compare funeral plans
We have 3 plans with a combination of services, so you can choose the one that works for you. You can see the differences between each plan below.
A funeral plan is an easy way to organise your funeral arrangements in advance and specify your wishes.
a simple way to plan ahead
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Unatended Cremation
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Basic coffin
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Collection and transportation of the deceased (within a 25 mile radius) - within 24 hours
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Provision of professional services and making all arrangements for the funeral
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Family viewing at pre-arranged time
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Hearse (or similar) to a local crematorium
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No limousine
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An allowance towards the fees for the Crematorium
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An allowance towards the doctors' fees (including certification of death)
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An allowance towards the minister or officiant's fees
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Summary of costs
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Funeral director services £846.10
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Third party allowance £653.90
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Golden Charter arrangement fee*** £285.00
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Total cost £1,785.00
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Attended funeral at local crematorium
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Standard wood veneered coffin
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Collection and transportation of the deceased (within a 25 mile radius) - within 24 hours
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Provision of professional services and making all arrangements for the funeral
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Family viewing at pre-arranged time
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Hearse (or similar) to a local crematorium
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No limousine
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An allowance towards the fees for the Crematorium
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An allowance towards the doctors' fees (including certification of death)
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An allowance towards the minister or officiant's fees
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Summary of costs
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Funeral director services : £2,390.00
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Third party allowance : £1,184.00
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Golden Charter arrangement fee : £285.00
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Total cost : £3,859.00
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Attended funeral at local crematorium
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Standard wood veneered coffin
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Collection and transportation of the deceased (within a 25 mile radius) - within 24 hours
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Provision of professional services and making all arrangements for the funeral
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Family viewing at pre-arranged time
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Hearse (or similar) to a local crematorium
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Limousine
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An allowance towards the fees for the Crematorium
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An allowance towards the doctors' fees (including certification of death)
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An allowance towards the minister or officiant's fees
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Summary of costs
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Funeral director services : £2,685.00
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Third party allowance : £1,184.00
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Golden Charter arrangement fee : £285.00
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Total cost : £4,154.00
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Attended funeral at local crematorium
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Standard wood veneered coffin
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Collection and transportation of the deceased (within a 25 mile radius) - within 24 hours
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Provision of professional services and making all arrangements for the funeral
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Family viewing at pre-arranged time
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Hearse (or similar) to a local crematorium
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Two limousines
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An allowance towards the fees for the Crematorium
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An allowance towards the doctors' fees (including certification of death)
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An allowance towards the minister or officiant's fees
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Summary of costs
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Funeral director services : £2,980.00
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Third party allowance : £1,184.00
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Golden Charter arrangement fee : £285.00
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Total cost : £4,449.00
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Substantiations
* The pay monthly price is based on a 50 year old paying by the instalment payment option with a £49 deposit over 15 years. An instalment charge is included based on the term you select and is included in the overall cost of your funeral plan.
*** Paid to Golden Charter to cover the cost of setting up, managing and administering your funeral plan.
Third party allowance
These costs are for essential, non-funeral director services required to carry out a cremation, which need to be paid at the time of the funeral. These costs are outside the control of your funeral director, but a contribution is included towards them in your plan.
Examples of third party costs that may be covered by the allowance included in your plan are doctor’s fees (if applicable), cremation or interment fees, and the minister or officiant’s fee to conduct the service. Please check what’s included with your chosen plan using the table above.
If the amount included in your plan for third party costs doesn’t fully cover these, then the additional sum will need to be paid at the time of your funeral by your family or estate.
a simple way to plan ahead
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.
At E Turnbull and Son, 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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?
E Turnbull and Son Limited 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.
Confirmed by Golden Charter Trust’s audited accounts at 31 March 2022.
we are here to support
We are here to support and guide you through every detail, helping you create a fitting ceremony and celebration of life.
Everything that we do is built on empathy, choice and providing value. Our belief is that since we’re all unique, our funerals should be too.
When a death occurs we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us if you need help and advice around bereavement even if not considering us as funeral director.
Call – 0191 257 1201
If you would prefer not to speak to someone just now, complete our online form and we will call you back within an hour.