Why should I pay now – it'll be years before I need a funeral?

We'll all need a funeral one day and it's costing more every year, so it makes sense to plan your funeral while you can and fix the cost by paying for it now.

What happens if I die before I finish paying all my instalments?

Don't worry – your funeral will be arranged in accordance with your Plan. Payment you have made will be contributed towards the cost of the funeral and any balance will be paid by your executors or from your estate.

I'm often away visiting family or on holiday – what happens then?

If you're in the UK all is fine, but if you're going overseas we recommend that you make sure you have travel insurance that includes full repatriation cover.

I think I'd like to sort something out for my husband. Can I?

Yes, you can take out a plan for anyone else. All correspondence will be sent directly to the person arranging the plan and confidentiality is assured.

Can I have my own Funeral Director?

Yes you can as long as they have agreement in place with us and they meet our stringent service standards. Alternatively, we can recommend and appoint one on your behalf if you would prefer.

We're thinking about living abroad – can we still arrange a plan that works out there?

Yes you can. If you live overseas then we have a plan specifically for you. Our plans have dual country cover, providing for a funeral in the country of residence or the UK. So even if you decide to move back to the UK you will still be covered.

Am I guaranteed to be accepted?

Yes you are. With a Countrywide Plan there's no age limit and no medical tests or good health declarations, unlike some other insurance-based plans.

Are there any extra costs?

The services of the Funeral Director are guaranteed to be covered – in accordance with the Terms and Conditions. Certain disbursements may require a further payment at the time of the funeral, but we will guarantee any increase to these costs in line with Retail Price Index (RPI).

How do I know the money will be there when it's needed?

The money you've paid for your funeral is held securely in an independently managed Trust. Merrill Lynch and Quilters are currently tasked to manage the long-term growth of the fund, specifically to meet the increasing cost of funeral services.

Your questions answered