Five things to consider before taking out a funeral plan

With so many funeral plan providers in the market, it can be difficult to know what the best plan is for you or a loved one.

There are some key questions to consider when deciding on a funeral plan provider, especially when you are parting with your money in advance. 1. What's actually covered in your plan? Some providers promise to cover Funeral Director’s services, but not all guarantee third party costs such as the cremation and minister’s fee if you are having a cremation funeral. These could be an unwelcome surprise for your loved ones when the time comes. Our Mail Finance Funeral Plans provided by Dignity guarantee these costs for a cremation funeral. There are no hidden charges so you can easily see what services are covered in each of their plan options. 2. How safe is my money? Make sure the money you pay for your funeral is protected until it is needed. With some over-50s insurance policies you'll continue to pay until you turn 90, or pass away. This means you could pay in far more than you get out. It is also good to check if you can get your money back at any time if you change your mind in the future. Payments into a Mail Finance Funeral Plan go directly into the National Funeral Trust which is independently managed by some of the most respected names in the industry to ensure the money of each and every planholder is protected. 3. Is the Funeral Plan guaranteed? Some providers do not guarantee the plan; instead the responsibility may fall to the funeral directors themselves. If they were to go out of business, your plan could be at risk. With a Mail Finance Funeral Plan, it’s Dignity that provide the guarantee. Dignity are a large and stable British company with a national network of more than 1,200 owned and approved funeral directors across the country, making their funeral plans some of the most financially secure on the market today. 4. What support will my loved ones receive when the plan is needed? Some plan providers vary the level of bereavement support your loved ones have access to, depending on the plan option you buy. This is not the case with Dignity. Your loved ones will be able to access support whenever they need it – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 5. If my circumstances change, how flexible is the plan? Unlike some other providers, Dignity’s funeral plans are portable across the UK. So if you choose to retire to the countryside, or relocate anywhere in mainland UK, your plan moves with you. If required, you will be allocated a new funeral director at no extra cost.