Memoria Funerals review

• 6 plans to choose from
• Prices from £1,690
• Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
• Instalments with full cover after 24 months*

Memoria Funerals is a trading style of Low Cost Funeral Ltd. They also offer plans under the Affordable Low Cost Funerals brand, who are also part of the same group and provide funeral services for families throughout the UK.

In this review: To help you compare Memoria funeral plans, we look at the options available and services included in each of the plans, the benefits and whether they are safe.

Once you have read the Memoria Funerals review, you can see how they compare with other FCA regulated funeral plan providers, or read the rest of our prepaid funeral plan reviews.

By Ashley Shepherd

Updated 1st February 2024 - I have reviewed Memoria to help you understand more about the company and the services they offer. Here’s what I found:

Who is Memoria Funerals?

Established in 2003 by 3 directors with our 90 years’ experience in the funeral sector, they provide funeral services throughout the UK via their Crematoria and Memorial Parks. They currently operate 13 crematorium and memorial parks throughout mainland Britain, with plans to open further sites in the near future.

In addition to their crematorium and memorial parks, the Memoria group also provide financial and legal services, in addition to online cremation and burial services.

What prepaid funeral plans do Memoria Funerals offer?

They offer a wide range of direct cremation and traditional funeral plans for those looking to make plans ahead of time. They also provide funeral services for someone who has recently passed away.

Here’s how the different options work

Memoria funerals for someone who has just died

Prices for arranging a funeral for someone who has recently passed away start from £990 for a direct cremation. In addition to this simple unattended cremation, they offer the following options:

• Direct Cremation – an unattended cremation
• Personal funeral service – includes a service with some restrictions
• Celebration of life service – includes a service and choice of crematoria
• Traditional funeral service – includes a service plus a hearse and 4 bearers
• Traditional Plus funeral service – Includes a service, limousine and celebrant

Additional costs may be incurred for services like collection out of hours or from a private residence or nursing home.

The services included in each of the plans are similar to those provided in their prepaid funeral plans. See below for further details.

Memoria Funeral Plans for those looking to plan ahead

Memoria Funerals offer a choice of 6 prepaid funeral plans that range from £1,690 to £3,199.

• Direct funeral plan
• Personal funeral plan
• Celebration of life funeral plan
• Flexible funeral plan
• Traditional funeral plan 
• Traditional Plus funeral plan

Their cheapest plan is for a direct cremation which is a cremation without a funeral service. The remaining plans all offer more traditional services that include a service for family and friends to attend.

Memoria Funerals direct cremation plan - without a funeral service

The direct plan – their most simple plan provides an unattended cremation at one of Memoria’s crematoriums.

It includes the funeral directors help and guidance with the documentation, collection and transportation of deceased from a hospital or mortuary in England or Wales within office hours, a standard coffin and scattering of the ashes on the garden of remembrance.

With this direct cremation funeral, you can pay extra to have the ashes delivered back to family.

Memoria Funerals traditional plans - with a funeral service

Personal funeral plan – a simple low cost cremation that includes a service but has some limitations.

It includes the funeral directors help and guidance with the documentation, collection and transportation of deceased from a hospital or mortuary in England or Wales within office hours, a standard coffin, cremation fees, a service and scattering of the ashes on the garden of remembrance.

The time of the funeral service will be limited to early in the morning (typically around 8.30am to 9.00am) for up to 20 guests. Although you have a choice of crematoria with this plan it does exclude ones that Memoria believe are too expensive.

Celebration of life plan – provides a simple traditional funeral service without the added extras.

It includes the funeral directors help and guidance with the documentation, collection and transportation of deceased from a hospital or mortuary in England or Wales within office hours, a standard coffin, cremation fees, a service and scattering of the ashes on the garden of remembrance.

Transportation of the deceased to the crematorium is in a suitable specialist vehicle, where they are placed on a catafalque in preparation for the service.

Flexible funeral plan – allows you to arrange your funeral service but doesn’t include the cremation fees

It includes the funeral directors help and guidance with the documentation, collection and transportation of deceased from a hospital or mortuary in England or Wales 24 hours a day, a standard coffin, transportation in a specialist vehicle and scattering of the ashes on the garden of remembrance.

With this plan the cremation fees will depend on the chosen crematorium and payable at the time of need.

Traditional funeral plan - provides a traditional funeral service with the option to add further services such as limousines for friends and family.

It includes the funeral directors help and guidance with the documentation, collection and transportation from anywhere in England, Scotland or Wales 24 hours a day, a standard coffin, cremation fees, a service and scattering of the ashes on the garden of remembrance.

This plan also includes a hearse and 4 bearers.

Traditional plus funeral plan – Memoria’s most comprehensive funeral plan that provides additional services for a fixed price.

It includes the funeral directors help and guidance with the documentation, collection and transportation from anywhere in England, Scotland or Wales 24 hours a day, a standard coffin, cremation fees, a service, a hearse and scattering of the ashes on the garden of remembrance.

If required, a celebrant to conduct the service is also included in the plan, in addition to a limousine for family.

Memoria Funerals reviews by their customers

Memoria Funerals are reviewed by customers on the independent review website Trustpilot where they have been rated 4.7 out of 5.

Memoria Funerals reviews by the industry

Currently there are no industry reviews for their funeral plans.

Are Memoria Funerals funeral plans safe?

When you buy a Memoria Funerals funeral plan, your money is held securely in a Scottish Friendly whole of life insurance policy until it is required to pay for your funeral services.

The company is authorised, through its parent company Low Cost Funeral Ltd, by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) who are responsible for the regulation of funeral plans. Their strict rules and code of conduct ensure customers are treated fairly, plans are fit for purpose and your money is safe.

You also have access to the Financial Services Ombudsman and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme for further protection, should the need arise.

How can I pay for a Memoria Funerals funeral plan?

You can pay for a Memoria low cost funeral plan a number of ways. Here’s how each payment option works:

Single Payment

The cheapest way to pay for a plan is with a single lump sum. Your money is paid into a whole of life insurance policy until it is required to pay for your funeral expenses as detailed in the plan.

Fixed Monthly Instalments

With this payment option, you pay a fixed monthly premium that is based on your age either for life or until you are 90. You are covered after an initial period of 12 months or immediately if death is as a result of an accident.

You have to be between the ages of 50 to 75 to apply and there is a chance you could pay more in premiums than the cost of the funeral service. It all depends on how long you are paying into the plan.

Monthly Instalments – a credit financed based option

Monthly instalments are available through the credit financed option. Acceptance will be subject to status and affordability checks and the plan will cost more overall.

Am I eligible for a Memoria funeral plan?

To be eligible for a Memoria Funerals funeral plan you need to be at least 50 years of age and a UK resident.

If you wish to pay by fixed monthly instalments, you must be between 50 and 75 years of age.

Can I choose either a burial or cremation service?

The funeral plans are essentially for cremation purposes however Memoria do offer burial services so plans can be put in place for a burial funeral.

Can I cancel my plan?

If you change your mind within the first 30 days, you can cancel your plan and receive a full refund of any money paid. If you choose to cancel your plan after this period, the terms will depend on how you paid for your plan:

In full – you will receive a refund of any money paid, minus the administration charge of £499.

Fixed monthly payment option – you can cancel this type of plan within the first 24 months and receive a full refund. This payment option has no cash in value ,so if you cancel after 24 months, no money would be refunded.

The finance option will be subject to their terms and conditions.

What happens to my funeral plan if I move home?

If you move, just inform them of your new address. As long as you remain within the area serviced by your chosen funeral plan, they can continue to provide your required services.