Open Prepaid Funerals

Who are Open Prepaid Funerals?

Open Prepaid Funeral Plans are a Prepaid Funeral Plan Provider based in the UK. They are also known as Open Prepaid Funerals and Open.

Open have been in business since 2003, and they pride themselves on having good financial strength and ethics.

Open believe they are different from other Prepaid Funeral Plan providers for the following reasons:

• They have a low admin fee that is £195 at the time of writing
• The admin fee is the only fee they charge
• They do not charge for cancelling your plan
• The Open Prepaid Funerals Trust has delivered consistent, inflation-beating growth in their client monies

Compare Open Prepaid Funeral Plans

So, what types of Funeral Plans do Open Prepaid Funerals offer, and how do they compare to the market?

As with any financial decision, we recommend that you carefully consider what you need and what options are currently available across the market. We can assist you with this process.

Open offer five types of Prepaid Funeral Plans. The five options are: The Direct Cremation Plan, The Simple Plan, The Simple Plus Plan, The Traditional Plan, and The Select Plan. These Funeral Plans have competitive pricing, and they all include different funeral costs, so it’s essential to understand the details.

We are happy to support you with any questions.

The Direct Cremation Plan

The Direct Cremation Plan is the cheapest option amongst the Open Prepaid Funeral Plans, and it is only suitable for a cremation funeral. It covers the cost of a simple cremation without a funeral service. It includes the following features:

• Transport of the deceased to the chosen Funeral Directors during working hours
• Care and preparation of the deceased before the funeral
• A simple coffin that is suitable for cremation
• Vehicle to transport the deceased to the crematorium
• Pallbearers
• Cremation certificate and other statutory documents
• Advice on how to register the death
• Disbursement fees for the crematorium and the Doctor. Overall disbursement fee allowance of £840, at the time of writing
• Funeral Director’s fees

The Simple Plan

As the name suggests, Open Prepaid’s Simple Plan, covers the arrangements for a simple funeral. It’s Open’s lowest-cost prepayment funeral plan that can be used for burials and it includes:

• Transport of the deceased to the chosen Funeral Directors during working hours
• Care and preparation of the deceased before the funeral
• A simple coffin that is suitable for cremation or burial
• Hearse
• Pallbearers
• Guidance on documentation, registration and certification matters
• Chapel of Rest
• Funeral Director’s fees; Open typically use independent Funeral Directors
• Advice around the Order of Service
• Guidance on placing a notice in the press
• Advice regarding options for memorials
• No cost for cancellation

The Simple Plus Plan

The Simple Plus Plan has the benefits of Open’s Simple Prepaid Funeral plus:

• A disbursement allowance, which is also known as a contribution to third party costs such as Doctor’s fees, the crematorium, the cemetery fees and clergy fees

The Traditional Plan

The Traditional Prepaid Funeral Plan contains some extra comfort and services for the family. It has the benefits of the Simple Plus Plan as well as:

• A wood veneered coffin
• A limousine
• Funeral procession from a local starting point with transportation to the service and back afterwards
• Advice on additional aspects of the arrangements including flowers, donations, bereavement and how to administer the Estate
• A Conductor

The Select Plan

The Select Plan is the Open Prepaid top of the range plan. It contains the benefits of the other plans with the following additional and higher quality items:

• Superior quality wood coffin
• Two limousines
• Cards or a book for people to write tributes in
• Collection of the cards attached to floral tributes, or a list of those who contributed

Have Open Prepaid Funeral Plans got good customer feedback?

At the time of writing this review, Open Prepaid do not appear to be using independent customer reviews sites. We would recommend that they join one of the sites such as Trustpilot, Feefo or Reviews.io so that prospective customers can get more information regarding what it is like to be an Open customer. This information is extremely helpful when comparing plan providers.

What happens if I take out Open Prepaid Funeral Plans?

Once you have signed up to a plan with Open, you will receive a folder that contains the following documentation:

• Your certificate
• Summary of your plan
• Terms and Conditions
• Guidance on what your next of kin need to do at the time of need
• Complaints policy
• A card to carry in your wallet or purse with Open’s details
• The option to receive duplicate copies for next of kin or your legal professional

If you take out a plan with Open and change your mind, you can cancel the policy within 30 days and receive a full refund. If you cancel after 30 days you will forfeit the Open admin fee of £195, which is one of the lowest cost cancellation arrangements currently on the market.

Where is the money for Open Prepaid Funeral Plans kept?

Client money from Open Funeral Plans is kept safely in the Open Prepaid Funerals Trust. The Trust is a separate entity to Open Prepaid Funerals Limited. If Open went out of business, the Trust would appoint another company to deliver the funerals.

A board of Independent Trustees and investment managers takes care of the fund and makes sure it can meet the obligations for Open Funeral Plans.

Do they offer guarantees?

Open commit to deliver the elements of your Funeral Plan and to keep your money safe in the Open Prepaid Funerals Trust.

Are Open Prepaid Funeral Plans registered with the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA)?

Yes, Open Prepaid Funerals have a registration with the Funeral Planning Authority through their limited company, Open Prepaid Funerals Limited.

What payment options are available?

You can pay for Open Funeral Plans in three ways:

• A single payment, covering the full cost of the Funeral Plan, which you can pay online, by cheque or bank transfer
• Interest-free instalments of up to 12 months that you pay by direct debit
• Instalment plans of up to ten years, with an equivalent APR of 4.9%, paid by direct debit

What if I have a complaint with Open Funeral Plans?

If you have a complaint with Open, then they prefer for you to first call them on 0330 660 0072.

If the customer service team can not resolve your complaint over the phone, they will ask you to put it in writing, by email or post:
Email:enquiries@openprepaidfunerals.co.uk 
Post: Freepost OPEN PREPAID FUNERALS

If Open do not resolve your complaint, you can refer it to the Funeral Planning Authority by contacting them in one of the following ways:
Phone: 0345 601 9619
Email: info@funeralplanningauthority.co.uk
Post: Funeral Planning Authority, Barham Court, Teston, Maidstone, Kent ME18 5BZ