PRE-PAID FUNERALS
About our pre-paid funeral plans.
Planning ahead for your funeral is one of the most thoughtful and caring things you can do. Some people never get around to discussing funeral wishes with their loved ones, which can lead to all sorts of worry and anxiety when the time comes.
Taking out a funeral plan is a simple and straightforward way to remove this worry, and it can provide real financial benefits too. Some of the other benefits include:
- Pre-arrange the details of your funeral and record any special wishes, such as hymns, music choice, and any other personal touches you would like your plan to include
- Make financial provision for your funeral
- Choose your funeral director in advance
- Ensure your family has access to expert help at what can be a difficult time.
Our funeral plan is available to UK residents and there are no complicated medical forms to complete. You can also appoint a nominated representative who we will keep informed about your plan, according to your instructions.
Our plans cover our costs (as specified in the plan paperwork) as long as we carry out the funeral and your requirements don’t change.
If you’re a Chelmsford Star Co-op member, we’ll give you £20 dividend reward for each plan you take out, which can be spent in our food shops, travel agents, or Quadrant department stores.
To become a Chelmsford Star Co-op member today, sign up here.
For more information, please download our funeral plan brochure.
Or, if you’re ready, you can buy a plan now.
How your funds are held
All funeral plan pre-payments are held in an individual whole of life assurance policy for your peace of mind.
Backed by a trusted, national provider
Our funeral plans are provided by Ecclesiastical Planning Services Limited, which is part of a specialist, UK-based financial services group.
Flexible payment options
You can choose to pay for your funeral plan by lump sum or in instalments. There is an additional cost for paying over two or more years and eligibility criteria applies. Please refer to the Instalment Q&A and the Terms and Conditions for more information. Contact us for a personalised quote.
Terms and Conditions apply to funeral plans – please ask us if you have any questions.
Funeral plan FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Here are some of the questions we are often asked about our pre-paid funeral plans.
Q. Who is eligible?
UK residents aged 18 or over can take out a plan. For instalment plans, the final instalment must be paid by your 85th birthday. There are no medical or health questions to answer.
Q. Can the plan include special wishes?
You can add special wishes and requests such as song choices, readings, information for a eulogy and so on. There is no charge to add these details. There may be more to pay if you require additional features, services or upgrades.
Q. What happens if I move to a different part of the country?
If you move, you should be able to transfer your plan to a funeral director near your new home. However, there may be additional costs depending on local prices and not all funeral directors guarantee third party costs. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions for details or speak to us for more information.
Q. Can I buy a funeral plan for someone else?
Yes, we find that many of our customers choose to do this.
Q. Can I change my funeral plan arrangements?
Yes, you can make changes to your plan after you have taken it out and once it is fully-paid. Just let us know what you wish to change. There may be an additional cost if you add new features and services to your plan.
Q. Does the plan cover the entire cost of the funeral?
The plans cover the costs listed in the plan details as long as your requirements don’t change and we carry out your funeral.
Please refer to the Terms and Conditions for more information.
Q. Can I cancel my plan?
Yes, you can cancel your plan at any time. If you choose to cancel the plan within the cancellation period, you’ll receive a full refund. If you cancel the plan after the cancellation period, you’ll receive a refund of the original amount paid, excluding the administration fee, and any payments to insure an instalment plan.
Q. Can I pay for my plan by instalments?
Yes, you are able to pay over a range of periods. There is an additional cost for paying by instalments over two or more years. Eligibility criteria applies. Please refer to the Instalment Q&A and the Terms and Conditions for more information. We can provide you with a personalised quote.
Q. What happens if I die abroad?
The plan does not cover the cost of a funeral abroad, or the cost of repatriating the deceased. It is therefore important that your travel insurance policy covers this.
Terms and Conditions apply to funeral plans – please ask us if you have any questions.
About our plan provider
About Ecclesiastical Planning Services
Our pre-paid funeral plans are provided by a trusted national provider, Ecclesiastical Planning Services.
As part of a specialist, UK-based financial services group, Ecclesiastical Planning Services has offered pre-payment funeral plans since 2006. When you take out a funeral plan with us, Ecclesiastical Planning Services arranges for the funds to be held in individual whole of life assurance policies. The full value of your plan, excluding the administration fee and any instalment charges, is ring-fenced and cannot be used for anything but your funeral when the time comes.
Ecclesiastical Planning Services is part of a large Group that gives available profits to charity and is proud to have been named the UK’s 3rd largest corporate donor to charities (2023/24)*. In addition, Ecclesiastical Planning Services is recognised by the National Association of Funeral Directors for treating customers fairly (2023).
*The Directory of Social Change, The UK Guide to Company Giving 2023/2024.
Co-op Funeral Directors is a trading name for Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society Limited, 220 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 0LS. Reg. No. 973R and is an Appointed Representative of Ecclesiastical Planning Services Limited Reg. No. 2644860, registered in England at Benefact House, 2000 Pioneer Avenue, Gloucester Business Park, Brockworth, Gloucester, GL3 4AW, UK, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Firm Reference Number 958152. The Financial Conduct Authority regulates pre-paid funeral plans only
Personalising your funeral
Funerals can be bespoke, and you can take any of our Plans and add your own specific requirements. Here are a few options you might want to consider:
Funeral type – Do you prefer a church, crematorium or a green funeral?
Officiate/ Minister – You can choose from conformist, humanist, Church of England, Catholic or other officiant. You can also choose not to have anyone official, just family and friends.
Flowers – What flowers do you want/not want, or would you prefer a donation instead.
Clothing – Would you like the attendance at the service to wear bright colours only, or all black.
Music – Choose your music/ songs/ hymns.
Obituaries/ Notices – Choose which publication you would like to make an announcement.
Ashes – Where would you like the ashes to go? Such as a private plot, a garden of remembrance, or collected by family/friends.
Burials – These are more involved than a cremation, therefore it is suggested that you discuss this with your funeral planner.
Having your wishes recorded makes it easier for family and friends when the time comes. Contact us for a Funeral Wishes List.
Membership benefits
Take advantage of the additional benefits we offer members of Chelmsford Star Co-op.
Once we’ve received full payment for your Funeral Plan, Chelmsford Star Co-op members will receive a £20 dividend credit to their account. Alternatively, this can be donated to our Community Fund.
Co-op Funeral Directors is a trading name for Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society Limited, 220 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 0LS. Reg. No. 973R and is an Appointed Representative of Ecclesiastical Planning Services Limited Reg. No. 2644860, registered in England at Benefact House, 2000 Pioneer Avenue, Gloucester Business Park, Brockworth, Gloucester, GL3 4AW, UK, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Firm Reference Number 958152. The Financial Conduct Authority regulates pre-paid funeral plans only.
If you need any further information please feel free to contact our Funeral Directors at:
348 Baddow Road, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 9RA | 01245 268993 Email: gfd@chelmsfordstar.coop
78 Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1SS | 01245 353978 Email: funerals@chelmsfordstar.coop
6 Clare Road, Braintree, Essex CM7 2PA | 01376 551951 Email: bfd@chelmsfordstar.coop
3 Spreadeagle Place, Ingatestone, Essex CM4 9EA | 01277 350988 Email: ifd@chelmsfordstar.coop
57A Main Road, Danbury, Essex CM3 4NG | 01245 221444 Email: dfd@chelmsfordstar.coop
60 The Green, Writtle, Essex CM1 3DU | 01245 422622 Email: wfd@chelmsfordstar.coop
4 George Yard (Unit 9), Braintree, Essex CM7 1RB | 01376 528408 Email: gyfd@chelmsfordstar.coop
10 Jutland House, White Hart Way, Great Dunmow, Essex CM6 1WX | 01371 875542 Email: dunmow@chelmsfordstar.coop
96 Whitmore Way, Basildon, Essex, SS14 3JT | 01268 382749 | Email: basildon@chelmsfordstar.coop
Funeral Directors & Monumental Masons
Administration Office: 78 Broomfield Road,
Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1SS
Tel: 01245 353978 • Fax: 01245 351467
Email: funerals@chelmsfordstar.coop
funerals.chelmsfordstar.coop
Part of the Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society Limited