In this review: To help you compare and review plans, we look at how a Pure Cremation works, what's included in the plan, the pros and cons and what they cost.
Once you have read the Pure Cremation review, you can see how they compare with other FCA regulated plan providers or read the rest of our prepaid funeral plan reviews.
Founded by funeral directors with over 30 years experience, Pure Cremation was launched in 2015 as the requirement for simple direct cremations without a crematorium ceremony grew.
Based in Andover, Pure Cremation offers direct cremation services throughout mainland England, Wales, and Scotland (including the Isle of Wight and Isle of Skye). They have their own purpose built crematorium in Andover to service their England and Wales customers and work in partnership with another crematorium in Scotland.
Owning their own crematorium means Pure Cremation handle every part of the service offered; from collection by one of the experienced fleet of drivers to hand delivery of ashes back to loved ones. They use solid pine eco coffins and biodegradable urns for ashes as part of the management of their carbon footprint.
As you may have seen in the regularly featured Pure cremation TV advert, the company offers two forms of direct cremation service. A simple cremation funeral for someone who has just died and a prepaid direct cremation plan for those wanting to plan for the future.
Their service includes a dignified and respectful cremation without a ceremony. However, for an additional charge, up to 12 people can attend a committal held at their Charlton Park Crematorium in Hampshire.
Here’s how each option works:
Prices for arranging a direct cremation for someone who has just died start from £1,395 for death in hospital and £1,645 for death at home. This includes collection at any time (24/7) from anywhere in mainland England, Scotland and Wales (includes Isle of Wight and Isle of Skye), cremation fees and doctor’s fees if applicable; a solid pine eco coffin and either the scattering of ashes in a garden of remembrance or return of ashes by hand delivery, if preferred.
The Pure Cremation funeral plan is £1,995 and includes all the services required for a simple unattended direct cremation. Or you can spread the cost with instalments from £24.99 a month.
This includes collection anywhere throughout England, Scotland and Wales (includes Isle of Wight and Isle of Skye) 24 hours a day; cremation fees and doctor’s fees if they apply, a solid pine eco coffin and the ashes either scattered on the garden of remembrance or hand delivered to the family.
Pros of a Pure Cremation funeral plan
- Collection 24 hours a day from anywhere in the UK
- Guarantees all the services required for a direct cremation
- Includes doctor’s fees if required
- Hand delivery of the ashes
- Solid pine eco-coffin
- They take care of everything themselves
- Option to pay for up to 12 people to attend the committal at the time of need
- Authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority
- With instalment direct cremation plans you are covered for the services included in the plan once you have completed your first 24 monthly premiums. As long as your payments are up to date, your services as listed will be provided with nothing more for your family to pay. (You are covered immediately if death is as a result of an accident).
Cons of a Pure Cremation funeral plan
- Your services are only guaranteed once you have paid the full amount or at least 24 monthly instalments (1 year if you are paying over 12 months).
- With instalments plans over 2 years or more, if you die within the first 24 months your services would not be guaranteed (unless as a result of an accident). Instead, your estate can either receive a full refund or pay the difference so Pure Cremation can provide their direct cremation services
- Instalments plans are subject to additional fees
- The cremation will typically take place in Pure’s own crematorium in Andover. However, if someone dies in Scotland, the cremation may take place in one of two crematoriums, owned by Pure Cremations partner, Horizon
- Doesn’t include a ceremony at the crematorium
- Your plan is at risk if you don’t keep up with the payments and there is no cash-in value
Pure Cremation customer reviews and testimonials
Pure Cremation direct funeral plans are reviewed by customers on the independent review website Trustpilot. They have a rating of 4.8 out of 5 and 91% of reviews class their service as excellent. See what Pure Cremation Plan customers are saying on Trust Pilot.
Comparing Pure Cremation to Other Providers
If you are considering a Pure Cremation plan and wondering how they compare to other plans on the marketing, you may find our prepaid cremation plan comparison guide helpful.
Pure Cremation reviews by the industry
In addition to customer reviews, Pure Cremation funeral plans have been rated as 4 star by research and ratings agency Fairer Finance.
Pure Cremation funeral plans are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
When you pay for a Pure Cremation trust based funeral plan your money is ethically invested in a trust fund, which is a completely separate entity. Therefore, if anything were to happen to Pure Cremation, the trust fund remains intact and will either use another company to carry out your direct cremation services, refund the money paid in minus the admin fee or pay the current value of the plan to a funeral director chosen by your family.
The money can only be removed from the trust fund if you cancel the direct funeral plan or on death – in which instance a copy of the death certificate would be required.