ADVERTORIAL
– FUNERAL PLANS With FSCS Protection
SMART FUNERAL PLANNING FOR EXPATS: Regulated Vs Unregulated
Benjamin Treharne-Foose – April 2025
In uncertain times, guarantee your Spanish funeral plan is safe
Expats across Spain are considering a pre-paid Funeral Plan, and many are wondering how they can choose a reliable funeral plan provider.
While it’s not mandatory to buy a plan from a UK regulated provider, here are some important points to consider.
Since July 2022, any funeral plan provider which offers a plan with a UK funeral option, is legally required to be regulated in the UK, whether they operate in the UK, Spain, or even Australia and regardless of where the funeral eventually takes place. For the customers of regulated plan providers, this means extra protection.
Extra Protection – NO Extra Cost
With a funeral plan from a UK regulated provider, not only do plan holders benefit from having a funeral plan which covers them in Spain and the UK, they also receive financial protection from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
You may have heard of the FSCS, it’s the same scheme that safeguards all UK bank accounts for up to £85,000. With FSCS protection, in the unlikely event of a regulated funeral plan provider’s failure, plan holders are guaranteed to receive either an equivalent funeral plan or financial compensation at the market value at the time. The FSCS ensures that firms handle consumers’ money responsibly to deliver funeral services promised.
Not All Trust Funds… Are the Same
A trust fund on its own does NOT guarantee financial protection. Many providers, both regulated and unregulated, use trusts to hold funds invested by plan holders to eventually pay for funeral services.
Thankfully, UK regulated funeral plan providers MUST have their trust funds based in the UK and must hold at least 100% of the amount it would cost to deliver the funeral when it’s needed. You get assurance from a UK regulated provider that they are under strict financial control rules and critically for plan holders, under the protection of the FSCS.
On the other hand, unregulated funeral plan providers may not have a trust fund at all, or they could have trust funds that are left exposed to abuse and financial mismanagement. For example, they may not hold enough money for the funerals in the future, and some unregulated providers even have their trust funds established offshore in locations like Gibraltar.
Bigger For A Reason
In Spain, anyone can set themselves up and sell funeral plans. Recently, we’ve seen where that can lead. When it comes to choosing a funeral plan, look for a provider you can rely on to be operating not just next year, but for the next 20 years. Ask them how long they have been helping families and how their money is managed. Ideally, you want a provider that has a dedicated team that you can trust will answer the call and be on hand to support your loved ones.
Ask These 3 Critical Questions:
✅ How long have they been providing funeral plans?
✅ Where is their trust fund administered? (some are based offshore)
✅ Are they a regulated funeral plan provider? (look for the FSCS symbol)
Eligible for an
FSCS Protected Funeral Plan?
Click your age below!
Step 1) Select your age below
Step 2) On the next page, complete the 30-second questionnaire, and find out whether you could save hundreds or thousands.
Still Not Sure? Did You Know…
Avalon Funeral Plans has…
- Helped more than 105,000 people find the right funeral plan.
- Supported families for 32 years.
- Were voted ‘Best Funeral Plan Provider’ 5 years in a row at the Personal Finance Awards (2019-2023).
- Rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot with a rating of 4.9.
Don’t let this moment pass you by…
In just a few seconds you could be on your way to peace of mind for you and your family.
– FUNERAL PLANS With FSCS Protection
SMART FUNERAL PLANNING FOR EXPATS: Regulated Vs Unregulated
Benjamin Treharne-Foose – April 2025
In uncertain times, guarantee your Spanish funeral plan is safe
Expats across Spain are considering a pre-paid Funeral Plan, and many are wondering how they can choose a reliable funeral plan provider.
While it’s not mandatory to buy a plan from a UK regulated provider, here are some important points to consider.
Since July 2022, any funeral plan provider which offers a plan with a UK funeral option, is legally required to be regulated in the UK, whether they operate in the UK, Spain, or even Australia and regardless of where the funeral eventually takes place. For the customers of regulated plan providers, this means extra protection.
Extra Protection – NO Extra Cost
With a funeral plan from a UK regulated provider, not only do plan holders benefit from having a funeral plan which covers them in Spain and the UK, they also receive financial protection from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
You may have heard of the FSCS, it’s the same scheme that safeguards all UK bank accounts for up to £85,000. With FSCS protection, in the unlikely event of a regulated funeral plan provider’s failure, plan holders are guaranteed to receive either an equivalent funeral plan or financial compensation at the market value at the time. The FSCS ensures that firms handle consumers’ money responsibly to deliver funeral services promised.
Not All Trust Funds… Are the Same
A trust fund on its own does NOT guarantee financial protection. Many providers, both regulated and unregulated, use trusts to hold funds invested by plan holders to eventually pay for funeral services.
Thankfully, UK regulated funeral plan providers MUST have their trust funds based in the UK and must hold at least 100% of the amount it would cost to deliver the funeral when it’s needed. You get assurance from a UK regulated provider that they are under strict financial control rules and critically for plan holders, under the protection of the FSCS.
On the other hand, unregulated funeral plan providers may not have a trust fund at all, or they could have trust funds that are left exposed to abuse and financial mismanagement. For example, they may not hold enough money for the funerals in the future, and some unregulated providers even have their trust funds established offshore in locations like Gibraltar.
Bigger For A Reason
In Spain, anyone can set themselves up and sell funeral plans. Recently, we’ve seen where that can lead. When it comes to choosing a funeral plan, look for a provider you can rely on to be operating not just next year, but for the next 20 years. Ask them how long they have been helping families and how their money is managed. Ideally, you want a provider that has a dedicated team that you can trust will answer the call and be on hand to support your loved ones.
Ask These 3 Critical Questions:
✅ How long have they been providing funeral plans?
✅ Where is their trust fund administered? (some are based offshore)
✅ Are they a regulated funeral plan provider? (look for the FSCS symbol)
Eligible for an
FSCS Protected Funeral Plan?
Click your age below!
Step 1) Select your age below
Step 2) On the next page, complete the 30-second questionnaire, and find out whether you could save hundreds or thousands.
Still Not Sure? Did You Know…
Avalon Funeral Plans has…
- Helped more than 105,000 people find the right funeral plan.
- Supported families for 32 years.
- Were voted ‘Best Funeral Plan Provider’ 5 years in a row at the Personal Finance Awards. (2019-2023)
- Rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot with a rating of 4.9.
Don’t let this moment pass you by…
In just a few seconds you could be on your way to peace of mind for you and your family.
* We Proudly Evidence All Our Claims:
This page is provided by way of information only, and the legal terms and conditions that apply to any funeral plan will be set out in the Terms & Conditions and The Funeral Plan Summary for each plan which can be found here.
- Percentage of ‘funerals with a service’ taken from SunLife’s Cost of Dying Report 2024 https://www.sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs/
- Current cost of funerals taken from SunLife’s Cost of Dying Report 2024 https://www.sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs/
- Projection of funeral costs in 2028 taken from SunLife’s Cost of Dying Report 2024 https://www.sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs/
- ‘Avalon Promise’ – The Avalon Promise commences if you die as a result of an accident at anytime or if you pass away before your plan is fully paid after your plan has been in place for 12 months or more in the UK and 18 months or more for one of our Europe plans. If you don’t keep up your payments your plan may be cancelled. Full details of the Avalon Promise can be found in the UK plan Terms and Conditions
- ‘Rated Excellent’ claim is based on a 4.9/5 rating on Trustpilot with more than 4,100 reviews and having supported more than 105,000 families over the last 30+ years.
- Avalon was awarded ‘Best Funeral Plan Provider’ at the Personal Finance Awards in the UK every year between 2019-2023.
- ‘1 in 6 British Expats Over 65’ – Based on 106,512 British Nationals over the age of 65 registered in Spain (exl. Canaries) from INE 2021 census data. Avalon serve approximately 17,070 British customers over the age of 65 in Spain (based on a sample).
- 'More 5-Star Reviews Than Any Other Funeral Provider for Expats in Spain' - According to figures calculated on November 15, 2024 from publicly available review sources (Trustpilot & Google Reviews), Avalon Funeral Plans has received 3,679 5-Star Reviews, Golden Leaves has received 3,592, and Compare Funerals has received 55
- Cremation Plans From as Little as £29.95 - For the purchase of the Direct Cremation Plan (Spain) (Plan price £2295) and if you pay a £49 deposit. If you choose a 10-year term, you will pay an instalment charge of £1347.60 on top of the plan price leaving a total payable of £3642.60 – which is £29.95 for 120 months.
Company information
Avalon Funeral Plans is a trading style of The Avalon Trustee Company Limited (Company No: 02836336), and Avalon (Europe) Limited (Company No: 03773923) both with their registered Head Office in England: Brooke Court, Lower Meadow Road, Handforth Dean, Wilmslow, SK9 3ND.
Avalon Group Companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our UK plans are provided through The Avalon Trustee Company Limited and its FCA registration number is 965284. Our European plans are provided through Avalon (Europe) Limited and its FCA registration number is 965286.
Avalon is registered in the UK with the Information Commissioners office under Z2182327 (The Avalon Trustee Company Limited), Z2182344 (Avalon (Europe) Limited).
Copyright © 2023 – Avalon Group Companies
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You can contact us by email at [email protected].
Avalon UK
Avalon Funeral Plans, Brooke Court, Lower Meadow Road, Handforth Dean, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 3ND. UK.
Avalon Europe
Avalon Funeral Plans,
Calle Albatera 1-68, Urb La Finca Golf, 03169 Algorfa, Alicante. Spain.