Paying up front for your funeral

[droopdrawers]

My Mother in Law died in the late 80's...funeral cost £470.
Mother died 2007 cost £ 1996
Step Dad died 2009 cost £2019

Clearly costs are rising so fast it has to be sensible to make provisions now if at all possible. I am 74 other half almost 80. Both in reasonable health bar arthritic problems.

On more than one occasion I have sent for details to pay up front but balk at the thought of giving over the money.

It grieves me that Undertakers know people are at their most vulnerable when organizing a funeral and offer all sorts of extras. Expensive newspaper announcements and floral tributes. Nothing will bring the deceased back nor can they see the expense you might have gone too!

Has anyone here done this? Do the undertakers still prey on the family for these extras if the person has specifically asked then not to.

Funny old subject isn't it.

[dennisb66]

I don't want my wife worried about funeral expenses should i go first,we are in our mid 70's so i have bought a funeral plan at £2740,luckily just before a price increase of £400.No matter what the cost is of a funeral in years to come there will be nothing more to pay.
Insurance funeral plans cover for a fixed sum,if the funeral is more expensive you have to pay the difference.

[Traci66]

My mother in law died 02/09/2010 in York, funeral cost £3042 and the funeral directors waited until we had the insurance through for the money, my father died 9 days later in Cheshire and the directors there demanded the money before the funeral could go ahead, I paid before his funeral and on the day they said I had over paid, the cost there was £4053 and that I would receive a refund, nearly two years later, still waiting.

[chrissa1]

Sorry Tracie but why are you still waiting two years on? Have you chased them at all?

[Traci66]

Hi Chrissa, I did chase them at first and they kept saying it was with head office, just gave up in the end, too much other stuff going on, I know, stupid of me, maybe I will try again tomorrow.

[cathfromsaron]

mazie: what a great idea! you get back 'the remains' a year later, and yes, you can still have any 'celebration' you wish at that sad time, anyhow!

cath x

[hc4361]

No funeral director should EVER demand money before the funeral.

[chrissa1]

I totally agree with you hc. I think it's outrageous Tracie, that they haven't sorted this out before now. Do go back to them and ask for the money. Name and shame if needs be.

[Pollypeptide]

When my Dad began to need a degree of care at home, I was advised by a very nice lady from Social Services that he could reduce his savings (and therefore the amount that he had to pay for care) by spending some of his money on things that he needed. He bought a new bed and a new TV and a few other things. His major expenditure at that time was on a Funeral Plan with Co-operative Funeral Care. They sent him a brochure with a choice of three plans, bronze, silver and gold and the cost (in August 2009) was £2,560, £2,805 and £3,095). There was an option to pay monthly over 12, 24 or 36 monts but he paid up front in order to reduce his savings. There was no pressure from the Co-op and he is pleased to think that it is all sorted out in advance. I would say "go for it".

[Traci66]

The funeral directors tried to get me to sign his insurance over to them, that I refused. Took great pleasure in paying them cash though as they had assumed that I didn't have the money to pay for the funeral, quick trip into the safe, money out, handed it over, done.

[Marciau]

Hi Pollypeptide.

I think you must have had a very good social worker.
When my uncle had to go into care there was little money beside the house which the council could not touch because his wife was living in it.
The social worker just asked if my cousins could help pay his fees before looking at any type of funding.
After threatening to get solicitors involved full NHS funding was agreed.
A few years later my Aunt in law I assume had to go into care after my uncle had passed away.
The social worker was most annoyed that the house was owned on a tennants in common basis and the council could not get the house sold to pay for her care as my cousins owned half of it.
The council had to pay for for most of my aunt's care. Sadly she only lived for 3 months in the care home.

Marcia