Direct to Cremation Plan (GB)

The Direct to Cremation Plan (GB) is priced at £1,675. When you purchase an Avalon funeral plan, you lock in this price with us. It’s important to note that we don’t typically expect you to use the plan immediately. However, if you do require a funeral right away, the cost of this plan is comparable to the current average price of a funeral if you were to arrange it directly at the time of need.

At the time of sale, Avalon assigns your plan to a specific Funeral Director(s) and has negotiated a contractual price for the various costs involved in providing your funeral. These Funeral Director costs vary depending on factors like region and plan type, but for this particular type of plan, the approximate Funeral Director cost is £850* plus an annual adjustment to account for inflation, based on today’s prices.

Unlike the fixed plan price you pay, the “at need” price for a funeral today is likely to increase each year due to inflation until the time you actually require the funeral. The contracted costs to Avalon are adjusted for inflation annually to reflect the expected future changing prices in the industry.

*Rounded up to the nearest £50

Instalments within 12 months

If you pay by instalments within 12 months a deposit will be paid at the outset and the remaining balance will be split over the term. The minimum deposit amount will be specified in the specific Terms & Conditions of your plan. The monthly instalments will be paid by Direct Debit or Standing Order and no instalment charges apply.

We will not provide any of the products and services during the 12-month moratorium period unless your death is the direct result of an accidental death.

Should the plan holder’s death occur within the instalment period from any other cause, the plan holder’s family or Nominated Representative must pay the full outstanding balance of your Avalon Funeral Plan to be able to use the plan.

Should your Representative choose not to use your plan under these circumstances they can cancel your plan and receive a refund – see terms and conditions for details. Your Avalon Funeral Plan will provide the products and services detailed on the Plan Certificate once the plan has been paid in full.

Instalments over 2 years or more

If you choose to pay for your plan in instalments over a period of 2 years or more, you will need to pay a deposit when setting up the plan. The minimum deposit amount will be specified in the specific Terms & Conditions of your plan.

The maximum term for our UK plans is 15 years.

You have the option to pay for your Avalon Funeral Plan in instalments over a period of 2 years or more. The duration of your instalments depends on your age, but in all cases, the final instalment must be paid before your 80th birthday. For example, if you are 76 years old, you cannot choose a 5-year term, but you can opt for a 3-year term because all payments will be completed before you turn 80 years old.

An annual instalment charge is applied and included in each monthly instalment throughout the payment term. This charge covers various costs associated with offering you the ability to pay for the plan over time, including inflation protection and early death provision from the time you take out the plan. These costs are divided into three main categories:

• Loss of investment returns due to not receiving the full payment upfront.
• Administration costs related to payment processing and credit control.
• Costs associated with providing accidental and early death protection through the Avalon Promise.

The instalment charge is a fixed annual fee added to the initial balance of your plan. It is calculated as 5.2% of the full price of the plan minus any deposit paid. This amount is then multiplied by the number of years of instalments. The total is added to the retail cost of the plan, minus any deposit paid, and divided by the number of instalments to determine the monthly instalment amount.

For example, your Avalon Funeral Plan costs £4000, and you pay a £500 deposit, leaving £3500 outstanding. The annual fee would be 5.2% of £3500, which is £182. If you choose a 10-year term, you will pay an instalment charge of £1820 on top of the plan price. However, if you opt for a 3-year term, the instalment charge would be £546.

If we or you cancel your plan outside of the 12-month moratorium period, we will retain 50% of the instalment charge you have paid in addition to the cancellation fee.

Paying off your plan in fewer years is generally cheaper, and you can reduce the term at any time to lower the instalment charge. Please note that the annual instalment charge is calculated based on the anniversary of your plan’s start date and is charged in full years. For example, if you have been paying for 3 years and 1 month of a 10-year plan and wish to pay it off completely, you will be charged for 4 full years of the instalment charge.

During the 12-month moratorium period, we will not provide any products or services unless your death is the direct result of an accident. If the plan holder passes away from any other cause within the moratorium period, the plan holder’s family or Nominated Representative must pay the full outstanding balance to receive the full benefits of the Avalon Funeral Plan. However, if the plan holder’s death occurs after the moratorium period but within the instalment period, Avalon will provide the full benefits of the Avalon Funeral Plan without requiring the family or Representative to pay the outstanding balance.

Avalon’s Direct to Cremation Plan (GB) provides only a cremation. A direct cremation is a lower-cost alternative to a traditional funeral and is ideal for those with a smaller budget or looking for a simpler send-off.

The deceased will be carefully and respectfully taken from their place of rest to the crematorium for cremation. There will be no ceremony or mourners present. The crematorium may not be local. The ashes will be returned directly to the family or scattered in the garden of remembrance.

If they wish, family members can choose to arrange and pay for their own celebration of  life service, however and wherever you or they wish.

If instead you would prefer a cremation with a service your loved ones can attend, our Standard Funeral Plan (UK) might be the right plan for you.

Direct cremation funerals are different from traditional funerals as the cremation takes place without a service or mourners present. This makes direct cremation prepaid plans a more affordable option.

Family members can choose to arrange and pay for their own send off to celebrate your life in a way that is unique and personal to you.

While direct cremation is a lower-cost option, some people may find a traditional funeral an important part of the grieving process.

If you are thinking of a direct cremation, Avalon’s Direct to Cremation Plan (GB) could be the plan you’re looking for, but it’s important to think carefully about your wishes and discuss them with your loved ones to ensure you get the funeral you wish for.

Legally, there is no requirement for a funeral service. However, when someone dies, their body must be disposed of safely. In most cases, this is through cremation or burial.

That means that even if you don’t want the fuss of a ceremony when you die, your family or friends will still have to make arrangements and pay for a cremation or burial.

Taking care of these costs in advance with a funeral plan allows you to pay for the costs at today’s prices and means your loved ones won’t have to find the money when the time comes.

The cremation takes place at a crematorium of the funeral director’s choice without a service or mourners present. The ashes will be returned to the family or scattered in the garden of remembrance.

Note: this may be a central location and not local to the deceased home address