To really really hate these funeral plan adverts?!

[sharkirasharkira]

They are just fucking everywhere at the moment and they drive me absolutely mad. They're also getting really guilt-trippy and almost emotionally manipulative!

You know the ones -

Older couple/couple of friends, discussing their dearly departed's recent beautiful funeral and commenting that they couldn't POSSIBLY afford anything THAT nice!!

Or alternatively saying that X passed away recently and HER POOR FAMILY they had to cough up MANY THOUSANDS for a funeral!!

Translation -

That selfish person had the temerity to die and not leave thousands behind specifically to pay for their funeral. They've put their loved ones in SO MUCH DEBT!! How AWFUL of them!

Cue the ad for pre-paid funeral plans, etc etc.

Just winds me up that they are pushing SO hard to get us to feel so guilty. I have enough guilt in my life, thanks. I don't need any more from bloody adverts!

I don't want a funeral, at all. I would much rather my loved ones spend their money living life, seeing the world, having fun, or putting it towards their futures rather than wasting it on buying me a very expensive box for my remains to live in.

If you want to have one of these plans, or pay thousands for a funeral then that is absolutely your choice. No issue with that. I just don't want it shoved down my throat every time I turn on the TV! Aibu?

They don't use the term 'pauper's funeral' any more. It's a Public Health funeral.

'Public health funerals are funerals arranged by Local Authorities for those people who have died and have no known relatives to arrange or pay for their funeral; or have relatives who do not want to; or are unable to arrange their funeral. Local Authorities have a responsibility to arrange such funerals'

For example:

www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/births-deaths-and-marriages/death/public-health-funerals

'A public health funeral arranged by Leeds City Council includes the following:

Collection of the deceased
Coffin and linings
Gown and preparation of the deceased for viewing
Hearse and bearers for funeral
Funeral Director's arrangement and attendance at the funeral
Burial or cremation fee
Minister of specified faith
Funeral notice (placed by the funeral directors)
Flowers'

So basic but quite dignified really, they obviously don't have to pay for flowers or a minister, make the deceased available for viewing, or bury rather than cremate, which is the most expensive option.

I would suggest that, where the estate and relatives are genuinely unable to pay for the funeral without getting into debt that they cannot repay, this is the appropriate way to go, rather than someone on a low income getting into debt with high cost credit etc especially if it's not an immediate relative, or one who is estranged.

My DM had what would be classed as a Paupers Funeral, although it was paid for by the Hospital where she died. I had to meet with the Almoner and show her that we had no way of paying for one, and that my DM had no estate. We had to wait 3 months for it, but it was very nicely done, everyone was respectful, the lady who conducted it let us play some of her favourite music, my DSon spoke about his DGM. We got her ashes back too.

As I said before, we took out insurance just after this so my dc won't have to worry about it, I imagine thats why a lot of people have funeral plans.

I would suggest that, where the estate and relatives are genuinely unable to pay for the funeral without getting into debt that they cannot repay, this is the appropriate way to go, rather than someone on a low income getting into debt with high cost credit etc especially if it's not an immediate relative, or one who is estranged.

I agree.

"We" couldn't make use of that service even if we had to because it seems to be automatically cremation but it is really great that it exists (imo).