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Funeral Plans

One of the kindest gifts we give ourselves and our loved ones.

Why choose our funeral plans?

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A funeral plan is an easy way to arrange the funeral you want in advance. A plan allows you to
specify your wishes and pay for the funeral director’s services included in your plan. As customers
often tell us, that can bring peace of mind to you and your family. A plan from Golden Charter also
includes an allowance towards third party costs. These are essential, non-funeral director services
such as the cremation or burial fees, plus the minister or officiant’s fee to perform the service.

Please Phone 01270 584 447 Now.

A Guarantee that covers all our services

At Joseph O'Connell Funeral Services, we work in partnership with Golden Charter to provide you with a simple
way to plan ahead. As one of the UK’s largest funeral plan providers*, Golden Charter has helped
900,000 people make funeral provisions** so we’re completely confident in offering their plans to
you.
Everyone has different needs when it comes to funeral planning, so we make sure the plans we offer
are as flexible as possible. When you get in touch, we’ll be happy to discuss your funeral
requirements and tailor a plan to suit you. Rest assured a plan from Golden Charter is available to all
UK residents regardless of age or state of health.

*Based on a Golden Charter analysis and independent research of the funeral plan market size as at
January 2023.
**Correct at March 2023.

 

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A plan to suit your needs

As an independently owned funeral director, we’ll take the time to understand your wishes and
tailor a plan to suit you. We can discuss these at our premises or in your home, at a time that is
convenient for you. If you’d prefer to discuss this over the phone or via email, we can assist with this
too. You can tell us about any preferences you have in mind – the type of funeral you would like to
have, hymns, music or any other personal touches – and we’ll make sure your plan takes these into
account.

Looking after you as a customer

As a Golden Charter plan holder, you’ll receive personalised plan documents, which include a summary of your plan, our details, your plan holder certificate and a personal membership card for you to carry in your purse or wallet. You can add a nominated representative to your plan if you wish to do so. Your nominated representative will receive a letter which will provide details of your plan and our details, as your chosen funeral director. They will have no authority to make changes to your plan.

You’ll also receive a statement from Golden Charter every three years which will be sent via your preferred contact method.

As your funeral director, we’ll hold full details of your funeral plan. When the time comes, one phone call is all it takes to activate your plan and get the arrangements underway.

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What's included in a pre-paid funeral plan?

Our funeral director’s services will be covered in your funeral plan, which means our fees will be
fixed at today’s prices. These services typically include:

Professional services and making arrangements for the funeral

Transportation of the deceased from the place of death to our premises, chapel of rest or other suitable location

Care of the deceased and preparations for family viewing if requested

Advice on the certification and registration of death and related documentation

Provision of funeral vehicles

Advice on bereavement counselling

Coffin or casket requested

Although a pre-paid funeral plan can cover all of the services above, there are some additional third
party costs to consider. These are the costs for essential, non-funeral director services required to
carry out a cremation or burial which need to be paid at the time of the funeral. These costs are
outside our control. Depending on the plan type chosen, a Golden Charter funeral plan can include a
contribution towards some third party costs. They may include:

Crematorium fee

Minister or officiant’s fee

Cemetery fee: the opening of a new or existing grave for burial or interment of cremated remains

Other third party costs that may be associated with a funeral include:

Purchase of grave or lair

Hire of church or other venue

Fees for organist or soloist

Memorial, such as a headstone, entry in a book of remembrance, or the planting of a tree

Catering, floral tributes and newspaper announcements

There will only be more to pay at the time of the funeral if the third party costs exceed the
allowance when you buy your plan, or if the costs increase by more than the growth of your plan.
Even if prices rise in the future, once your plan is paid for, you’ll have the reassurance of knowing
there’ll be nothing more to pay for our services included in the plan – guaranteed.

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Payment options to suit you

With a Golden Charter funeral plan, you can pay for your plan in several ways. Spread the cost or
make a one-off payment – simply choose the one that’s right for you. We will provide you with the
information you need to make an informed decision.
The retail price of your funeral plan is representative of the equivalent cost of a funeral today plus
an arrangement fee of £285 which is retained by Golden Charter to help cover the costs of setting up
your plan.

Your payments are held within the Golden Charter Trust. With £1.2 billion under management, 1 the
Trust is operated by a Board of Trustees, completely independent of Golden Charter. Their role is to
hold your payments and ensure that the funeral director services in your plan can be paid for at the
time they are required – however far into the future that may be. For more information on how your
payments are protected, please visit goldencharter.co.uk/faqs

Ready to take the next step? Get in touch today

As well as the comfort of having a plan in place, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with being
able to help save your family from worry and expense in the future. So why not take the next step?

Joseph O'Connell Funeral Services is an appointed representative of Golden Charter Limited trading as Golden Charter Funeral Plans which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN:965279).

Registered in England No. 02511598 Registered Office: One Fleet Place, London EC4M 7WS.

Please Phone 01270 584447 Now.

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Get in touch with us to arrange a personal consultation