Terms & Conditions
INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR NEXT OF KIN OR EXECUTORS WHEN DEATH OCCURS
- When death occurs please advise the next of kin or executors to contact your appointed funeral director or alternatively, call us on our emergency service freephone number 0800 917 70 99. Our own funeral directors operate 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. Your next of kin or executor will be put in touch with a professional, who will know what procedures to follow at this time. They will then arrange and advise on any immediate steps that need to be taken.
- The information that you and Safe Hands require is contained in this document. Should there be any further details required we will advise at the time of purchase.
- When attending the Registrars of Births, Deaths & Marriages, please remember to bring along this folder and if possible, a birth and/or marriage certificate.
- Extra copies of the death certificate should be obtained for Probate, Social Security, banks and insurance, at the time of this registration.
- Safe Hands will require a copy of the death certificate to allow access to the trust, in order to pay for the funeral service.
1. DEFINITIONS
1.1 In these conditions the words listed below shall have the following meanings unless the context otherwise requires:
"Company" means Safe Hands.
"Cancellation Charge" means the cancellation charge which may be made by the Company in accordance with the provisions of these conditions, being 20% of the cost of the relevant Funeral Plan (or such lesser sum which the Company may from time to time specify).
"Funeral Director" means the Funeral Director named in the Funeral Plan.
"Funeral Plan" means the Funeral Plan identified in this agreement which includes the services specified by the Company from time to time to be included within that Funeral Plan.
"Plan Holder" or "You" means you, the customer or, where you are purchasing the Funeral Plan for the benefit of some other person, that person named within that specific funeral plan. References in these terms to your 'Personal Representatives' shall only be applicable where you are the Plan Holder or if you pre-decease the Plan Holder.
2. CONTRACT
2.1 No contract shall exist between You and the Company until this Agreement has been signed and dated by You and on behalf of the Company to indicate acceptance of the proposal. When this has been done, this will be the date of the Funeral Plan.
2.2 Upon acceptance the Company will issue You with the Funeral Plan acceptance documentation including a membership certificate
identifying the Funeral Plan chosen and provide an emergency telephone number in the event of the death of the Plan Holder.
3. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY
3.1 Upon receipt of payment for the Funeral Plan to the value of the sum shown in the Agreement the Company will provide or procure the services stipulated in the Funeral Plan upon the following conditions and subject also to the exclusions and limitations in clause 4 of these Conditions:
- During this Agreement the Company will comply with its Code of Practice in force from time to time. The current Code of Practice is set out in the booklet available on request. If during this Agreement the Company's registered status ceases for any reason then the Company will nevertheless endeavor to adhere to the said Code of Practice so far as it is reasonably practicable for it to do so.
- If you have a complaint about the Company, then you are asked in the first instance to contact the Company which will endeavor to resolve the issue. If the complaint cannot be resolved by the Company then you may refer it to the appropriate body and/or people to be dealt with under their disputes procedure.
- Any complaints about the Funeral Director should be referred back to their own disciplinary department for determination (if applicable) with its own complaints procedure.
- If any of the services stipulated in the Funeral Plan are unavailable at the time of the funeral, the Company will procure a substitute services which are as near as practicably equivalent to the services stated in the original Funeral Plan. Furthermore, if the Funeral Director indicated on your application form is unable or unwilling to carry out the funeral for the relevant remuneration then we will appoint a Funeral Director who is willing and able to carry out your wishes without further cost to your family.
4. EXCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS
4.1 The cost of the funeral in the Funeral Plan includes certain disbursements ('Disbursements') as well as the Funeral Director's own charges. Disbursements comprise all out of pocket expenses and sums payable to third parties in connection with the funeral other than any sums due to the Funeral Director for providing their own services. Such disbursements can include (by way of example only) sums payable for purchasing a burial plot, crematorium fees, doctor's fees, minister's fees, church fees, flowers and obituaries. The cost of Disbursements is shown in the price details for each Funeral Plan issued by the Company or specifically noted in the Funeral Plan documentation. If the cost of the Disbursements increases between the date of the purchase of the Funeral Plan and the date of the funeral by more than the increase over such period in the Retail Prices Index (RPI) then you or your Personal Representatives (or other person who arranges the funeral) will be liable to pay the difference to the Funeral Director in accordance with their payment terms or, alternatively, you or your Personal Representatives (or other person who arranges the funeral) may cancel the Funeral Plan and receive a refund of the price paid for the Funeral Plan less the Company's Cancellation Charge.
4.2 BURIALS: For Funeral Plans which provide for a burial, the Company will incur costs to third parties, such as the provision of a burial plot. The Company will endeavor to purchase the plot at the time the Funeral Plan is entered into; however, if pre-purchase of grave space is not possible (or if, the Company having pre-purchased a burial plot, that plot later ceases to be available for any reason outside the Company’s control) and the costs of a burial plot increase between the date of the purchase of the Funeral Plan and the date of the funeral by more than the increase over such period in the Retail Prices Index (RPI) then you or your Personal Representatives (or other person who arranges the funeral) will be liable to pay the difference to the Funeral Director in accordance with their payment terms. Alternatively, you or your Personal Representatives (or other person who arranges your funeral) may require the Company to refund them the price paid for the Funeral Plan less the Company’s Cancellation Charge. If any of the burial costs increase as a result of the Plan Holder moving address (for example the interment costs of the cemetery) between the date of the purchase of the Funeral Plan and the funeral then if such increase is more than the increase in the RPI over the same period then you or your Personal Representatives (or other person who arranges the Funeral) will be liable to pay the difference to the Funeral Director. Alternatively, the Company will at the request of you or your Personal Representatives make a refund to you or them of the price of the Funeral Plan less the Company’s Cancellation Charge.
4.3 CREMATION: For Funeral Plans which provide for cremation, should any of the specific instances referred to in clauses 4.3.1 to 4.3.3 below apply, then additional charges will be due from you or your Personal Representatives (or other person who arranges the funeral) to the Funeral Director in accordance with their payment terms. These are as follows:
- If the crematorium at which the funeral occurs makes any additional charge for the provision of music (including, for example, an organist or choir) or any other services;
- Any fee payable to a doctor to the extent that it exceeds the maximum amount recommended from time to time by the British Medical Association or any successor body thereto;
- The fee charged by the Minister of Religion or Officiant to the extent that it exceeds the maximum amount recommended by the Church of England Stipend Authority or any other authority of the Church of England in succession thereto.
4.4 The funeral service will be arranged at a time convenient to the Personal Representatives of the Plan Holder, subject to the availability of the Funeral Director. An additional charge will be due to the Funeral Director in accordance with their payment terms should the Plan Holder's Personal Representative (or other person who arranges the funeral) require the funeral to take place at a weekend or public holiday.
5. CHANGE OF ADDRESS
The Funeral Plan provides for the funeral to be conducted by the Funeral Director named in the Funeral Plan. If the Plan Holder changes their permanent address you must notify the Company whereupon the Company will have the right to nominate an appropriate alternative Funeral Director. If, notwithstanding the change of address, you or your Personal Representatives wish the funeral to be undertaken by the existing Funeral Director then you or your Personal Representatives (or other person who arranges the funeral) will be responsible for any additional transport costs incurred in connection with the funeral.
6. VAT
6.1 Apart from the specific instances referred to in clause 6.2 below, the Funeral Plan does not include VAT which is not at present charged on funerals in the United Kingdom, However, if at the time of the Plan Holder’s funeral VAT is payable on the funeral service or any part of it then any increased costs will be payable by you or your Personal Representatives (or other person arranging the funeral) to the Funeral Director.
6.2 Some Funeral Plans do include a charge for VAT on certain items (for example, the provision of a headstone or memorials). If at the date of the funeral the rate of VAT has increased then you or your Personal Representatives (or other person arranging the funeral) will be liable for the increase which will be payable to the Funeral Director in accordance with their payment terms.
7. PROCEDURE ON DEATH OF PLAN HOLDER
7.1 Subject to Clause 3 and Clause 7.2 below, as soon as the Company has been informed of the death of the Plan Holder and been given such information as is necessary.
7.1.1 The Company will instruct the Funeral Director to undertake the funeral in accordance with the Funeral Plan; and
7.1.2 The Funeral Director's charges will be settled by the Company.
7.2 The Company will only instruct the Funeral Director if at the date of death an agency or service agreement is in force between the Company and the Funeral Director, which the Funeral Director is able to perform. If this is not the case then the Company will (at the option of you or your Personal Representatives) either refund the sums which have been paid into the Funeral Plan (in which case the provisions of sub-clause 9.2 below as will apply if the Funeral Plan is cancelled in accordance with that sub-clause) or (subject to the provisions of these terms) pay the cost of any other Funeral Director appointed by the Plan Holder's Personal Representatives provided that:
7.2.1 The services are in accordance with the Funeral Plan; and
7.2.2 The Funeral Director's charges for the funeral (including, without limitation, costs, due to third parties) do not exceed the price then chargeable by the Company for the nearest equivalent funeral plan at the date of death and are reasonable.
7.3 All arrangements for the funeral will be made direct between the Plan Holder’s Personal Representatives and the Funeral Director.
8. PAYMENT BY INSTALLMENTS
8.1 As an alternative to making a single payment you may if you wish pay by Installments. If you have selected the Installment Option, your payments should be shown on the Payment Form. Payment plans are listed in the price list.
8.2 The first installment is due on the 28th of the month following the month of acceptance of your application. All further installments are then payable (subject to the following provisions) on or about the 28th of each month thereafter.
8.3 If you choose to pay by installments you are not contractually bound to make them. However, unless all installments under the Funeral Plan are paid then the Company will be under no obligation to provide or procure the services of the Funeral Plan.
8.4 If any installment is not paid on the stipulated date in the Payment Form the Company reserves the right to cancel the Funeral Plan on giving you not less than fourteen days prior written notice and will refund all payments made to that date (without interest), less the Company’s Cancellation Charge.
8.5 If the Funeral Plan has not been cancelled under Clause 8.4 above or Clause 9 below then in the event of the death of the Plan Holder before all the installments are paid the Company will, upon the request of you or your Personal Representatives, either:
8.5.1 Refund all installments paid to that date (without interest) less the Cancellation Charge or
8.5.2 Apply the balance remaining, towards the cost of your funeral in accordance with the Funeral Plan upon payment by you or your Personal Representatives of the balance due and any additional sums due in accordance with these Terms.
9. CANCELLATION
9.1 Whether you are paying for the Funeral Plan by installments or in a lump sum you or your Personal Representatives have the right to cancel the Funeral Plan upon giving to the Company written notice to this effect within 28 days after the Company has signed the Agreement and issued a membership certificate. All payments made to the date of termination will be repaid to you or your Personal Representatives (without interest). In these circumstances no Cancellation Charge will be made.
9.2 After the said 28 day period, you or your Personal Representatives may request the Company to refund the cost of the Funeral Plan (if paid for in full) whereupon the Company may in its absolute discretion refund the amount paid less its Cancellation Charge on the whole or any part of the cost of the Funeral Plan and also (in the case of a Funeral Plan providing for a burial), less the costs incurred by the Company in purchasing or reserving a burial plot.
9.3 The cancellation charge is £395.
10. GENERAL
10.1 The Company is not liable for any acts or omissions of any Funeral Director appointed pursuant to Clause 7.1
10.2 The Company cannot be held responsible for the acts or omissions of the Funeral Director appointed under clause 7.1 unless the Company has been negligent in its appointment.
10.3 All sums received by the Company constitute a pre-payment towards the cost of the funeral described in the Funeral Plan in accordance with the provisions of these terms. Neither you nor (if different) the Plan Holder nor your respective Personal Representatives shall be entitled to any interest on or income from any part of the sum paid to the Company in connection with the Funeral Plan and any right which you or your Personal Representatives may have to any refund of sums paid are governed strictly by the terms of this Agreement. The sums which you pay to the Company in connection with the Funeral Plan will be paid directly to the Trustees of the Safe Hands Trust Fund, in accordance with the requirements of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities Order 2001). The Company is entitled solely to any growth in or interest on or income from the sums paid, which entitlement the Company has settled in accordance with the terms of the Trust.
10.4 The Company shall have no further obligations to you, the Plan Holder (if different) or your respective Personal Representatives, whether financial or otherwise, save as expressly set out in these Terms and in the Code of Practice.
10.5 You may not assign your rights and obligations under the Agreement.
10.6 Any notice or other information required or authorised by these terms shall be given by hand or sent by first class pre-paid post to the other party at the address specified in the Agreement or to such other address as that party may notify the other in writing from time to time in accordance with this provision.
10.7 The provisions of clauses 4, 5 and 6 are made for the benefit of a Funeral Director and, accordingly, it may in its own right enforce these provisions in accordance with the Provisions of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (‘the Act’), This Agreement does not, however, create any other rights enforceable by any person who is not a party to it (including, without limitation, a Plan Holder where you are purchasing the Funeral Plan not for yourself but for some other person) under the Act.
10.8 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in all respects in accordance with the Laws of England and each party hereby submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.
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