W. A. Truelove & Son Ltd. Pre-paid plans

An increasing number of forward thinking people in the UK are choosing to pre-arrange and pre-pay the funeral director's costs for their own, or a family member's, funeral. The reasons for this are simple; they want to save their families the worry of arranging and paying for their funeral at a time of great distress. They also want the reassurance of knowing that they will receive exactly the funeral they want.

The funds paid to us for the pre-payment plans are placed with NAFD Services Ltd, the "not for profit" company established by the National Association of Funeral Directors, for the sole purpose of administering funeral pre-payment funds for the benefit of members and their clients, to comply with the requirements of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (regulated Activities) Order 2001. In turn, NAFD Services Ltd use the sums invested with them to purchase whole of life assurance policies from the Ecclesiastical Life Ltd. (ELL), part of the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group. Ecclesiastical provide insurance services to churches and the clergy and is ultimately owned by the charitable trust, Allchurches Trust Ltd. They have assets of over 1 billion and surplus profits are used to fund the work of church charities in the UK and abroad.

All of our plans include a management fee for administration by NAFD Services Ltd and the management of the funds by ELL, which is the only sum that is not refundable.

Details of our pre-payment funeral plans are available from all of our branches, or if you prefer, please telephone our pre-payment Funeral Plans Manager, Paul Shackell, on our Free phone number: 0800 074 3797. Paul is a Funeral Director, not a salesman and would be pleased to explain the options in the comfort of your own home, or at any of our branches.

Why Pre-arrange?

Another advantage of our pre-payment funeral plans is that you can pay today for the funeral services you want and can rest assured that, no matter how far in the future the funeral eventually takes place, there will be no further charge for our services, as arranged at the time. You can also make provision for disbursements costs, which are payments to third parties, e.g. crematorium or cemetery fees, minister's fees or doctor's fees etc. The sum put aside for these fees is guaranteed to increase up to the rate of the Retail Prices Index (RPI) each year. Any increase above RPI would be payable at the time of the funeral taking place. You also have the advantage of knowing that the funeral will be carried out by the firm of your choice.

We offer both bespoke plans, which can be compiled to accommodate most wishes, and four set specification plans.

Payment can be in one lump sum or spread over 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 years.

Why choose Truelove Funeral Plan?

We are one of Sutton's oldest businesses who have served the local community for over one hundred and twenty years.

Our experience in funeral directing and the level of quality we strive to attain has enabled us to become one of only 20 companies in the UK to be invited to join the prestigious organisation, National Independent Funeral Homes.

When preparing something as sensitive as funeral arrangements, we feel that it is far more satisfactory to speak directly to a qualified funeral director who is familiar with the local area and can provide accurate information immediately, ensuring all aspects are dealt with personally.

Information is only a phone-call away on 0800 074 3797

Some of your questions answered

Q: What happens if I move out of the area?

A: W. A. Truelove & Son Ltd. are members of the National Association of Funeral Directors (N.A.F.D.) which has members countrywide. The association members are obliged to strictly observe our Code of Practice and provide a service that complies with the statements of code.

Should any one of our plan holders move out of the area, they will need to ensure the confirmation of funeral details provided when a plan has been purchased, is given to their next of kin or solicitor. When the funeral is eventually required, we will arrange for a local funeral director to carry out the funeral, based on the equivalent service they provide, and will make payment to them direct.

Q: What happens if I die away from home?

A: If you die within mainland England, our removal charge covers the cost of bringing you back to your home area. If you die abroad, your holiday insurance will cover the cost of bringing you back to this country. Our removal charge includes removal to our chapel of rest from the airport.

Is my Money Safe?

Before taking such an important step you'll need to feel absolutely happy about your decision to take out a Truelove Funeral Plan.

As a member of the N.A.F.D. we are committed to maintain the highest standards of service and to adhere to a strict code of practice.

The plan is administered on behalf of us by N.A.F.D. Services Ltd, which is a founder member of the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA). N.A.F.D. Services Ltd will invest the money you pay for your Funeral Plan in an Ecclesiastical Whole of Life Assurance Policy. Ecclesiastical Life Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. All plans are also protected by the financial services compensation scheme.

Plans Provided

We have four sets of plans in our range, from the straightforward, "Essential" trough to the elaborate "Superior" plan.

We can also tailor a plan to your exact specification, giving you a totally "Bespoke" funeral.

Please note if is your wish for a burial service, it will only be possible if an existing grave can be used or a grave can be purchased for "future use".

Please telephone us for advice and guidance on all aspects of "pre-arranging" on 0800 074 3797

The Essential Plan

The Essential Plan has been devised to meet the needs of clients who require a simple, straightforward funeral arrangement which still offers all the dignity and attention to detail they could wish for.

It includes...

The funeral director's services
Provision of necessary funeral arrangements
Professional advice on certification and registration of death
Conveyance of the deceased, within a ten miles radius, to the funeral director's premises
Care of the deceased until the cremation or burial takes place
Provision of a simple coffin
Provision of a hearse to convey the deceased to the nearest crematorium or cemetery
A contribution may be made towards the fees payable to third parties (disbursements) if desired

As with all of our plans, the Essential Plan is flexible and you can add to it at any time.

Please note that neither the provision for viewing in the chapels of rest nor the collection and administration of charitable donations are included in the Essential Plan.

The Standard Plan

The Standard Plan has been devised to offer a more usual funeral, bearing in mind our experience of the most frequently requested funeral arrangements.

It includes...

The services of your funeral director
Provision of necessary funeral arrangements
Professional advice of certification and registration of death
Conveyance of the deceased, within mainland England to the funeral director's premises
Care of the deceased until cremation or burial takes place
Provision for viewing the deceased
Provision of an Elm effect veneered coffin
Provision of a hearse and one limousine to convey the deceased to the crematorium or cemetery
Collection and administration of charitable donations
A contribution may be made towards fees payable to third parties (disbursements)

The Standard Plan is still very flexible. You can change your mind, add to or amend it at any time.

The Traditional Plan

A plan similar to the Standard Plan but allowing for a service in church before the committal and an Oak veneer coffin.

It includes...

The services of your funeral director
Provision of necessary funeral arrangements
Professional advice of certification and registration of death
Conveyance of the deceased, within mainland England to the funeral director's premises
Care of the deceased until cremation or burial takes place
Provision for viewing the deceased
Provision of a hearse and one limousine to convey the deceased to the crematorium or cemetery
Collection and administration of charitable donations
A contribution may be made towards fees payable to third parties (disbursements)

The Traditional Plan is still very flexible. You can change your mind, add to or amend it at any time.

The Superior Plan

The Superior Plan offers similar specifications to the Traditional Plan but with a panelled Oak veneer coffin and two limousines.

It includes...

The services of your funeral director
Provision of necessary funeral arrangements
Professional advice of certification and registration of death
Conveyance of the deceased, within mainland England to the funeral director's premises
Care of the deceased until cremation or burial takes place
Provision for viewing the deceased
Provision of a hearse and two limousines to convey the deceased to the crematorium or cemetery
Collection and administration of charitable donations
A contribution may be made towards fees payable to third parties (disbursements)

The Superior Plan is still very flexible. You can change your mind, add to or amend it at any time.

Additional Information

On completion of the arrangements, you will receive a member's information package and membership certificate
If you change your mind after 28 days a nominal administration fee of £95.00 will be deducted from the amount paid to us
It is possible to pre-arrange a funeral plan for a relative or friend
Confidential arrangements are made with a funeral director, who is familiar with the local area
Comprehensive plans to cover all requirements or a totally bespoke funeral arrangement, you decide
No age limit or medical required
We guarantee to provide only what you require with no pressure to pre-arrange anything that is unnecessary