An Honest and Detailed Low Cost Funerals Review
An Honest and Detailed Low Cost Funerals Review
As part of our commitment to helping families understand their choices, we have thoroughly researched the Direct Cremation market.
This detailed Low Cost Funeral review will help you understand if the service they offer is right for you and your family.
| Price | |
| Inclusivity | |
| Flexibility | |
| Speed of Service | |
| Customer Satisfaction | |
| Overall |
*Conditional upon presenting a cheaper quotation for like-for-like services from an alternative provider.
A Note About Low Cost Funeral
Low Cost Funerals is the holding company of Affordable Funerals. They also operate an identical service / product under the name of Memoria so this review will cover Low Cost Funerals aka Affordable Funerals but also the Memoria product, which is exactly the same.
Low Cost Funerals Cremation Overview
HOW DOES IT WORK?
If you are looking to combine a low cost, flexible service with a reputation for customer service, Affordable Funerals may be the option for you.
Direct Cremation Service – Their unattended, Direct Cremation Service is available for the headline price of £990, with all of the essentials included. Additional services such as doctors’ fees, priority collection of the deceased and the delivery of the ashes are each available as an optional extra. Compared to more inclusive providers, this means that you won’t pay for a service you either do not wish to have or do not end up using.
Low Price – Affordable Funerals could be the ideal choice if you are especially keen on keeping an eye on your budget. For their services, they promise to not only match a like-for-like quote from another provider, but to beat it by £50.
Memoria – A cremation with Low Cost Funerals / Affordable Funerals will be carried out at one of the eleven memorial parks owned by their parent, the Memoria Group, all of which are attractive, modern facilities located throughout England and Wales. New parks in Faversham, Kent and Doncaster, South Yorkshire, are due to open in 2023.
Flexible Options – Affordable Funerals can arrange attendance of the cremation for up to twenty guests at a Memoria crematorium. It’s worth bearing in mind that this option is not available with many other direct cremation providers.
Funeral Plans – In addition, Low Cost Funerals / Affordable Funerals offers two types of pre-payment plan for their direct cremation service:
- A Single Price Plan payable immediately or in instalments of up to twelve months. Alternatively, if you are aged between 50 and 74, you may spread the cost over five or ten years for an additional, age-based price.
- A Fixed Monthly Payments Plan available to plan holders between 50 and 74, with the same, monthly premium payable until your 90th birthday or date of death (whichever is earlier).
Customer Satisfaction – Low Cost Funerals has earned a very high degree of customer satisfaction, suggesting that a commitment to offering a first class service isn’t sacrificed when opting for affordability.
Low Cost Funerals Cremation Cost
What’s Included in the £990 Direct Cremation Funeral Price?
Affordable Funerals/Low Cost Funerals will provide the following services in their direct cremation funeral. Everything is included in the headline price, except for the optional extras for which there will be an additional, specified charge:
Paid Extras Include
*Attendance of the cremation is offered as part of a separately listed Personal Funeral Service. The additional price shown is the price differential between the unattended Direct Cremation and the attended Personal Funeral services.
THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT YOUR CREMATION SERVICE
1. The ashes will be delivered by private courier after twenty-eight days if you select this option. You will need to bear this timescale in mind if you wish to have the ashes present at a separate memorial service of your choosing. Alternatively, the ashes may be collected from the crematorium.
2. Attendance of the cremation is available for up to twenty mourners. A thirty-minute service at either 8:30am or 9:00am will be held at a Memoria crematorium, offering you the opportunity to deliver a eulogy and for moments of private reflection.
3. If you opt for delivery of the ashes, they will be returned in an eco box or poly urn.
4. Unless you hold an Affordable Funerals Prepayment Plan, payment for the cremation service will be due in full prior to the cremation – there is no credit option or payment plan available. This is in line with the service offered by most other providers.
Low Cost Funerals Direct Cremations Vs Pure Cremation
Here’s how the Affordable Funerals Direct Cremation Funeral Service compares to direct cremations offered by a selection of other providers:
| Service |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| List Price | £990 | £995 | £1,295 | £895 |
| Coverage | Great Britain | Great Britain | UK | Great Britain |
| Hospital or Public Mortuary Collection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Residential Address or Care Home Collection | £250 | £250 | £250 | £200 |
| Out-of-Hours Collection | £250 | £195 | £250 | £250 |
| Doctors’ Fees | £82 | Yes | Yes | £82 |
| Dress for the Deceased | Clothing worn by the deceased at the time of collection | Simple Gown | Clothing worn by the deceased at the time of collection | Clothing worn by the deceased at the time of collection |
| Option for Own Clothes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Removal of Medical Devices | £100 | Additional cost, subject to details | Yes | Yes |
| Removal of Jewellery | Yes | No | Yes | £50 |
| Coffin | Wood Effect | Dark Wood Effect | Solid Wood | Unvarnished Veneer Chipboard |
| Max. time between Collection and Cremation | Unspecified | Within a few days | 14 Days | Unspecified |
| Option to Attend | £405 | +£400-£900 | +£250-£400 | £400 |
| Option to be Informed of Cremation Date | Unspecified | No | Yes | Yes |
| Choice of Crematorium | Attended Only | Attended Only | No | Attended Only |
| Delivery of Ashes | £100 | £75 | Yes | Yes |
| Max. Time for Ashes Delivery following Cremation | 28 Days | 28 Days | 21 Days | 14 Days |
Closest Competitor Service
Below we have listed the closest comparable product to the direct cremation service offered by Low Cost Funerals
| Competitor | DirectCremation.co.uk |
| Service | A similar low-cost service, DirectCremation.co.uk covers only England and Wales. |
| Difference | Affordable Funerals is part of the larger Memoria Group; DirectCremation.co.uk is an independent, smaller company, with the founder/director often delivering the ashes personally |
| Review | Read our DirectCremation.co.uk Review |
Low Cost Funerals Pre Paid Funeral Plans
In addition to an, ‘at need’ direct cremation service, Low Cost Funerals offers two types of pre-payment plan, which are suitable for those that are planning their own funeral:
1. Affordable Funerals Single Price Plan
2. Affordable Funerals Fixed Monthly Payments Plan
| Headline Price | |
| Safety | |
| Payment Flexibility | |
| Guaranteed Coverage | |
| Customer Satisfaction | |
| OVERALL |
*Available to plan beneficiaries under the age of 84 on the date of the loan’s maturity. Subject to separate terms and conditions.
Low Cost Funerals Single Price Plan: How Much Will I Pay?
Pricelist for Lump Sum and Twelve Monthly Instalment Payments
| Number of Instalments | Direct Cremation Plan | Personal Funeral Service Plan | ||
| Per Month | TOTAL | Per Month | TOTAL | |
| Single Payment | – | £1,490.00 | – | £1,894.00 |
| 12 | £124.16 | £1,489.92 | £157.83 | £1,893.96 |
Prices for Five and Ten Year Monthly Instalment Payments
Currently Low Cost Funerals do not offer an easy way to look at their prices for 12+ months instalments
THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT YOUR CREMATION PLAN
1. If paying in full, redemption for the plan benefits is available if the beneficiary dies at any time – there is no waiting period or restriction..
2. If paying by instalments over twelve months, redemption for the plan benefits is available after the plan is paid for in full. If death occurs before the plan is paid for in full the estate of the deceased has the option of paying the difference for the cost of a direct cremation, or requesting a full refund.
3. If paying in monthly instalments over five or ten years, redemption is available after the first twelve months of payments. Redemption is available within the first twelve months if death of the beneficiary is accidental. If death is not accidental within this timeframe, the estate of the deceased has the option of paying the difference for the cost of a direct cremation, or requesting a full refund.
4. You have the right to cancel the plan free of charge within thirty days following the date of purchase.
5. After thirty days, cancellation of a plan paid in full or over twelve monthly instalments is subject to a £299 administration charge. Cancellation of a plan paid over five or ten years will result in no refund.
6. If you have purchased your funeral plan with a loan from Funeral Safe and you decide to cancel your plan before you have finished paying for your loan, then Affordable Funerals will pay the outstanding balance of the loan directly to Funeral Safe. The amount paid will be deducted from your refund in addition to the administration fee.
7. The plan benefits are not transferable to another beneficiary, although somebody else may pay for the plan costs.
8. There is no requirement to disclose medical conditions.
Low Cost Funerals Fixed Monthly Payments Plan: How Much Will I Pay?
Pricelist
Affordable Funerals do not offer an easy way to compare their Direct Funeral Plan or the Personal Funeral Service Plan costs.
THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT YOUR PLAN
1. Redemption for the plan benefits is available after the first twenty-four months of up to date payments.
2. If the plan holder passes away within the first twenty-four months of payments, all instalments will be refunded to the estate of the beneficiary or to the representative.
3. You have the right to cancel the plan free of charge within thirty days following the date of purchase.
4. Cancellation after thirty days will entitle you to no refund.
5. The plan benefits are not transferable to another beneficiary, although somebody else may pay for the plan costs.
6. There is no requirement to disclose medical conditions.
7. If you live long enough, it’s possible for the total of your monthly payments to exceed the cost of either the fixed price plan or a direct cremation funeral service purchased at-need.
Low Cost Funeral Cremation Only Funeral Plan Vs Other Providers
The tables below show only the Direct Cremation plan. Please note that not all plans may offer precisely the same benefits.
| SERVICE | |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| List Price | £1,490.00 | £1,499.00 | £1,795.00 | £1,795.00 |
| Deposit | No | No | £249.00 (refundable) | No |
| Minimum Age | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 6 Month Payment Plan | – | – | – | £1,794.96 |
| 1 Year Payment Plan | £1,489.92 | £1,498.92 | £1,795.00 | £1,866.84 |
| 2 Year Payment Plan | – | – | £1,887.76 | £1,941.36 |
| 3 Year Payment Plan | – | – | £1,986.09 | £2,019.24 |
| 4 Year Payment Plan | – | – | £2,090.31 | £2,100.00 |
| 5 Year Payment Plan | Varies* | £1.782.60** | £2,200.79 | £2,184.00 |
| 6 Year Payment Plan | – | – | – | – |
| 7 Year Payment Plan | – | – | – | – |
| 8 Year Payment Plan | – | – | – | – |
| 9 Year Payment Plan | – | – | – | – |
| 10 Year Payment Plan | Varies* | £2,113.20** | – | – |
| Lowest Monthly Payment Option | Varies* | £17.61** | £32.53 | £36.40 |
| Upper Age Limit for Payment Plan | 74 | 74 if paying over 5 or 10 years | Enquire | None |
| Credit Finance Option | Yes, via third party | No | No | No |
| Full Coverage | After full payment or 12 months following purchase*** | After full payment or after the first 12 months of instalments*** | After full payment | After full payment or 24 months following purchase*** |
| Free Cancellation Period | 30 days following purchase | If paying in full or over 12 months, no restriction. If paying over 5 or 10 years, within the first 12 months. | 30 days following purchase | 30 days following purchase |
| Cancellation Fee | £299.00 | No refund for plans paid over 5 or 10 year if cancelled after 12 months | 20% of the plan value**** | £350.00 |
| Fund Type | Whole of Life Assurance Policies | Investment Trust and Whole of Life Assurance Policies | Investment Trust | Investment Trust |
*Open to plan holders aged between 50 and 74 only. The precise payment amount is determined by the plan holder’s age at the time of purchase.
**Prices vary by age. The price stated is accurate for a plan beneficiary aged 50 at the time of purchase.
***May be conditional upon maintaining an up to date payment schedule.
****If less than 20% of the plan value has been paid then no refund is offered.
| SERVICE | | |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service | Affordable Funerals | Pure Cremation | Sunlife* |
| Deposit | No | No | No |
| Minimum Age at Date of Purchase | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Maximum Age at Date of Purchase | 74 | 74 | 80 |
| Monthly Payment at Age 50 | £10.81 | £6.25 | £11.37 |
| Age at Final Payment | 90 | 90 | Date of Death |
| Full Coverage | 24 months following purchase** | 24 months following purchase** | 12 months following purchase** |
| Refund Policy for Cancellation | No refund more than 30 days following purchase | In full up to 24 months following purchase; no refund after 24 months | No refund more than 30 days following purchase |
| Fund Type | Whole of Life Assurance Policies | Whole of Life Assurance Policies | Whole of Life Assurance Policies |
*Sunlife offers a cash payout in line with the cost of a funeral at the time of your death. Funerals are arranged by Dignity. Height of premium is subject to smoking status.
**May be conditional upon maintaining an up to date payment schedule.
Low Cost Funerals Cremation Customer Reviews
Below are the awards, customer reviews and our opinion of the Low Cost Funerals Unattended Cremation offering
Affordable Funerals has earned an impressive 4.8 out of a possible 5.0 star rating on Trustpilot. As Affordable Funerals offers also a number of traditional funeral services, not all of their reviews will refer to a direct cremation. However, it is clear that the majority of customers are extremely satisfied with the service they receive.
Affordable Funerals also takes the time to respond in detail to the very few negative reviews that have been recorded.
An Affordable Cremations Direct Cremation Funeral Service may be a suitable option if:
On the other hand, Affordable Funerals may be less suitable if
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Low Cost Funerals have a Paper Brochure Available?
Affordable Funerals do not publish any paper literature at this time. However, the funeral plan terms and conditions may be downloaded in PDF format from their website.
How do I Purchase a Direct Cremation Funeral?
A direct cremation funeral can be purchased online or by phone after the death of the deceased.
How do I Purchase an Affordable Funerals Prepayment Plan?
Either of the two plan options can be purchased online or by phone.
What Type of Coffin does Affordable Funerals provide?
A woof-effect coffin is supplied with Affordable Funerals services.
What Happens to Medical Devices and Jewellery?
Removal of items of jewellery and other valuables is included in the cost of caring for the deceased, and may be collected following the cremation. The removal of medical devices will incur an additional charge.
Can I Choose where the Cremation Takes Place?
If you select the unattended, Direct Cremation Service, the cremation will take place at one of the crematoriums owned and operated by the Memoria Group. However, you will not be offered a choice as to which facility will be used.
If you select the attended, Personal Funeral Service, you should have a choice over which Memoria crematorium is used for the service. In addition, a choice of up to 70% of all crematoria in the UK appears to be available if you purchase the Personal Funeral Service Funeral Plan.
Will they Tell me the Date of Cremation?
Affordable Funerals does not indicate whether they will inform you of the date of cremation.
How Can I Pay for My Funeral or for My Plan?
Affordable Funerals accepts payment by card, bank transfer or cheque.
Please note that Affordable Funerals requires payment in full before cremation is carried out.
Instalment payments to contribute towards the funeral plans will be made by Direct Debit. Note that Affordable Funerals reserves the right to cancel a plan if you are unable to honour two consecutive monthly payments.
Can I Pay off my Instalment Plan Early?
Affordable Funerals will accept early settlement if you are paying towards a single price plan over twelve monthly instalments.
Are Special Offers or Low Cost Funerals Discounts Available?
Affordable Funerals does not appear to be running any promotional offers at this time, nor do they offer discounts to selected groups.
They have, however, published an article on how you can search for help with paying for a funeral.
Will I Receive Documentation?
If you are purchasing an Affordable Funerals Prepayment Plan, you will receive a membership pack by post within thirty days of the start date of the plan. An electronic version will also be emailed within forty-eight hours.
The membership pack will contain your funeral plan summary and unique customer number.
Who Should I Tell About My Plan?
We suggest that you inform all of your closest loved ones that you have purchased the plan, and how they can obtain the documentation to make a claim.
Remember also to update Affordable Funerals with any changes of your address or contact details after you have purchased a plan.
How will My Loved Ones Claim the Plan Benefits?
Following your death, a representative or family member will need to contact Affordable Funerals to claim the plan benefits on your behalf.
Full guidance should be outlined in your membership pack. However, at minimum, your representative will need to present Affordable Funerals with a copy of your death certificate so they are able to authorise transfer of the funds to pay for your funeral.
What happens if Affordable Funerals goes bust?
Affordable Funerals’ parent, Low Cost Funeral Ltd., is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
If you purchase a Single Price Plan, your money will be divided into two:
£500* is paid to Affordable Funerals to cover their immediate expenses of administering your funeral plan.
£990* is invested in whole of life assurance policies with Scottish Friendly. Scottish Friendly is also regulated by the FCA, while funds invested with them should enjoy the protection of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
If you purchase a Fixed Monthly Payments Plan, your payments will also be invested Scottish Friendly. Affordable Funerals will receive commission payments from the insurer to cover their immediate expenses of administering your plan.
In the event that Affordable Funerals ceases trading, Scottish Friendly will seek to work with other providers to offer you the plan benefits. It’s possible, however, that you may need to pay a little extra if the services of another provider are engaged.
*For the attended Personal Funeral Service Plan, these sums are £499 and £1,395 respectively. If paying in five or ten year monthly instalments, the administration fee is paid to Affordable Funerals in the form of commission payments from the insurer.
How do I Make Enquiries?
Enquiries can be made by email or by phone.
- To arrange a funeral now, you can call 0800 862 0152.
- To purchase a prepayment plan, please call 0800 862 0158.
- For general enquiries, please call 0800 862 0150.
Their email address is info@low-cost-funeral.co.uk.
Are there any Hidden Costs?
Affordable Funerals Direct Cremation Funeral Service should cover the majority of costs required to carry out a direct cremation funeral.
However, extra provision will have to be made for contingencies. For instance, doctors’ fees and the cost of removing medical devices will each require an extra charge.
Are they Eco-Friendly?
Affordable Funerals publishes little material concerning their environmental record. However, they do state that ashes will be returned in an eco-friendly container.
As Affordable Funerals uses relatively few crematoria for all of their cremations, one possible downside is that the deceased’s remains may have to travel farther than they would if you were to engage the services of another provider.
Who Owns Affordable Funerals / Low Cost Funerals / Memoria Funerals?
Affordable Funerals is a trading name of Low Cost Funeral Limited, which is part of the Memoria Group. Memoria operates eleven crematoria around the UK, with two more due to open in 2023.The ultimate parent is Darwin Bereavement Services Fund, an entity registered in St Peter Port, Guernsey.