Funeral plans

I would be doing some research and not be relying on what Avalon tell you.

They stand on street corners and flog funeral plans 

Not a company I would be dealing with.... ever.

Contact one of the 'English' funeral companies.

Absolutely agree. Don't use Avalon, there are cheaper out there. We went with the 'English Funeral Director', maybe not the cheapest but in our experience the easiest to deal with. 

Thanks for your advice. They are the first I’ve tried and will be getting other quotes, but you have confirmed my suspicions. 

The funeral plan sharks use fear and misinformation to sell their plans. You do NOT have to be buried within 48 hours - they can and do stick you in a fridge until things can be sorted out.

We sorted out funerals for two friends and even with extended storage for one of them did not pay out thousands of Euros.

I have read on the net that you can do it 2 ways ..you can pay a agreed lump sum in and they invest on your behalf...or you can make weekly or monthly payments in to the plan ...I can understand how the prepaid lump sum policy work's but what happens if the company goes bust ...and I can't see how a weekly/monthly pay in is going to work ... things like how much do you need to pay in before you can claim...I don't think any funeral  insurance plan is going to insure a OAP. and hope they are not going to die before they have paid enough in ...for instance you are a OAP and you take the policy out today ...then you die in let's say 6 months time  and you have only paid in around €200 in to the plan surly this company is not going to fork out €5,000 for a burial ...I have asked a few companies and can't get a straight answer...so what I have done is to leave the €5,000 in my own bank gathering interest...as I don't trust a funeral plan company that could go bust at anytime.

As frequent flyer says, just keep a rainy day amount in your account - death counts as a rainy day in my book! Be aware that when someone dies the bank account is frozen and a funeral directors will not cremate on a promise...cash is king, so stuff that mattress!

I was told by a spaniard, as soon as a spouse dies the survivor opens an account in their own name to pay for the funeral and enough to tide them over until probate is done, before they inform the bank of the death.

Regards

Pauline.

That works paulsav but it may not be the first thing you think of when a nearest has expired. The death must be notified straight away, and I don’t think many would want to whip down to the bank in grief? What about a death after the banks have closed for the weekend, or public holiday?

I did take out a policy with Avalon. Reason being I live in England but go to spain regularly so if I do die in spain or England I am covered. It cost no more than other funeral plans. £3800.