Transfer of Funeral Plans to Ecclesiastical Planning Services

What is changing?

As a valued customer of Lincolnshire Co-op holding a Funeral Plan, we have written to advise you about regulatory changes coming into effect from 29th July 2022. These changes mean that any firms that provide prepaid Funeral Plans must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”). To comply with the new rules, we are teaming up with Ecclesiastical Planning Services Limited (“Ecclesiastical”) who have applied to be FCA authorised on that date. This means that Ecclesiastical will assume responsibility for the overall provision, management and oversight of your plan, in essence the financial aspects of your Funeral Plan. We have selected Ecclesiastical to take over our Funeral Plans due to their reputation and the closeness of their organisational ethos to ours.

Regulation will mean greater protection for your Funeral Plan, which will be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) and you will be entitled to redress through the Financial Ombudsman Scheme (FOS).

The Society will not be directly authorised or regulated by the FCA. Whilst Ecclesiastical will be responsible to you for delivering your Funeral Plan, your funeral will still be provided by your chosen Lincolnshire Co-op funeral home, to the same specification and professional standards as your current Funeral Plan. Importantly there will be NO additional charges to the total amount you have paid for your Funeral Plan. All monies already paid to us will be managed and safeguarded by Ecclesiastical.

The Society is seeking your consent to transfer your existing Funeral Plan to Ecclesiastical.

What do you need to do?

Please take time to read the FAQs at the bottom of this page.

You will have received via post, two consent forms. By 24th June 2022, we require you to complete, sign and return one copy to us in the prepaid envelope provided. This will enable us to transfer your Funeral Plan to Ecclesiastical. Please keep the other copy for your own records.

The prepaid envelope will be addressed to:

Freepost LINCOLNSHIRE CO-OPERATIVE LTD - FUNERAL PLANS

Please note, the address on the envelope is only one line but rest assured it will reach us.

What if you do not consent to the transfer?

If you do not consent to the transfer of your Funeral Plan you will need to complete and sign the “I DO NOT CONSENT” part of the enclosed form and return it to us in the prepaid envelope provided.

If you do not consent to the transfer of your Funeral Plan, it will be cancelled because we will not be directly authorised or regulated by the FCA to operate or administer your Funeral Plan. You will be refunded in accordance with the terms and conditions issued when you purchased your Funeral Plan. A member of our Funeral Planning Team will be in touch with you to guide you through the cancellation process, so please ensure that you let us have your phone and e-mail details. Alternatively, please call us on 01522 781 065 and one of our team will be pleased to help you.

What if you do not respond?

We are undertaking this Plan Holder contact exercise to enable you to understand the issues and give your consent. The FCA, however, understands that not all Plan Holders will engage with the exercise; providing that we and Ecclesiastical notify the FCA that we have undertaken reasonable steps to seek your consent, then if you do not respond by 24th June 2022, your Funeral Plan will be treated from a regulatory perspective as if it has been transferred to Ecclesiastical.

What if you have any questions?

We have a Frequently Asked Questions document at the bottom of this page, to assist you.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for any other questions or concerns you may have.

Our dedicated telephone number is 01522 781065 or email address: plantransfer@lincolnshire.coop