GOLDEN CHARTER Funeral plan review

Everything you need to know about a Golden Charter Funeral plan

Below is a detailed review, along with everything you need to know about taking out a funeral plan with Golden Charter in the UK.

Different Golden Charter Funeral Plans On Offer

	Basic Plan	Value Plan	Standard Plan	Select Plan	Premier Plan
Price	£1749 one-off cost. OR Monthly instalments from £18.62 available. Interest applies – please see below section.	£2895 one-off cost.  OR Monthly instalments from £23.30 available. Interest applies – please see below section.	£3495 one-off cost. OR Monthly instalments from £28.11 available. Interest applies – please see below section.	£3850 one-off cost.  OR Monthly instalments from £30.96 available. Interest applies – please see below section.	£4099 one-off cost.  OR Monthly instalments from £32.95 available. Interest applies – please see below section.
Coffin included	Yes, simple coffin that is suitable for cremation.	Yes, a basic coffin.	Yes, a simple coffin.	Yes, a high quality coffin.	Yes, a superior coffin.
Constraints on date and time of funeral?	Yes, as this is an unattended cremation.	Yes.	None.	None.	None.
Constraints on when relations can visit the chapel of rest?	Chapel of rest visits not available.	Visits must be pre-arranged with the funeral directors.	Visits must be pre-arranged with the funeral directors.	Visits must be pre-arranged with the funeral directors.	Visits must be pre-arranged with the funeral directors.
Cortege included?	No.	No.	Yes, to one location.	Yes, to one location.	Yes, to one location.
Pallbearers included?	No.	Yes.	Yes.	Yes.	Yes.
Limosine included?	No.	No.	No.	Yes, one.	Yes, two.
Hearse included?	No.	Yes.	Yes.	Yes.	Yes.
Cremation or burial fees included?	Cremation fees included.	This plan  includes an £800 allowance towards third party costs which can be used towards burial or cremation fees.	This plan  includes an £1,100 allowance towards third party costs which can be used towards burial or cremation fees.	This plan  includes an £1,100 allowance towards third party costs which can be used towards burial or cremation fees.	This plan  includes an £1,100 allowance towards third party costs which can be used towards burial or cremation fees.
Any extras?	Advice on the certification and registration of the death, collection and transportation of the deceased to the funeral director’s premises within a 25 mile radius, transportation to the funeral director’s premises if death occurs whilst on holiday in mainland UK, a £500 allowance towards third party costs, 24 hour funeral director telephone support for the bereaved.	Provision of professional services and making all arrangements for the funeral, advice on the certification and registration of the death, collection and transportation of the deceased to the funeral director’s premises within a 25 mile radius, transportation to the funeral director’s premises if death occurs whilst on holiday in mainland UK, an £800 allowance towards third party costs, 24 hour funeral director telephone support for the bereaved.	Provision of professional services and making all arrangements for the funeral, advice on the certification and registration of the death, collection and transportation of the deceased to the funeral director’s premises within a 25 mile radius, transportation to the funeral director’s premises if death occurs whilst on holiday in mainland UK, an £1,100 allowance towards third party costs, 24 hour funeral director telephone support for the bereaved.	Provision of professional services and making all arrangements for the funeral, advice on the certification and registration of the death, collection and transportation of the deceased to the funeral director’s premises within a 25 mile radius, transportation to the funeral director’s premises if death occurs whilst on holiday in mainland UK, an £1,100 allowance towards third party costs, 24 hour funeral director telephone support for the bereaved.	Provision of professional services and making all arrangements for the funeral, advice on the certification and registration of the death, collection and transportation of the deceased to the funeral director’s premises within a 25 mile radius, transportation to the funeral director’s premises if death occurs whilst on holiday in mainland UK, an £1,100 allowance towards third party costs, 24 hour funeral director telephone support for the bereaved, a list of mourners who sent flowers for the family.

Paying by instalments? This is the total you’ll pay

Basic plan 

£49 deposit payable on taking out the plan, then a choice of

• 12 monthly payments of £141.66, total payable £1,749
• 24 monthly payments of £74.75, total payable £1,843
• 60 monthly payments of £32.50, total payable £1,999
• 120 monthly payments of £18.62, total payable £2,283.40 

Value Plan 

£49 deposit payable on taking out the plan, then a choice of

• 12 monthly payments of £237.17, total payable £2,895
• 24 monthly payments of £124.82, total payable £3,044.68
• 60 monthly payments of £54.07, total payable £3,293.20
• 120 monthly payments of £30.83, total payable £3,748.60
• 180 monthly payments of £23.30, total payable £4,243

Standard Plan 

£49 deposit payable on taking out the plan, then a choice of

• 12 monthly payments of £287.17, total payable £3,495
• 24 monthly payments of £151.02, total payable £3,673.48
• 60 monthly payments of £65.37, total payable £3,971.20
• 120 monthly payments of £37.24, total payable £4,517.80
• 180 monthly payments of £28.11, total payable £5,108.80

Select Plan 

£49 deposit payable on taking out the plan, then a choice of

• 12 monthly payments of £316.75, total payable £3,850
• 24 monthly payments of £166.53, total payable £4,045.72
• 60 monthly payments of £72.05, total payable £4,372
• 120 monthly payments of £41.02, total payable £4,971.40
• 180 monthly payments of £30.96, total payable £5,621.80

Premier  Plan 

£49 deposit payable on taking out the plan, then a choice of

• 12 monthly payments of £337.50, total payable £4,099
• 24 monthly payments of £177.40, total payable £4,306.60
• 60 monthly payments of £76.74, total payable £4,653.40
• 120 monthly payments of £43.67, total payable £5,289.40
• 180 monthly payments of £32.95, total payable £5,980

What is not included?

The following are not included as standard in any of Golden Charter’s funeral plans, but can be added to your plan for an additional cost: 

• Embalming
• Burial plot
• Headstone or memorial 
• A wake or any catering involved in one 
• Medical certificates
• Minister or Officiant fees
• Floral tributes
• Orders of service
• Newspaper or media notices

Is there an admin fee?

Golden Charter’s website advises that if you wish to add additional services to your plan after it has been taken out then further costs may apply.

Do they offer a direct cremation / cremation only plan?

Golden Charter do offer a direct cremation plan, and the costs are outlined above.

Golden Charter funeral plan offers and deals

There are currently no special offers or deals available for Golden Charter funeral plans.

Are Golden Charter plans Safe, Reliable and secure?

For protection, all payments paid under your Golden Charter funeral plan are held securely in an independently managed trust. Investment managers of this trust act as trustees and are responsible for managing the long-term growth of the fund in order to meet the increasing cost of funeral services. 

Under UK law, trustees (like those of the trust outlined above) are required to act in accordance with what is called their ‘fiduciary duty’. It represents the highest standard of care required under law. 

A fiduciary duty can be broken down into several elements – most importantly, a fiduciary:

• Cannot put themselves in a position where they are in a conflict of interest; and
• Cannot profit from their position. 

To add further security, Golden Charter are authorised and regulated by the FCA and your money will be protected by them if Golden Charter cannot meet their obligations under the plan.

What happens if Golden Charter goes bust?

In the event that Golden Charter go out of business and are not able to provide your funeral, they are required to work closely with the FCA and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme to transfer your plan to another provider or to arrange compensation.

Refund & Cancellation terms

If you cancel within 30 days you will receive a full refund. After 30 days you will receive your money back less a £249 cancellation/arrangement fee.

Contacting Golden Charter

Address	Golden Charter Canniesburn Gate 10 Canniesburn Drive Bearsden Glasgow G61 1BF
Phone	0808 169 7090, 9am-5pm Monday to Friday
Email	contact@goldencharter.co.uk

What happens to my money?

If you have paid in a lump sum then your money will be placed in the trust outlined above, which will be protected under UK law.

Golden Charter Funeral Plans Vs Other Plans

There are a huge variety of plans available which cater for a variety of budgets, which is why we have created a useful guide to show you some alternatives.

This year we have reviewed a number of plan providers. The most similar to Golden Charter would perhaps be Golden Leaves, a similarly established company that offers a range of 4 funeral plans from £1,450 to £3,949 in price, so there are plenty to choose from depending on your budget.

Golden Charter funeral plan final thoughts

Golden Charter are an established provider of funeral plans. They offer a range of five different products to suit a range of budgets and types of farewell. 

This company also has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot (based on 2,287 reviews). Whilst the awards and reviews are persuasive, Funeral Inspirations would award this company 3.5/5 stars in the Funeral Inspirations Awards. A deduction from full marks is being made due to: 

1. The funeral plans being more expensive than some we have seen on offer. 
2. Golden Charter charges a high cancellation fee of £249 if a customer changes their mind in certain circumstances. Other providers that we have reviewed offer a much longer ‘cooling off’ period. 
3. Golden Charter charges high interest per annum if a customer chooses to pay in more than 12 monthly installments, whereas some competitors offer interest free plans.