Ecclesiastical funeral plans review 2024
- Flexibility to create your own plan
- Prices depend on location and services included
- Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
- Instalments with full cover after 12 months*
Ecclesiastical Planning Services is an FCA authorised company who provide funeral plans that are based on your local funeral director’s services and prices.
In this review: To help you compare plans, we look at how Ecclesiastical funeral plans work, the payment options, benefits and possible drawbacks and how your money is held.
Once you have read the Ecclesiastical funeral plan review, you can see how they compare with other FCA regulated plan providers or read our other prepaid funeral plan reviews.
Who is Ecclesiastical?
Ecclesiastical Planning Services is part of the Ecclesiastical Group. Founded in 1887, they offer specialist insurance services throughout the UK, Ireland and Canada.
Working with over 700 funeral directors, their funeral planning services are available throughout the UK.
They previously offered plans under the Perfect Choice Funeral Plans brand.
What prepaid funeral plans do Ecclesiastical offer?
Ecclesiastical’s funeral plans vary depending on where you live and funeral costs in your area of the country.
The services provided by your funeral director, for example their help and guidance with the documentation, their services on the day, the coffin, a hearse and the use of the chapel of rest are guaranteed. Plus, you can also guarantee or include an allowance to help with third party fees.
What are third party costs?
Third party costs are essential funeral costs that are not controlled by the funeral director, namely the cremation or burial fees, interment fees, the minister or officiant’s fees and the doctor’s fees.
With Ecclesiastical funeral plans, if you choose to guarantee these services, providing you use the funeral director listed in your original plan, there will be nothing more to pay for them at the time of need.
If you choose an allowance, there could be more to pay when the time comes if the third party costs exceed the allowance included in the plan.
Ecclesiastical funeral plan need to knows
In addition to looking at the benefits of a prepaid funeral, it’s worth reviewing the possible drawbacks too. Here we look at both options to help you consider if an Ecclesiastical plan is the best funeral plan for you.
Benefits
- Flexibility to choose the services you want
- The services of a funeral director as detailed in the plan are fully guaranteed
- Option to guarantee or include an allowance for third party disbursement costs
- Collection of the deceased within a 30 mile radius
- Uses a network of 700 independent funeral directors
- Authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority
- You can spread the cost over 12 months without incurring additional fees
- You are covered for your funeral services after 12 months on instalment plans as long as your payments are up to date (immediate cover if death is as a result of an accident)
Important to know
- If you pay over 12 months but die before your premiums have been paid, you will not be covered for the services included in your plan. Instead, the person arranging the funeral can either pay the balance for the funeral services to go ahead, or cancel the plan
- You will incur additional charges if paying over a longer period than 12 months
- Depending on the size of the allowance when the time comes, you could pay more for third party costs
- If you change your funeral director, you could pay more for the services you had previously guaranteed
- You may pay more for collection out of hours or outside the 30 mile radius
- Doesn’t include additional funeral costs such as flowers, a memorial, orders of service or the wake
Ecclesiastical reviews by their customers
Currently there are no customer reviews for Ecclesiastical funeral plans featured on the two main independent review websites Feefo and Trustpilot.
Ecclesiastical reviews by the industry
Currently there are also no reviews for Ecclesiastical from industry experts.
How is my money held with an Ecclesiastical funeral plan?
Ecclesiastical funeral plans are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This means they have demonstrated that they comply with the FCA’s strict rules and principles and should the need arise, you are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
When you pay for an Ecclesiastical funeral plan, your money is held in a life insurance policy until it is required to pay for your funeral services.
How can I pay for an Ecclesiastical funeral plan?
You can pay for an Ecclesiastical funeral plan either in one go or by monthly instalments. Here’s how each payment option works:
Single Payment
This is the cheapest way to buy an Ecclesiastical funeral plan however you can also spread your cost over 12 months and the price will be the same.
Monthly Instalments
Monthly instalments are available if you prefer to spread the cost of your plan over a longer period. You will incur additional fees with all instalment plans.
You are covered for the services included in the plan after an initial period of 12 months. So, if you were to die after the first 12 month period but before your instalments are complete, as long as your monthly premiums are up to date, the guaranteed services included in the plan will be provided with nothing more to pay.
Am I eligible for an Ecclesiastical funeral plan?
To be eligible for an Ecclesiastical funeral plan you need to be at least 18 years of age and a UK resident.
Monthly payments must be completed by the time you are 85, which may limit some of the instalment terms available to you.
Can I choose either a burial or cremation service?
Ecclesiastical funeral plans can be used for both cremation or burial. The funeral director’s services as detailed in the plan are guaranteed and an allowance can be included to help pay towards third party cremation or burial fees.
Can I cancel my plan?
When you buy an Ecclesiastical funeral plan you have a 30 day period in which the plan can be cancelled and your money fully refunded. If you cancel after this period, your money would be refunded minus the administration fee of £275.
With instalment plans, you can cancel within the first 12 months and receive a full refund of any money paid. After this period the administration fee will be deducted from the money refunded to you.
Who will my funeral director be?
Your funeral director will be one of the 700 independent companies Ecclesiastical work with.
What happens to my funeral plan if I move home?
If you move, as long as it is in the UK the plan will move with you. However, depending on fees in your new location, there could be more to pay.
What should I do now?
My review of Ecclesiastical Funeral Plans is designed to help you compare plans and find the best option for you. I would always recommend that you review all of your options to ensure you’re getting the best deal that suits your budget and needs.
Now you have read the Ecclesiastical funeral plan review, you may want to:
- Compare FCA regulated plans with other authorised providers
- See how other companies compare with our funeral plan reviews
- Find out more about simple funeral plan with our guide to direct cremation
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