Arranging and paying for a funeral in advance

Many people wish to provide for their funeral expenses and a funeral prepayment plan is a caring, sensible and cost-effective way to do so.

The advantage of a prepayment plan over a savings account or life insurance policy is that you can pay now, at today's prices and beat inflation - no matter when the service might be required. The Funeral Director's fees will be paid by Funeral Planning Trust at the time of the funeral.

"Most of us, as we get older, expect to provide the money to meet our funeral expenses We're not morbid. It's to do with independence and responsibility. Leaving everything in order for our relatives and friends. The fact is that funerals cost money, and we want to take care of the cost".

The Advantages of a James McMullan and Son Prepayment Plan?

Our funeral plans has the following practical benefits:

• You can choose your own funeral arrangements, for your own peace of mind
• You will save your family from having to make difficult decisions, trying to guess what you would have wanted, at such a distressing time.
• Avoid rising funeral costs with an inflation proof guarantee of the Funeral Director's charges
• You can choose a set plan or we can tailor every detail exactly as you want it and can be purchased with a once-only payment or by instalments - whichever suits you best.
• Your relatives will be spared a financial burden, at what could be a difficult and distressing time for them.
• The service will be provided by us an independent funeral director with an established reputation. If you move home you can transfer your plan through a network of professional firms across the country.
• Financial Security - all funeral payments are placed in Funeral Planning Trust until required, held by a professional custodian trustee, monitored by independent auditors and registered with the Funeral Planning Authority
• There is no age limit and there are no questions about your health.

Questions customers often ask about our funeral plan

WHAT IF THE COST OF FUNERALS INCREASES?
Funerals, like everything else are affected by inflation and the cost of a funeral will almost certainly increase before you need one. However once you have purchased a prepayment plan the funeral specified will be provided for you when needed without any further charge to you or your family (but please refer to the note below on disbursements). This is the most important benefit of the James McMullan and Son Funeral Plan, and why it has become so popular with our clients in recent years.

DOES THE PLAN INCLUDE DISBURSMENTS?
Each plan usually includes a contribution towards other expenses, such as cemetery or crematorium fees, newspapers notices and minister's or church fees etc - these fees are known as "disbursements". This is intended to cover most if not all of the usual disbursements, but please note that they are outside of our control and cannot be guaranteed. The amount included for the disbursements will be stated on your funeral plan certificate and will be increased annually in line with the Retail Prices Index. You can include a larger (or smaller) contribution towards disbursements if you wish - please ask if you need advice on this point.

HOW DO I KNOW THAT MY MONEY WILL BE SAFE?
We will ask you to make your cheque payable to 'Funeral Planning Trust', which is quite independent of the funeral director's accounts, to be held and invested by the managing trustees in accordance with the trust deed. Capita Trust Company is the custodian trustee of the Funeral Planning Trust. The plans are administered by Funeral Planning Services, a national company specialising in funeral prepayment plans. At the time of the funeral your selected funeral director will provide the service as itemised in return for a payment from the Funeral Planning Trust.

DO YOU PAY INTEREST?
No. A funeral plan is not an investment or an insurance policy - it is simply a way of paying in advance for the funeral service. As the value of the Funeral Planning Trust increases over the years, so the money available to pay the funeral director will increase to compensate for rising costs.

WHAT ABOUT VAT?
Funerals are not subject to VAT so you don't have to pay VAT on your plan. However, if a future government does introduce VAT on funerals; Funeral Planning Services will advise you of the options.

CAN I BUY A PLAN FOR SOMEONE ELSE?
Yes. Please mention this on your application - we will need the name, address and date of birth but we will send all correspondence to you. All instructions are treated in confidence.

CAN I PAY BY INSTALMENTS?
Yes, there is a range of options - please ask for details. Payment by instalments usually costs more than a single payment because of the extra administration involved and if you die before completing all the instalments the plan will only be part-paid.

WHAT IF I DIE AWAY FROM HOME?
Each plan includes removal, either within Northern Ireland or a specified radius to our premises. We strongly recommend that you take out travel medical insurance when you go on holiday, which should include the cost of bringing you back home if necessary.

WHAT IF I MOVE HOME?
If you leave Northern Ireland we can transfer your plan to another funeral director. Funeral costs do vary from one area to another, and you will be advised of any change in cost at that stage.

WHAT IF I CHANGE MY MIND LATER?
If you wish to cancel your plan within the first month of receiving your plan documents, simply return your plan documents and your money will be returned in full. If you cancel at a later date your refund will be subject to an administration charge (please refer to the terms of sale).