Prepaid Funeral Plans with your chosen Funeral Director

Planning ahead, in your own time

Thinking about your funeral is not the easiest thing to do, and there is no rush. Many of the families we look after tell us that putting a Prepaid Funeral Plan in place gave them real peace of mind — their wishes written down, the Funeral Director’s services paid for at today’s prices, and one less worry left for the people they love.

At Open Prepaid Funerals, we work with a trusted network of independent Funeral Directors across the UK. Many of these Funeral Directors are Introducer Appointed Representatives of Open Prepaid Funerals. This means they can introduce you to Open if you are thinking about arranging a Prepaid Funeral Plan, and you can choose them as your nominated Funeral Director on the Plan.

When the time comes, your family should contact your chosen Funeral Director, and they will work with the Funeral Director to put the funeral arrangements in place. Your nominated Funeral Director will then take care of everything locally, with the care, dignity and personal service you would expect.

What a Prepaid Funeral Plan is

A Prepaid Funeral Plan from Open lets you arrange and pay for certain parts of your funeral in advance. Your Plan sets out the Funeral Director’s services that are included — such as the care of the person who has died, the Funeral Director’s staff and vehicles on the day, and the coffin you have chosen.

The full list of what is and is not included is shown in the Plan documents Open will send you. It is important to read these documents carefully so that you and your family understand exactly what your Plan covers.

Third-party costs (also known as Disbursements)

As well as the Funeral Director’s services, every funeral involves what are called third-party costs. These are essential payments to organisations and people who are not the Funeral Director — for example the cremation or burial fee, and the minister or celebrant’s fee for leading the service.

Depending on the Plan you choose, an allowance towards these third-party costs may be included. Where an allowance is included it may grow over time, but if third-party costs at the time of the funeral are higher than that allowance, the difference will need to be paid by your family or your estate.

Open’s Plan documents explain exactly how this works on each Plan.

Choosing your Funeral Director

If you already have a Funeral Director in mind, you can usually nominate them when arranging your Plan, provided they are part of the Open Prepaid Funerals network and are able to accept the Plan.

This might be a Funeral Director you already know, a local Funeral Director your family has used before, or a Funeral Director who has introduced you to Open as an Introducer Appointed Representative.

If your chosen Funeral Director is an Open Introducer Appointed Representative they can talk to you about the at need funeral services they provide locally. They can also give you information about Open Prepaid Funerals and introduce you to us. They cannot give advice on Funeral Plans and they do not make recommendations about which Plan you should choose.

If you are unsure which Plan is right for you, or you would like to understand your options in more detail, one of Open’s Plan Arrangers will be happy to talk things through with you.

Two ways to take a Plan out

Some families like to talk things through. Others have already had a think, know what they want, and would rather go ahead in their own time. Open Prepaid Funerals supports both.

1. Talk to one of Open’s Plan Arrangers

If you would like to walk through the options with someone, Open’s Plan Arrangers are friendly, unhurried and used to answering every kind of question.

They will explain what each Plan covers, how payment options work, and how to record your wishes. If you already know which plan suits you and the Funeral Director you wish to nominate they will help you with this.

There is no charge for speaking to one of our Plan Arrangers, other than the standard Plan administration fee if you decide to go ahead with a Plan, and there is no obligation to proceed.

You can arrange a call by contacting Open Prepaid Funerals directly on 0330 660 0072.

The Funeral Director cannot discuss plans and costs however they can give you a copy of our brochure and set plans based on their prices.

2. Take a Plan out online, in your own time

If you already know which Plan suits you, you do not need to make an appointment. You are welcome to visit the Open Prepaid Funerals website and take the Plan out online yourself.

You will receive your Plan documents by email, and a member of Open’s Plan Arranger team will give you a follow-up call afterwards just to make sure you are happy with everything and to answer any questions that may have come up.

If you have been introduced to Open by your chosen Funeral Director, or if you would like a particular Funeral Director to be nominated on your Plan, you can let us know as part of the process.

If at any point — before, during or after — you would prefer to speak to someone, you are very welcome to do so. The choice is entirely yours.

Please note that your chosen Funeral Director may introduce you to Open Prepaid Funerals. They do not give advice on funeral Plans and they do not make recommendations about which Plan you should choose. They are happy to share information and answer questions about the funeral services they provide.

Paying for your Plan

Open offers more than one way to pay. You can pay for your Plan as a single lump sum, or you can spread the cost in instalments.

If you choose to pay over a longer period additional charges and age limits may apply depending on the option you choose. The full cost will be set out clearly before you agree to anything.

There are no health checks and no age limit on acceptance for for a single-payment in full Funeral Plan. Conditions and limits do apply to some payment options, and these are explained in Open’s Plan documents.

Cancelling, changing your mind, and keeping your Plan safe

A Funeral Plan is an important decision, so it's okay to take your time and think about it again.

Open’s Plan documents set out the cooling-off and cancellation rights that apply to your Plan, including the period within which a Plan can be cancelled with a full refund. This is within 30 days of your Plan being activated.

Your money is held in the Open Prepaid Funerals Trust Fund, which is independently managed and audited so that the funds are there when they are needed.

Funeral Plans are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

Since 29 July 2022, every firm that provides or arranges Funeral Plans in the UK must be authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Open Prepaid Funerals Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as a funeral Plan provider. Our Firm Reference Number is 962403. You can check this on the Financial Services Register at register.fca.org.uk.

Many of the Funeral Directors in our network are Introducer Appointed Representatives of Open Prepaid Funerals. This authorisation and regulation is for funeral Plan activities only. It does not extend to other activities carried out by the Funeral Director, such as at-need funerals.

If you would like to know more

Please feel free to call Open Prepaid Funerals on 0330 660 0072. We are happy to send you a brochure with no obligation, talk you through the Plans available, or help you understand how to nominate your chosen Funeral Director.

If you have already spoken to a Funeral Director who works with Open, you can also let us know their name when you contact us. We will make sure your chosen Funeral Director is recorded on your Plan.

Regulatory disclosure

Open Prepaid Funerals Limited is registered in England and Wales, Company number 04747037. Registered office: The American Barns, Banbury Road, Warwick CV35 0AE.

Open Prepaid Funerals Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for funeral Plan activities. Firm Reference Number 962403. You can check this on the Financial Services Register at register.fca.org.uk.

Where a Funeral Director is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Open Prepaid Funerals Limited, they may introduce customers to Open Prepaid Funerals Limited. They cannot provide advice or make recommendations in relation to funeral Plans.

Please note that this authorisation and regulation is for Funeral Plans only, and does not extend to other activities carried out by the Funeral Director, such as at-need funerals.