Blog & News

The Prepaid Funeral Plan market became regulated by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) on 29th July 2022.

• Alternative Planning Company Ltd (‘Choice’, as operated by Funeral Partners)
• Aura Life
• Avalon (UK & Europe)
• Celebration of Life
  
• Central England Co-operative Ltd
• Co-op Funeral Plans 
• Crystal Cremations Ltd  
• Dignity Funerals Ltd
• Distinct Funeral Plans Ltd
  (Distinct Cremations)
• Ecclesiastical Planning Services Ltd 
• FA Albin & Sons Ltd ("Albins")
• Family Funerals Trust Ltd
  (Lodge Brothers Funeral Plans)
• Fosters Family Funeral Directors (Trading name of The Independent Family Funeral Directors Ltd)
• Freeman Brothers Funeral Directors
• Golden Charter
• Golden Leaves
• Haven Personal Funeral Plans Ltd
• Independent Funeral Planning Services Ltd
  (Go As You Please Funerals 2009 Ltd)
• M&F (Scotland) Limited
  T/A M&F Funeral Services
• Memoria Ltd
  (Inc. Low Cost Funeral Ltd T/A Affordable Funerals)
• Open Prepaid Funerals Limited
• Peace Burials Ltd
• Plan with Grace Ltd  
• Pure Cremation
• Southern Co-operative Funerals Ltd
• William Alty & Sons Limited
  ("Altys Funerals")

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is calling for experiences of members of the public as it launches a new investigation into unregulated will writing and probate services, and into online divorce. 

It follows concerns that not all firms that offer such services are complying with consumer protection law.

While there are differences in the legal regimes that apply in the countries of the UK, initial research by the CMA has identified three main areas of concern involving potential risk to customers and possible breaches of consumer protection law:

Will-writing: anyone can legally write a will, and consumers may be misled by advertising which offers an extremely low initial fee for advice but does not indicate that final costs can increase significantly. Potentially unfair contract terms may also be used, such as exclusions of liability, failure to provide cancellation rights, and terms which automatically appoint the firm as executor (often for a fee). There have also been reports of pressure selling and coercion of vulnerable customers.

Pre-paid probate plans: these are a new development in the market where customers pay set fees upfront for the legal process of managing the estate when someone dies. Concerns include pressure selling techniques being used on elderly and other vulnerable people; lack of transparency about what costs are covered; plans that are unnecessary or fail to serve their purpose; and lack of customer awareness that their money may not be adequately protected, even if held in trust.

Online divorce: so-called “quickie” divorce services have grown in popularity since the Covid-19 lockdown. Concerns include: misleading claims about both the simplicity of the process and prices; and inadequate quality of service, including firms using the wrong forms, entering incorrect details, sending papers to the court late, and not communicating efficiently with customers.

The CMA is also concerned that, if a company ceases to operate, there is a risk that customers’ money or important documents, such as their will, may be lost.