.

• How much does it cost to be cremated?

  • Cremation costs which include cremation services with family in attendance at a crematorium vary depending on where you live in the country. Ranging from £600 to over £1,000, they are not cheap and currently average more than £800 across the UK, so it is a bit of a postcode lottery.

    For direct cremation, some UK providers will charge you a fixed price as they use one crematorium. This means they have greater control over costs and are better equipped to offer low cost funerals.

    Others will use local cremation services at a crematorium that's nearby, so fees may vary depending on where you live. Providers will also use crematoriums at quieter times, which also cuts down on funeral costs.

• *Gift card terms and conditions
  • 1. The new Planholder will receive one £25 Marks & Spencer Gift Card for each Simplicity Funeral Plan purchased by 23rd December 2019.
    2. All plans must be purchased by 23rd December 2019 and have passed their Cancellation period by 23rd January in order to be eligible for the offer.
    3. If you have previously cancelled a Funeral Plan provided by Over50choices within 30 days of taking that plan out, you will not qualify for the offer.
    4. If your plan is cancelled within the first 30 days, you will not be eligible for the gift card.
    5. After the 30 day cancellation period has passed without cancellation, you will receive your gift card by 1st class post. Once Over50choices has sent the Gift Card by post, any liability under the incentive scheme is complete
    6. Please allow 5-7 days for delivery once despatched. Over50choices Ltd will not be responsible for any Gift Cards that are delayed or lost in transit.
    7. In disputes, the decision of Over50choices will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
    8. Only the Planholder may claim the Gift Card and it cannot be transferred to anyone else.
    9. No cash or other alternatives are available.
    10. This offer is provided and administered by Over50choices Ltd. For any queries relating to this offer, please call 0800 133 7656.