The Co-Op Funeral Plan Review

Simple: £2,895

Bronze: £3,225

Silver: £3,560

Gold: £3,799

The Co-Op funeral care plans have got some great benefits being guaranteed but the national papers seem to be having a bit of a field day with them. With the dailymail talking about bodies being left to rot out in the heat due to not having enough staff, and coffin making delays for unknown reasons.

It's really quite poor but at the same time, they are the biggest funeral company in the UK so that will come with some complaints as no one company is perfect. Saying that, reputation is everything and if what the papers are saying is true it's very damaging and no doubt The Co-Op will have made adjustments so these kinds of things never happen ever again.

We love the fact that all their set funeral plans are guaranteed which is unparalleled in the funeral industry. That means no other company will cover more than the Co Op. They also seem transparent and are members of the Funeral Planning Authority which goes some way to increase their credibility.

The downside is they're such a huge company that any time they mess something up it's big news. (see the links to the stories in the papers above and in the section titled Our opinion)

All of their plans guarantee the following:

• Funeral services on the day
• Cremation fees & minister's fees
• Burial third party costs (does not include cost of burial plot)
• Coffin
• Use of chapel of rest
• Hearse
• Limousine (depends on level you choose)

You'll have the peace of mind knowing that your money will be placed in a whole of life insurance plan, which means that it will be regulated by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority).

The Co-Op FuneralCare has many different types of plans that you can choose from including set plans, tailor made plans, and even memorial masonry plans. Here we can take a look at the basics of each plan so you can see what you'll get.

You can choose from two types of set plans: set cremation plans and set burial plans. For each set, there are four different plans at different price points to choose, simple, bronze, silver, and gold.

• Both a set cremation, and set burial simple plan costs £2,945,
• the Bronze plan costs £3,345
• the Silver plan costs £3,700
• and the Gold plan costs £3,949
• All of the cremation plans include third party charges and funeral director services and fees

   Memorial Masonry Plan

You can add the Memorial Masonry Plan can be added to any of the other plans as a way to commemorate you or your loved one. This plan allows you or your loved ones to create a memorial to their exact specifications. The price of this plan will depend on the current prices of memorials at the time of purchase and what you decide to add to your memorial. The Memorial Masonry Plan will lock in the cost, so your loved ones won’t have to pay extra money once you’re gone.

Simple Funeral Plan

Finally, you can choose to get the Co-Operative FuneralCare’s Simple Funeral Plan. This set plan for those individuals that don’t want a fancy funeral or are living on a modest budget. The plan costs £2,995 and includes funeral director services as well as third-party fees. What isn’t included is a limousine, embalming, choice of funeral procession route, and possible restrictions on day and time of the funeral.

Is There Anything Not Included In A Co-Operative Plan?

Co-Operative FuneralCare is very transparent about what is and is not included in their plans. All the plans include third party fees, so you won’t have to worry about things like cremation, medical certification, or minister fees. The only thing that isn’t included is the purchase of a burial plot if you have chosen to be buried. Beyond that, it is up to you to decide what you want or do not want in your plan.

Why Choose Co-Operative FuneralCare?

The Co-Op has one of the largest set of funeral plans available in the UK, and they are registered members of the Funeral Planning Authority. You can find any plan that you want, and if you can’t they will tailor a plan to fit your needs.

You can rest assured that your money will stay safe in their trust fund and won’t be used until it is time. They are there with you every step of the way, and once you have passed, they will work with your family to set your plan in motion.

This network of over 1000 funeral directors across the United Kingdom is a little different in that most of their packages focus solely on Cremation with funeral service and building in additional options at each level. Prices appear different on two Co-Op websites, plans appear £100 off with online discount on the main website. The cheapest price available to online buyers with added fees for buying over the phone or in person at a funeral home.

There seems to be a cost issue with land when it comes to burials which is why they tailor make a funeral plan depending on individual requests. It appears land prices and grave rental costs cannot be predicted to be kept in line with the Retail Price Index, so additional clauses need to be placed into a policy to ensure financial safeguards that protect both parties. Such policy particulars may include the subject of 'topping up.'

Simple:
One off - £2895 or 12 months - £241.25 interest free.
24 months at £123.97 = £2975.46.
36 months at £84.57 = £3044.64.
60 months at £52.56 = £3154.05.
120 months at £29.70 = £3564.90.
300 months at £16.24 = £4873.50.

Includes: A basic coffin with handles and lighting furnished interior. Advice and guidance, arrangements and paperwork. 50 mile radius intake of body for hygienic preparation. Funeral cosmetology and enabling visits to Chapel of Rest during office hours by appointment. A gown. Traditional hearse and procession at funeral plan provider's time and date from the Funeral home. Crematorium and related fees. Funeral service. Burial: including burial or single interment fee, gravedigger charges.

Bronze:
One off - £3295 or 12 months at £274.58 interest free.
24 months at £141.11 = £3386.82.
36 months at £96.26 = £3465.68.
60 months at £59.84 = £3590.45.
120 months at £33.81 = £4057.30.
300 months at £18.48 = £5545.50.

Adds: Plain wood veneer coffin with matt finish, lined and fitted. Professional bereavement advice. Payments for medical fees, crematorium and officiants or religious leader fees for cremation service. Includes funeral director, their fees and pallbearers. Mutually agreed date and time of funeral with funeral procession departure available from your own home.

Silver:
One off - £3650 or 12 months at £304.16 interest free.
24 months at £156.31 = £3751.56.
36 months at £106.63 = £3737.84.
60 months at £66.28 = £3976.90.
120 months at £37.45 = £4494.20.
300 months at £20.48 = £6144.00.

Adds: A limousine. Upgrades to Panelled wood veneer coffin with gloss finish, lined and fitted

Gold:
One off - £3899 or 12 months at £324.91 interest free.
24 months at £166.97 = £4007.46.
36 months at £113.90 = £4100.68.
60 months at £70.80 = £4248.13.
120 months at £40.01 = £4801.22.
300 months at £21.87 = £6562.50.

Adds: 1 extra limo (2), upgrades to a Solid wood coffin, interior furnished, lined and fitted. Visit to Chapel of Rest at any time by appointment.

Bespoke: Create a tailor made funeral plan. Custom pricing with flexible payment options. You may also opt for a Masonry Memorial Plan, this provides for a memorial to be placed at your grave or stone monument within the grounds of a Cemetery or Crematorium or on private land.

Adds: Your wishes.

Additional charges in the monthly repayment plans are called instalment charges and are as follows:
24 months ~ 2%,
36 months ~ 4%,
60 months ~ 7% ,
120 months ~ 18%

Notes: The prices appear to be the same for Cremation as it is Burial. The missing parts to a burial plan being the cost of a grave plot which can cost between £500 and £1500 in today's money depending on location. You need to consider this aspect. Plot rentals are usually for between 75 and 100 years. With fees for maintenance - also not included. Headstone not included. No embalming costs included.

Further savings: Using a Co-Op Membership card, which costs £1.00, you can receive 5% of the above plus 1% for your community.

If you want to arrange every single detail of your funeral and the set plans don’t include what you want, then you can work with your funeral director to create a tailor made plan. This plan will cover everything from burial plans, transportation, coffins, memorials, music, and floral arrangements. There is no set initial cost for this plan, but prices will be based on the current market prices for each of these categories.

The Simple funeral plan does not include:
 - Limousine
 - Embalming
 - Funeral procession route choice
 - Restricted on day & time of funeral

With these plans you need to assess yourself when you think you're most likely to pass away. For example if you have an  illness, taking out the 6 to 12 month plan and dying before the plan is paid off, will need a relative or friend to pay the remainder for your funeral plan to be enacted.

However, if you take out a two to twenty five year plan and you die after the first twelve months the funeral home will ensure the funeral goes ahead - as long as payments are up to date. You can use the online funeral plan calculator to ascertain the best payment option.

Furthermore should the executor / relative wish to organise their own funeral for the deceased and the person died prematurely, a refund can be provided upon a cash amount of £250 or (£100 Masonry) being paid.

As of 2018 the Defaqto rating for the Co-Op Funeral Care is 

- Gold: 5/5 Stars
- Silver 4/5 Stars
- Bronze: 3/5 Stars
- Simple: 3/5 Stars

They operate a 30 Day cancellation policy to receive a full refund.

After the 30 days has passed, they'll charge £250 for cancelling set or tailor made plans, or £100 cancellation fee on masonry plans.

They also state they'll cancel your plan if you miss 3 payments in a row on instalment plans.

They state there may be extra charges but it's unclear why and what for. Tailor made plans may have extra charges if you move house also.

The Co-Operative FuneralCare is one of the largest providers of funeral plans in the UK; they have a variety of different plans and services to make sure they meet all of your needs and provide the support and guidance necessary. They can also accommodate different budgets, so you don't have to worry about the increasing cost of paying for a funeral. Here is a brief review of their plans and services. To see all providers head over to our compare funeral plans page.

A funeral is a big thing to think about, and plan; while many young boomers worry about covering all the costs. The cost of funerals is only going to rise over the years and waiting until you’re gone to plan one is only going to cause stress and financial strain for your family. Funeral plans offer a way to avoid all of that and take care of things while you’re still around.

Funeral plans also lock in the cost of your funeral at the price you purchase it. So even if funeral costs have risen by the time you have deceased, your family won’t have to worry about paying the extra money. Each provider you look at will have different plans with various services, so it’s important to inspect each one thoroughly before you make your decision.

If you haven’t heard of a funeral plan or aren’t sure what they entail, here is a little refresher. A funeral plan is a simple way to plan your services and pay for everything in advance. You can choose a plan from any number of providers, and they will help you plan out everything. Most providers will allow you to choose from a bank of funeral directors and once you have made your selection, the director will be the one to walk with you every step of the way.