Whether you're buying a new funeral plan or you already have one, find out how to make sure your provider is authorised by us, and what you should do if it isn’t.
If you're buying a new funeral plan
- A provider is allowed to sell funeral plans if it is authorised by us and have permissions for 'entering into a funeral plan contract' and 'carrying out a funeral plan contract as a provider', or
- An appointed representative may sell funeral plans on behalf of an authorised funeral plan provider
You can check this by visiting the Financial Services Register[1] under the section 'What can this firm do in the UK?'.
A firm must be authorised and have permission for the right activities. If it doesn’t, you won’t have access to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)[2] or the Financial Ombudsman Service[3] if you want to complain. You can find out more about funeral plans and alternative products, including over-50s plans, from MoneyHelper[4].
If you already have a funeral plan
- Your provider must be authorised and have permission for 'carrying out a funeral plan contract as a provider'
You can check this by visiting the FS Register[1] under the section 'What can this firm do in the UK?'.
If your provider is listed, then it’s authorised by us and you don’t need to take any further action. If it isn’t, find out what you should do.
It’s important to know that your funeral plan provider might be a different company to the one that sold you the plan. For example, a funeral director may have sold you a plan from a different provider.
You can find out who your provider is by looking at your paperwork or by contacting the organisation that sold you the plan.
Firms that must not carry out or sell funeral plans
If your firm doesn’t appear on the FS Register, check our table below. These firms must not sell or carry out funeral plans in the UK.
The firms in this table will have either:
- transferred their plans to an authorised provider, or
- begun to wind down their business (this may include exploring options for a transfer after the firm has entered into administration)
If you have a plan with one of these firms, they should contact you to let you know what’s happening. Make sure you get back to them where required.
If you haven’t heard from your provider or their administrator, get in touch with them as soon as possible.
You can find more information about individual providers in the table. This information is based on what they’ve told us about their plans, and we’ll continue to update it. We’ve included any links that they’ve given to us, but we can’t guarantee the accuracy or reliability of any statements on their websites.
If your plan has been transferred to an FCA-authorised funeral provider, the plan will be protected by the FSCS[2] if the provider fails. You’ll also be able to refer a complaint about your new provider to the Financial Ombudsman[3].
| Firm name | More information |
|---|---|
| Bristol Memorial woodlands FP Limited |
Did not apply for authorisation and has transferred its plans to Plan with Grace Limited. If you haven't heard from the firm about the future of your plan, contact them at: Memorial Woodlands Earthcott Green, Alveston, Bristol, BS35 3TA |
| Capital Life |
The firm withdrew its application for authorisation and has now transferred its plans to Dignity Funeral Plans Limited. If you haven't heard from the firm about the future of your plan, contact them at: Contact the firm if you have any questions about your plan: |
| Darwen Funeral Services |
Darwen Funeral Services did not apply for authorisation. It has now transferred its funeral plans to Crystal Cremations Ltd. They have written out to all affected consumers. For further information, you can contact Crystal Cremations at: The Old Mill House, Deakins Business Park, Blackburn Road, Egerton, Bolton, BL7 9RP Telephone: 0800 254 5030 Email: [email protected] |
| Empathy |
Empathy UK Funeral Plans Ltd (Empathy) (which withdrew their application for FCA authorisation) has appointed Jeremy Bennett of O’Hara’s Limited as the administrator. Empathy has written to all existing customers with details of a transfer that Dignity Funerals Limited are offering to existing Empathy plan holders, or the option of a partial refund. The offer closed on 7 February 2023. Find out more, including frequently asked questions, on the administrator's website[6]. For further information, please call the administrators on 0800 035 5729 or email [email protected] We previously issued consumer alerts relating to Empathy on May 2022[7] and July 2022[8]. |
| Eternal Peace |
Eternal Peace Funeral Plans Ltd was refused authorisation (we issued a final notice to the firm on 22 December 2022[9]). The firm did not transfer their book to an authorised provider and has provided refunds to all its customers. If you haven't heard from the firm about a refund, contact them at: 4B Promenade, Bridlington, East Yorkshire YO15 2PX |
| Fox Milton & Co. Ltd. T/A Unique Funeral Plans |
Did not apply for authorisation. See the May 2022[10] consumer alert. Firm in liquidation since 28 July 2022. Nigel Morrison and Jon Roden of Grant Thornton UK LLP have been appointed as Joint Liquidators by the director of Fox Milton & Co Ltd (trading as Unique Funeral Plans). Further information, including FAQs, is available here[11] or you can contact the liquidator at: Grant Thornton UK LLP, 11th Floor Landmark, St Peter’s Square, 1 Oxford St, Manchester, M1 4PB |
| Geo. Hanson & Sons (Hucknall) Ltd (Geo. Hanson) |
Geo. Hanson applied for authorisation on 11 November 2022 and the application has subsequently been withdrawn. We have told the firm that they cannot issue new funeral plans or administer existing plans. The firm has transferred its plans to Golden Leaves Limited. If you haven’t heard from the firm about the future of your plan, you can contact them at: Telephone: 0115 963 2013 |
| Iberian Funeral Plans (Based in Spain) |
The firm is based in Spain and did not apply for authorisation. You should not buy a new plan from this firm if you want your funeral to be delivered in the UK. This advice does not apply to customers outside the UK wishing to buy a plan for a funeral in a country other than the UK. A small number of the firm's customers have returned to the UK. The firm is contacting these customers to provide a refund or offer alternative arrangements. Contact the firm at: Suite 151 Silk House, Park Green, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 7QJ |
| Mairi Urquhart & Son Ltd. |
Application for authorisation withdrawn and has transferred its plans to Crystal Cremations Limited. If you haven't heard from the firm about the future of your plan, contact them at: 1-3 Mitchell Lane, Alness, IV17 0QW |
| Maplebrook |
The firm withdrew its application for authorisation and has transferred its plans to Golden Leaves Limited[12], an authorised funeral plan provider. If you haven't heard from Golden Leaves about the future of your plan, or have any questions, you can contact them on: Telephone: 0800 85 44 48 |
| Not for Profit Funeral Plans |
Did not apply for authorisation. Firm in liquidation since 14 July 2022. Kelly Semke and Duncan Beat of Quantuma are appointed as Joint Liquidators. Further information, including FAQs, is available on the Not for Profit website[14], or you may contact the liquidator: Email: [email protected] |
| One Life Funeral Planning Ltd |
One Life Funeral Planning Ltd (One Life) was refused FCA authorisation and went into administration on 2 November 2022. The administrators, Quantuma Advisory Ltd, were unable to finalise a deal with an alternative funeral plan provider, but a number of firms have stepped in to offer One Life customers the ability to take out a discounted instalment funeral plan and, in some cases, ‘at-need funerals’. The price you pay for your new funeral plan would be discounted against the current advertised retail price with that provider. If you have suffered a recent bereavement involving a One Life plan holder, an at-need funeral will be provided, even if your family member doesn’t have existing arrangements or a payment plan with the provider. To be eligible for a discounted plan, you'll need to provide your name, postcode, and unique One Life plan reference number. Find out which funeral plan providers are offering discounts to One Life plan holders (PDF)[15] and what discount they will offer you. Please note that the One Life administrators won’t be able to deal with any questions about the discounted funeral plans and can't recommend any of the providers. Contact the relevant provider for full details of the discounted funeral plans and their availability. One Life Funeral Planning Ltd (in administration), c/o Quantuma Advisory Ltd, Office D, Beresford House, Town Quay, Southampton, SO14 2AQ |
| Paul Young Funeral Director |
Did not apply for authorisation. We've told the firm that it can't issue new funeral plans or administer existing plans. See the May 2023 consumer warning[16]. If you're a customer of Paul Young Funeral Director, your options might include receiving a refund or having your plan transferred to another provider. However, Paul Young’s funeral plans aren't currently backed by assets held within a trust or by an insurance policy. This means that the firm might be unable to immediately provide full refunds to all customers. If you haven't heard from Paul Young about the future of your plan, you can contact him at: Address: 16 High Street, Aston, Askern, Doncaster DN6 0AB; or |
| Pride Planning |
The firm withdrew its application for authorisation and has appointed Darren Brookes of Milner Boardman as administrator. The firm has written to all existing customers with details of a transfer that Dignity Funerals Limited are offering to existing Pride Planning plan holders, or the option of a partial refund. The offer closed on 7 February 2023. If you haven't heard from the firm, or have any questions, you can contact the administrators by email at [email protected], or by phone on 0161 927 7788. |
| Prosperous Life |
Prosperous Life Limited (Prosperous Life) (which withdrew its application for authorisation on 19 August 2022) has appointed Andrew Knowles and Geoff Bouchier of Kroll Advisory Ltd as joint administrators. The administrators are writing to all existing customers with details of a transfer proposal, which Dignity Funerals Limited (Dignity) is offering to existing Prosperous Life plan holders, or the option of a partial refund. Prosperous Life can't confirm the exact amount that will be refunded to customers who choose not to transfer their plan to Dignity. But it expects that the amount refunded will be substantially lower than the amount of money paid in. The administrators intend for the company to continue to provide funeral services to plan holders who pass away up to 20 May 2023. If a customer chooses to transfer their plan to Dignity, they will be covered immediately by Dignity. For more information, please call the administrators on 0800 046 5903 or email [email protected]. Find out more, including frequently asked questions, on the firm's website[17]. |
| P S Cremations Funeral Planning Ltd. |
Did not apply for authorisation. Contact the firm at: Carr Well Swalewood Lane, High Birstwith, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 2JN |
| Ready4Retirement |
Ready4Retirement (which withdrew their application for FCA authorisation on 21 April) has appointed liquidators, Begbies Traynor. The liquidators have written to all existing customers. Most plan holders have been transferred to an authorised provider, Low Cost Funeral Limited, on the same terms. A small number of plan holders will not be transferred due their plans not being insurance-backed. These plan holders have been offered a new, discounted plan with Low Cost Funeral. Contact the liquidator on 0141 222 2230. |
| Rest Assured |
Rest Assured Funeral Plans Limited (Rest Assured) (which withdrew their application for FCA authorisation on 15 June 2022) has appointed Jeremy Bennett of O’Haras Limited as the liquidator. On 8 February 2023, Paul Cooper Of Begbies Traynor was also appointed as liquidator. Rest Assured has written to all existing customers with details of a transfer that Dignity Funerals Limited are offering to existing Rest Assured plan holders, or the option of a partial refund. The offer closed on 7 February 2023. Find out more, including frequently asked questions, on the liquidators' website[9] or contact the liquidators on 08000654514 or email [email protected]. |
| Safe Hands Plans Limited |
Safe Hands Plan Limited went into administration on 23 March. Ben Stanyon and Nedim Ailyan of FRP Advisory Trading Limited have been appointed as joint administrators. Dignity Funerals and Co-op Funeral Care offered Safe Hands customers the ability to take out a new plan at a discounted price. You should have received a letter from FRP (the administrator) providing details of this. Find out more, including frequently asked questions, on the firm's website[18] or contact the administrators at [email protected]. |
| Silver Clouds Later Life Planning |
Silver Clouds Later Life Planning Ltd (Silver Clouds) (which withdrew their application for FCA authorisation) has appointed Jeremy Bennett of O’Hara’s Limited as its administrator. Silver Clouds has written to all existing customers with details of a transfer that Dignity Funerals Limited are offering to existing Silver Clouds plan holders, or the option of a partial refund. The offer closed on 31 January 2023. For further information, please call the administrator on 0345 222 0271 or email [email protected] The address for correspondence is Moorend House, Snelsins Lane, Cleckheaton, BD19 3UE. |
| SJP Lichfield |
The firm withdrew its application for authorisation and has transferred its plans to Golden Leaves Limited. If you haven't heard from the firm about the future of your plan, contact them at: Email: [email protected] |
| Sovereign Lifecare Ltd. |
Did not apply for authorisation. We hold no information on this firm or its plans for existing customers as it has not responded to our requests for information. Contact the firm at: 32 Brenkley Way, Seaton Burn, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE13 6DS |
| Tyde Group Limited |
Did not apply for authorisation. Contact the firm at: Unit 4, St John’s House, Haslett Avenue west, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1HS |
| Wren & Fraser |
Withdrew its application. Contact the firm if you have any questions: 5 Redwood Crescent Peel Park, East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire G74 5PA |
Some firms have applied for authorisation but don’t have any existing plans and aren’t currently selling new plans.
You shouldn’t buy a plan from these firms unless they become an appointed representative or are directly authorised in the future. If they do, they'll appear on the FS Register[5].
