A.W.Blair & Sons
A.W.Blair & Sons
The Independent Way Funeral Plans
Planning your own funeral has now become one of the main things people do when planning for later life, just like making a Will.
More and more people each year in the UK now take out a funeral plan, and the number is still on the increase. Coping with bereavement and the grief of losing a loved one is hard enough without the added stress of making funeral arrangements and dealing with the financial burden that goes with it. We at A.W. Blair & Sons will advise and assist you with all of the details regarding your funeral plan, making sure your wishes are met exactly as you intended.
We believe that the Independent Way Funeral Plan, which is available only through independent funeral directors such as ourselves, offers you significant advantages over most other plans.
With the Independent Way plan, we will make sure that your loved ones will be spared much of the burden of organising a funeral. You’ll have specified every detail in advance and taken care of all the costs that are within our control.
No matter how much the cost of our services that are included in your plan may rise in years to come, once your plan is fully paid, depending on the Terms and Conditions of your plan, neither you nor your loved ones will be asked for a penny more for them. You can be assured that your family will be spared what could be a financial worry. There are some costs that we are obliged to pay on your behalf. These third party costs include, for example, the charges of cemeteries or crematoria. The amount of this expenditure is outwith our control and may require a further payment at the time of need.
When you take out an Independent Way plan, you have the reassurance that your money is protected. You select how you wish to pay for your plan and, depending on your choice, your money is paid into the Golden Charter Trust or to a UK based life assurance company for the fixed monthly payment option.
The Board of Trustees has appointed a wide panel of Fund Managers who invest the funds in a cautious and balanced manner. Barnett Waddingham of Glasgow, the consulting actuaries, appraise the Fund performance regularly.
Here are the most frequently asked questions regarding the Independent Way Funeral Plans
The money paid in is guaranteed to cover the cost of the funeral director's own services included in the plan. The total cost of a funeral also includes certain essential third party costs, such as fees for cremation or burial. These costs are beyond the control of your funeral director. Only if these costs were to increase more than the growth of your plan might there be more to pay at the time of the funeral.
Third party costs are payments made by your funeral director on your behalf and include, for example, the fees for cremation or burial charged by crematoria and burial authorities.
If you wish to make any changes to your funeral plan, please contact Golden Charter on 0800 833 800. Depending on the change you wish to make, there may be cost implications. Please note that you cannot change your plan contents once the plan is made live if you have purchased the Value plan or you pay by fixed monthly payments, however changes to your personal wishes such as music or readings can be made at any time.
Pay by flexible monthly payments or payment in full.
Your payments for your funeral plan are fully protected and will be paid into the Golden Charter Trust or to a UK based life assurance company for the fixed monthly payment option. They will be held there until needed for your funeral arrangements.
You would be able to change your selected funeral director. Golden Charter has a network of more than 3,000 independent funeral directors across the country.
Should you die away from home, but within mainland UK, transportation will be arranged to your selected funeral director. Overseas transportation is not included in your funeral plan.
This will depend on the type of payment method you have chosen. If you are paying by 12 monthly instalments and you die before all payments have been made, the balance will be requested from your estate so your funeral can still be carried out. Alternatively, the plan can be cancelled and the payments refunded, less the cancellation fee of £249.
If you have chosen the low cost monthly instalment option and you die within 12 months, all the money you had paid in will be returned to your estate. If you die after 12 months but before all of the instalments have been paid, the balance will be requested from your estate so that your funeral may still be carried out.
If you have chosen to pay by fixed monthly payments and you die within the first two years, the funeral director will receive the money you have paid plus an additional 20% provided your payments are up to date. Your family or estate will then have to pay the balance.
Yes, simply complete the 'Plan Holder's Representative' section of the application form.
Golden Charter is a leading independent provider of funeral plans in the UK. They work with a network of more than 3,000 independent funeral directors across the country and have served over 500,000 customers. Funeral plans are an affordable and convenient way to arrange funeral essentials in advance - allowing you a range of options to suit your budget and requirements.