Perfect Choice is Accredited by the Funeral Planning Authority
Perfect Choice, the pre-paid funeral plan launched ten years ago by the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD), has met the criteria of the Funeral Planning Authority and will now come under its regulation. This announcement comes at a time when the Government legislation designed to safeguard the interests of consumers and protect monies invested in pre-need schemes is having a significant, and very positive, impact on the fortunes of Perfect Choice.
The NAFD reports record plan sales for the first quarter of 2002 – a rise of 20% on the same period last year – as well as significant growth in the number of funeral directors who are registering as sellers.
“We are delighted that Perfect Choice has been accepted as a registered provider by the Funeral Planning Authority, which enhances the protection afforded in the regulation and monitoring of pre-paid funeral plan schemes,” says Denise Hunt, Perfect Choice Administration Manager. “As the new legislation takes effect we are witnessing increased interest in Perfect Choice, not only from NAFD members who previously ran their own schemes, but also from members who are now beginning to appreciate that pre-payment plans are becoming an increasingly important area of the funeral business,” she adds.
While some of the NAFD members who have registered to sell Perfect Choice during the past three months have taken this step as a way of restructuring their arrangements to comply with the new legislation, they are finding Perfect Choice to be a more than worthy successor to their own pre-payment schemes.
Tim Ely of Thomas Ely in Willenhall is a keen advocate of the NAFD plan, saying: “I’ve researched all sorts of pre-payment schemes and believe any funeral director worth their salt should seriously consider Perfect Choice.
“Perfect Choice is not only backed by the NAFD – and there’s none better – but it’s a guaranteed and safe pre-payment plan, both for the families who come to us for advice and trust us with their money, and our business. “I was a little apprehensive when we first registered, but we’re very happy with Perfect Choice because we’re able to sell it as our plan and it’s so easy to implement. Plus, Denise Hunt is always at the other end of the telephone to offer support and help us deal with any queries.”
For Farthing Singleton and Hastings, which has branches in Felixstowe, Ipswich and Stowmarket, the switch to Perfect Choice has enabled the business to continue to meet customers’ pre-payment funeral plan needs.
“When the new legislation came into effect the cost of continuing with our own scheme was prohibitive and we needed to look for a new provider,” says Luke Farthing. “The NAFD’s scheme is the most flexible pre-payment plan around, in that it is easily tailored to meet our customers’ needs, and it offers the greatest security for their money. There is no deduction for administration, so the entire amount invested in the plan will be available at a later date for the funeral,” he adds.
Williamson Brothers of Stoke on Trent is benefiting from high levels of customer interest in Perfect Choice since registering for the NAFD scheme. “Our own pre-need funeral plan had proved very successful over the years, so it was quite a big step for us to change to Perfect Choice,” says Lesley Williamson. Perfect Choice is accredited by the Funeral Planning Authority. "But the back up from the NAFD is excellent and we can always get an answer to our queries. Perfect Choice has been very well-received by our customers and we are extremely encouraged by the amount of business which has been generated since January.”
Perfect Choice is an exclusive benefit of membership of the NAFD. Since its launch in 1992, more than 11,000 plans have been sold and the trust fund currently stands at in excess of £10 million.
For further information, please contact Martine Layland at JM Bailey Communications, Tel: 0121 711 4499, Fax: 0121 711 4535 Email: martine@jmbailey.co.uk.