Answers to the questions most frequently asked

A direct cremation funeral plan is a way to pay for a direct cremation funeral in advance. A direct cremation funeral is a simple no-fuss cremation that comes at a lower cost than a traditional funeral. A direct cremation allows people to separate the cremation from the celebration of the deceased’s life allowing them to arrange a dignified send off at a time and place that is more personal to the deceased.

Distinct Cremations are a direct cremation specialist. Distinct Funeral Plans Limited are authorised and regulated by the FCA to provide funeral plans. Distinct Cremations Limited are their sister company who provide the funeral service. Both trade using the Distinct Cremations name.

You can see how they compare to other funeral plan providers in the market with our comparison table.

Direct Funeral Plans is a trading style of Distinct Funeral Plans Limited. Its purpose is to explain the features and benefits of a direct cremation funeral plan from Distinct Cremations.

You need to be over 18 to take out a funeral plan with Distinct Cremations. Or if you wish to pay in instalments over 5 or 10 years then you must be between 50 and 74 years old when you purchase your plan.

Yes you can take out a Distinct Cremations Funeral Plan on behalf of a parent or a partner.

This depends on which Distinct Cremations Funeral Plan you choose.

If you choose the Unattended Direct Cremation Plan, then no, there will not be a service. The cremation takes place without mourners present.

If you choose the Private Cremation Plan, then this allows for a short 20 minute family led service for up to 20 mourners at the crematorium.

The answer depends on which Distinct Cremations funeral plan you choose.

If you choose the Private Cremation Plan, then you will be able to choose from a crematorium owned by the Westerleigh Group, who Distinct Cremations are part of. If you choose the Unattended direct cremation, then you cannot choose the crematorium.

The deceased will be collected by our experienced team of funeral operatives. They will be taken to the Distinct Cremations state of the art mortuary facility. On the day of the cremation, they will be placed into a coffin and taken to the crematorium in one of our funeral vehicles. After the cremation the ashes will be scattered in the garden of remembrance or personally returned to the family. With Distinct Cremations, the deceased receive the highest level of care, compassion, dignity and respect.

Yes, if you choose an Unattended Direct Cremation Plan with Distinct Cremations, and would like to know, you will be told the date of the cremation. 

If you choose the Private Cremation Plan, then you will know the time, date and location of the cremation.

A Funeral Operative from Distinct Cremations will personally return the ashes back to your loved ones after the cremation has taken place.

But if preferred, you can choose to have your ashes scattered at the Gardens of Remembrance at the crematorium.

With Distinct Cremations you can choose to pay for your plan as a one-off payment, by debit or credit card or cheque. If you pay in monthly instalments over 12 months, then you will pay by Direct Debit, and if you pay over 5 or 10 years, you will pay by Continuous Card Payment.

If you’ve already taken out a funeral plan with Distinct Cremations, then the price is guaranteed. So even if funeral costs increase in the future – there won’t be any more to pay for the funeral services in your plan.

If you have not already taken out a funeral plan, then the price of the plan you see today may increase in the future. This is why taking out a plan today can be a savvy move for you.

After you’ve taken out a funeral plan with Distinct Cremations, they will send you your Funeral Plan Documents within 5 working days.

Your documents will state the details of the plan you have chosen. The Funeral Plan Summary and Terms & Conditions detail exactly what’s included and excluded in the plan.

Your loved one will also receive a document which tells them how to put your plan into motion when the time comes.

When you take out a funeral plan with Distinct Cremations you can choose a nominated representative. This person will put your wishes in motion when the cremation is required. This could be a family member, friend or someone else. You can also include your plan’s information in your will, however, the will is not typically read until after the funeral.

If you have purchased a funeral plan with a single payment or over a period of up to 12 months, you can cancel your funeral plan within the first 30 days and receive all your money back. If you cancel after 30 days you will get most of your money back, minus a £95 cancellation fee.

If you have purchased a funeral plan over 5 or 10 years and cancel your plan within 12 months, you will get a full refund of all payments paid. If you cancel after 12 months (the moratorium period), your instalments will stop and you will not be entitled to any refund of the money you have already paid. 

Yes. If you pay for your funeral plan in a single payment or in instalments up to 12 months your money is held in a secure Trust which is managed by trustees, the majority of whom are independent of Distinct Cremations.

If you pay for your funeral plan in instalments over 5 or 10 years, Distinct Cremations purchase a “whole of life” policy on your behalf from Scottish Friendly – an authorised and regulated insurance provider. The proceeds of that policy will be used to pay for your chosen cremation at the time of need.

In the unlikely event that Distinct Cremations goes out of business, they, and any administrators appointed, are required to work closely with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) to transfer your plan to another funeral plan provider or to arrange compensation.

More information is available on the FSCS website.

Westerleigh Group are the parent company of Distinct Cremations. Together, they are one of the UK’s largest cremation providers. Westerleigh Group have owned and managed a network of private crematoria within the UK for over 30 years.