An Honest and Detailed Pure Cremation Review

Name: Duncan
Rating: 3.6

As part of our commitment to helping families understand their choices, we have provided in depth direct cremation service reviews. This detailed Pure Cremation review will help you understand if Pure Cremation is the right company for you and your lost one.

Price
Inclusivity
Flexibility
Speed of Service
Overall

Simple Direct Cremation Service

All-inclusive Service

Prices Start at £1,295

Funeral Plans Available

UK Wide Coverage

FCA Regulated

Pure Cremation Overview

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Table Of Contents

Pure Cremation Overview
Pure Cremation Cost
Pure Cremation Funeral Plans
Pure Cremation Trust-based Plan
Pure Cremation Over 50s Insurance-Backed Plan
Pure Cremation Vs Co-op Funerals Vs Simplicity Cremation
Pure Cremation Customer Reviews

Pure Cremation is a relatively new funeral provider, established in 2015 by a husband and wife team claiming more than thirty years’ experience in the industry.

Unlike many other arrangers which offer a range of funeral services, Pure Cremation specialises in direct cremation. A limited number of optional extras are available, but the inclusive fee of £1,295 claims to cover everything that is needed to carry out a direct cremation. This is not always the case with other providers, so don’t be put off if the headline price seems relatively high – the total amount you end up paying may be less if there are other services that you need.

Note also that Pure Cremation offers a solid, pine wood coffin and hand delivery of the ashes to any UK address. Many other arrangers will include only a wood-effect or cardboard coffin, with ashes being collected from the crematorium.

Pure Cremation Locations
Where do they operate?

Cremations in England and Wales are carried out at Pure’s own, newly-built crematorium in Andover, Hampshire.

In Scotland, Pure has a partnership with both the Clyde Coast and Garnock Valley Crematorium in North Ayrshire, and the Hurlet Crematorium in East Renfrewshire.

Cremations in Northern Ireland are handled by Lakelands Crematorium in County Cavan.

If mourners wish to attend the cremation, this can be arranged for an additional fee either in Andover (+£250) or at a more local crematorium (+£400) if you prefer. It’s worth bearing in mind that this option is not available with many other direct cremation providers.
If opting for a local cremation, you will need to use a Dignity Crematorium, please note that Pure Cremation will select the precise facility at which the cremation will take place – you won’t be able to choose.

Pure Cremation promises that every stage of the cremation service, from collection of the deceased to return of the ashes, is handled by their own staff, with nothing contracted out to independent companies.

Pure Cremation has a very high degree of customer satisfaction, suggesting that a commitment to offering care and compassion doesn’t go out of the window when opting for simplicity and affordability.

Pure Cremation Cost

What’s Included in the £1,295 Direct Cremation Funeral Price?

Pure Cremation will provide the following services in their single, direct cremation funeral. Everything is included in the headline price, except for the optional extras for which there will be an additional, specified charge:

Services Available throughout mainland England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland*

Collection of the deceased from any hospital or public mortuary during office hours

Transfer to and care of the deceased at the crematorium

Doctors Fee (if required)

A solid, eco-friendly, pine coffin

Unattended cremation service. You will be notified of the day/time of cremation.

Hand delivery of the ashes to any mainland address within England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland*

Option to have the ashes scattered in the Garden of Remembrance

Option to collect ashes in person from the crematorium. Avilable after 48 hours of cremation.

Paid Extras Include

+£250

Collection of the deceased from any hospital, public mortuary, residential address or care home at any time, including urgent collection

+£250

Attendance of the cremation in Andover at any time, including evenings and weekends

+£400

Attendance of the cremation at a “carefully selected venue”, Mon-Fri at 9am only

+£150

Earlier delivery of the ashes. 7 Days down from 21 days

THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT YOUR CREMATION SERVICE

1. The cremation will be carried out within fourteen days of arranging the funeral. The ashes will be delivered after a further twenty-one days. 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.

2. Attendance of the cremation either in Andover or at another location is limited to twelve mourners. Floral tributes may be brought for the coffin. Music of your choice may be played, and mourners may say a few words of remembrance, but no celebrant will be present. The company is keen to stress that mourners should not expect a traditional funeral service.

3. The ashes will be returned in a simple, biodegradable container, designed for easy access either for scattering or for transfer to a more permanent urn.

4. Unless you hold a Pure Cremation Funeral 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.

Pure Cremation Funeral Plans

In addition to an, ‘at need’ direct cremation service, Pure Cremation offers two types of pre-payment plan, which are suitable for those that are planning their own funeral:

1. Trust-based Plan

For a fixed price, the plan is payable immediately in full or can be paid in installments
(if you choose to pay by installments of 12 months or more, you will incur an additional fee of 4% per annum – total prices outline below)

2. Over-50s Insurance-Backed Plan

A type of life insurance that you will be charged a fixed, monthly premium (a fee) until your 90th birthday or the date of your death (whichever is earlier).

Pure Cremation Trust-based Plan

A summary of the benefits of the cremation plan is below

One.

Available to all adults aged 18 and over.

Two.

Covers all included services of a Pure Cremation Direct Cremation Funeral Service.

Three.

Pay in full, or spread the cost by up to 60 months for an additional 4% per annum.

Four.

No deposit is required.

Five.

Optional extras listed above are not included in the plan but can be paid for at the time when the plan is redeemed.

Six.

Full redemption for the plan benefits is available either after the first twenty-four months of installments or settlement of the cost in full (whichever is earlier).

Seven.

Apply online, by post or over the phone.

Eight.

Funds are protected in an investment trust.

Pure Cremation Plan: How Much Will I Pay?

Pricelist

Number of Instalments	Monthly Instalments	Total Cost	Extra Paid
Single Payments	–	£1,795.00	–
6	£299.16	£1,794.96	–
12	£155.57	£1,866.84	£71.84
24	£80.89	£1,941.36	£146.36
36	£56.09	£2,019.24	£224.24
48	£43.75	£2,100.00	£305.00
60	£36.40	£2,184.00	£298.00

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 installments, redemption for the plan benefits is available after the first twenty-four months of payments – even if your payment plan isn’t complete.

3. If paying by installments, redemption is available within the first twenty-four months of payments if the death of the beneficiary is accidental. If death is not accidental within this time frame, 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 fully paid plan is subject to a £350 administration charge. Cancellation of an installment paid plan is subject to the same charge after twenty-four months of payments.

6. The plan benefits are not transferable to another beneficiary, although somebody else may pay for the plan costs.

7. There is no requirement to disclose medical conditions, but the application form asks you to declare that your need for a funeral within twenty-four months following the date of purchase is “unlikely”.

Pure Cremation Over 50s Insurance-Backed Plan

A summary of the benefits of the cremation plan is below

One.

Available to all adults aged between 50 and 74.

Two.

Covers all included services of a Pure Cremation Direct Cremation Funeral Service.

Three.

One fixed, monthly payment until your 90th birthday or date of death (whichever is earlier).

Four.

Optional extras listed above are not included in the plan, but can be paid for at the time when the plan is redeemed for a funeral.

Five.

Full coverage is guaranteed after the first twenty-four months of up-to-date payments.

Six.

Apply online, by post, or over the phone.

Seven.

Funds are invested in whole-of-life assurance policies with Scottish Friendly.

Pure Cremation Over 50s Plan: How Much Will I Pay?

Pricelist

Age at Plan Purchase	Monthly Payments	Age at Plan Purchase	Monthly Payments
50	£6.25	63	£11.35
51	£6.48	64	£11.84
52	£6.73	65	£12.36
53	£7.00	66	£13.00
54	£7.29	67	£13.78
55	£7.61	68	£14.54
56	£7.96	69	£15.72
57	£8.34	70	£.17.07
58	£8.76	71	£17.91
59	£9.22	72	£18.28
60	£9.74	73	£16.63
61	£10.31	74	£18.95
62	£10.95	–	–

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. Redemption is available within the first twenty-four months if the death of the beneficiary is accidental, and payments are up to date. If death is not accidental within this time frame, 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. You have the right to cancel the plan for a full refund within the first 24 months of payments.

4. Cancellation after twenty-four months 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, but the application form asks you to declare that your need for a funeral within twenty-four months following the date of purchase is “unlikely”.

7. If you live long enough, it’s possible for the total of your monthly payments to exceed the cost of either the Trust-based Plan or a direct cremation funeral service purchased at need.

Pure Cremation Vs Co-op Funerals Vs Simplicity Cremation

Here’s how Pure Cremations Direct Cremation Funeral Service compares to direct cremations offered by a selection of other providers including Simplicity cremations, Co-op & Distinct cremations.

The below table compares the actual features that each service include in their product offering.

SERVICE
LIST PRICE	£1,295	£795	£995	£895
AREA	UK	GB	GB	GB
HOSPITAL/PUBLIC MORTUARY COLLECTION	yes	yes	yes	yes
RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS / CARE HOME COLLECTION	£250	£250	yes	£200
OUT-OF-HOURS COLLECTION	£250	£250	?	£250
DOCTORS FEE	yes	£82	£82	£82
DRESS THE DECEASED	only clothing worn by the deceased at time of collection	Simple Gown	Simple Gown	only clothing worn by the deceased at time of collection
OPTION FOR OWN CLOTHES	They will drape clothes over the body but not dress them	£50	No	yes
REMOVAL OF MEDICAL DEVICES	yes	yes	?	yes
REMOVAL OF JEWELLERY	yes	no	?	£50
COFFIN	solid wood	Medium Density Fibreboard	Basic	Veneer Chipboard
MAX. TIME BETWEEN COLLECTION & CREMATION	14 days	Unspecified	Unspecified	Unspecified
OPTION TO ATTEND	£250-£400	no	no	£300
OPTION TO BE INFIRMAED OF CREMATION DATE	Yes	yes	no	yes
CHOICE OF CREMATORIUM	No	Fee depends on location	no	Attended option only
DELIVERY OF ASHES	Yes	£100	£50 to funeral home	yes
MAX. TIME FOR ASHES DELVIERY AFTER CREMATION	21 days	28 days	21 days	14 days

Comparing Pure Cremations Direct Cremation Funeral Plan

Here’s how the payment options for the Pure Cremation Trust-based Funeral Plan compares to similar direct cremation funeral plans offered by a selection of other providers including Memoria, Golden Charter & COL
.
Please note that not all plans may offer precisely the same benefits.

SERVICE
UP FRONT PRICE	£1,795	£1,450	£1,490	£1,749
DEPOSIT	no	optional	no	£49
MINIMUM AGE	18	18	50	18
6 MONTH PLAN	£1,749.96	–	–	–
1 YEAR PLAN	£1,866.84	£1,519.56	–	£1,749.00**
2 YEAR PLAN	£1,941.36	£1,589.28	–	£1,843.00**
3 YEAR PLAN	£2,019.24	£1,658.88	–	£1,894.72**
4 YEAR PLAN	£2,100.00	£1,728.00	Varies*	£1,946.44**
5 YEAR PLAN	£2,184.00	£1,798.20	–	£1,999.00**
6 YEAR PLAN	–	–	–	£2,053.48**
7 YEAR PLAN	–	–	–	£2,108.68**
8 YEAR PLAN	–	–	–	£2,164.84**
9 YEAR PLAN	–	–	–	£2,224.12**
10 YEAR PLAN	–	–	Varies*	£2,283.40**
LOWEST MONTHLY PAYMENT OPTION	£36.40	£29.97	?	£18.62**
UPPER AGE LIMIT FOR PAYMENT PLAN	none	80 at time of completion if paying over more than 2 years	74	78 at time of purchase, or 80 at time of completion
CREDIT FINANCE OPTION	no	no	Yes, via third party	No
FULL COVERAGE	After full payment or 24 months following purchase***	After full payment or 24 months following purchase***	After full payment or 12 months following purchase***	After full payment or 12 months following purchase***
FREE CANCELLATION PERIOD	30 days following purchase	60 days following purchase	30 days following purchase	30 days following purchase
CANCELLATION FEE	£350	£350	£299	£249.00
FUND TYPE (HOW MONEY IS STORED)	Investment Trust	Investment Trust	Whole of Life Assurance Policies	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 state is accurate for a plan beneficiary aged 50 at the time of purchase.
***May be conditional upon maintaining an up to date payment schedule.

Compare the best prepaid direct cremation plans in the UK

Comparing Pure Cremations Direct Cremation Over 50s Insurance Plan

Here’s how the payment options for the Pure Cremation Over 50s Insurance-backed Funeral Plan compares to similar direct cremation insurance-based funeral plans offered by a selection of other providers.

Please note that not all plans may offer precisely the same benefits.

SERVICE
DEPOSIT	no	no	no
MINIMUM AGE	50	50	50
MAXIMUM AGE	74	74	80
MONTHLY PAYMENTS: AGE 50	£6.25	£10.81	£11.37
AGE AT FINAL PAYMENT	90	90	age at death
FULL COVERAGE	24 months following purchase**	24 months following purchase**	12 months following purchase**
REFUND CANCELLATION POLICY	In full up to 24 months following purchase; no refund after 24 months	No refund more than 30 days following purchase	No refund more than 30 days following purchase
FUND TYPE (HOW MONEY IS STORED)	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.

Closest Competitor Service

Below we have listed the closest comparable product to the direct cremation service offered by Pure Cremation

Competitor	Liberty Cremations
Service	Both highly inclusive & Each offers a relatively centralised set of operations in only one to three crematoria
Difference	Liberty is the most inclusive but the headline price is higher – you could pay more if you don’t need, say, an urgent collection Liberty has no option to attend Liberty’s coverage excludes Scotland and Northern Ireland
Review	Read our Liberty Cremations Review

Pure Cremation Customer Reviews

Below are the awards, customer reviews and our opinion of the Pure Cremation offering

Pure Cremation has earned 4.8 out of a possible 5.0 star rating on Reviews.io, while the funeral planning arm has earned an equally impressive 4.9 on Trustpilot.

These reviews are especially valuable in the case of Pure Cremation. As they are specialists in direct cremation, you know that every single review applies to the very same service that you can expect to receive. Pure Cremation seems to be demonstrating that affordability is wholly compatible with excellent customer service.

The very few negative reviews tend to focus on communication issues, especially around timescales involved in the direct cremation process. However, Pure Cremation takes the time to respond in detail to all negative reviews, providing a follow-up or investigation service if required.

In addition, Pure Cremation Funeral Plans has been rated 4/5 by industry professionals at Fairer Finance.

Is a Pure Cremation Direct Cremation Funeral Right for Me?

A Pure Cremation Direct Cremation Funeral Service may be a suitable option if:

On the other hand, Pure Cremation may be less suitable if:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a Paper Brochure Available for Pure Cremations?

For Pure Cremation Funeral Plans, you have the option of downloading a paper brochure in PDF format, or you can order one for delivery by post. This will be necessary if you wish to apply by post, as the brochure contains the application form.

Beware, however, that the company will ask you to leave contact information prior to ordering the brochure. This may prompt further marketing contact by phone, post, or email, but you should be able to opt-out at any time.

Nevertheless, we recommend that you either download or order the brochure as it gathers together all of the necessary information you need a little better than on the website

Can you arrange a Pure Cremation after death?

Yes. Pure Cremation offers an ‘at need’ cremation service for £1,295. All of the details about the service are above. Please feel free to contact us with any further questions.

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.

Prior to the date of death, advice and help can be sought from their free-phone number or by email.

How do I Purchase a Pure Cremation Funeral Plan?

Either of the two plan options can be purchased online, by phone or by post.

If purchasing by post, you will need to download or request delivery of the paper brochure.

What Type of Coffin does Pure Cremation provide?

A solid, pine wood coffin is supplied with Pure Cremation services.

What Happens to Medical Devices and Jewellery?

Removal of medical devices and items of jewellery is included in the cost of caring for the deceased. Any items will be returned with the delivery of the ashes.

Can I Choose where the Cremation Takes Place?

No. All of Pure’s unattended cremations will take place in one of the following venues:

England and Wales: Charlton Park Crematorium, Andover, Hampshire.
Scotland: Clyde Coast and Garnock Valley Crematorium, North Ayrshire, or the Hurlet Crematorium, East Renfrewshire.
Northern Ireland: Lakelands Crematorium, County Cavan.

In addition, Pure Cremation states that it works with fifty-one alternative venues that are available if you wish to attend a cremation. However, they do not specify precisely where these are.

Will they Tell me the Date of Cremation?

You have the option to be told of the date of cremation if you are purchasing a direct cremation funeral. There is no need to decide straight away – you can ask them later.

Your next of kin can make this choice also if you are the beneficiary of a Pure Cremation Funeral Plan.

How Can I Pay for My Funeral or for My Plan?

Pure Cremation accepts the following methods of payment for a direct cremation funeral, and for a fully paid funeral plan:

Bank transfer
Major debit and credit cards*
Cheque

The following are also available for a direct cremation funeral:

Funeral plan funds transferred from another provider;
Social Fund Award from the Department of Work and Pensions

Please note that Pure Cremation requires payment in full before a cremation is carried out. Helpfully, Pure Cremation will accept payment from multiple individuals to assist in spreading the cost.

Instalment payments to contribute towards the funeral plans will be made by Direct Debit. Note that Pure Cremation reserves the right to cancel a plan if you are unable to honour two consecutive monthly payments.

*If applying by post, payment will be taken over the phone once the application is received.

Can I Pay off my Instalment Plan Early?

Pure Cremation will accept early settlement if you are paying by instalment towards a Trust-based Plan. However, you will be unable to switch to another instalment schedule, nor can you make “top-up” payments.

Are Special Offers or Discounts Available?

Pure Cremation does not appear to be running any promotional offers at this time, nor do they offer discounts to selected groups.

They have, however, published detailed articles on how to budget for a funeral and how you can search for help with paying for a funeral.

Who Should I Tell About My Plan?

When you apply for either a Pure Cremation Trust-based Plan, or Over-50s Insurance-backed Plan, Pure Cremation will ask you to nominate a representative whom they can contact to inform them of the plan’s existence.

However, 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 Pure Cremation 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, your nominated representative or another family member will need to contact Pure Cremation 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 Pure Cremation 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 the Plan Benefits are not Claimed?

If the plan has not been redeemed after twelve months following the 110th birthday of the beneficiary, Pure Cremation reserves the right to cancel the plan and retain the funds paid.

What happens if pure cremation goes bust?

Pure Cremation Funeral Planning Ltd. is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

If you purchase a Trust-based Plan, your money will be divided into two:

£745 is paid to Pure Cremation to cover their immediate expenses of administering your funeral plan.

£1,050 is invested in an independent trust. Pure Cremation cannot access the funds in the trust except to provide you with a funeral, or to give you a refund if you request one. The trustees are listed in person on the website.

If you purchase an Over-50s Insurance-Backed Plan, your funds are used to purchase 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.

In the event that Pure Cremation ceases trading, either the trust or 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.

How do I Make Enquiries?

Enquiries can be made by email or by phone.

A Direct Cremation Funeral can be arranged twenty-four hours, seven days a week on their free-phone number: 0800 033 7737.

Phoning for general enquiries, account enquiries and funeral plan information is available at the following times:

Mon-Fri: 8:30am-6pm,
Sat: 9am-5pm,
Bank Holidays: 10am-4pm.

Their email address is info@purecremation.co.uk.

Please note that Pure Cremation is able to discuss funeral arrangements only with the applicant. However, the applicant may grant verbal permission, on each occasion, for Pure Cremation to speak to another person.

The company also has a social media presence on Twitter and Facebook, but it’s not clear if these accounts are monitored for the purpose of making enquiries.

Are there any Hidden Costs?

Pure Cremation claims that its inclusive price will cover everything that is needed to carry out a direct cremation in the UK, between collection of the deceased and delivery of the ashes.

However, extra provision will have to be made for contingencies. For instance, earlier delivery of the ashes is available only for an extra fee.

There could also be additional charges should you request a delay either to the date of cremation or to the delivery of the ashes.

Can I Transfer Arrangements to/from another Provider?

Pure Cremation should be able to accommodate the transfer of services from another funeral provider, but there may be an additional cost involved depending upon the precise arrangements that have to be made.

For funeral plans, the funds can be transferred to another provider minus an administration charge of £350.

Are Pure Cremation Eco-Friendly?

Pure Cremation’s selection of a solid, untreated pine wood coffin is designed to maximise the energy efficiency of the cremation process. While other materials such as cardboard may appear to be more environmentally friendly, the company claims that more natural gas would have to be used to complete the cremation, offsetting any environmental benefit.

If a cremation is carried out in Andover, ashes are returned in a simple container constructed out of recycled materials.

With direct cremations, care for the deceased usually excludes the embalming process thus avoiding the use of the necessary chemicals. It’s worth noting also that any cremation is likely to be more environmentally friendly than a traditional burial.

As Pure Cremation uses a single crematorium for all of their cremations in each national jurisdiction, 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 Pure Cremation?

Pure Cremation Ltd. and Pure Cremation Funeral Planning Ltd. are part of the privately owned Pure Cremation Group. The ultimate controlling entity is Pure Cremation Holdings Ltd.

Other companies in the group are Pure Life Financial Services Ltd. and Pure Life Legal Services Ltd.

The group is relatively new to the funeral industry, having been trading only since 2015. However, their founders – a husband and wife time – claim to have more than thirty years’ experience between them.