Buying an unattended funeral/direct cremation online – your questions answered

1. My payment didn’t complete online, what should I do?

Your local Central Co-op funeral home will help you, and you’ll find their telephone number here.

2. Will the funeral home contact me?

Yes – once you’ve added the details on the web page, the funeral home will call you on the next working day to talk about the next steps.

3. Can I talk to a real person?

Yes, of course. Your local Central Co-op funeral home will help you. Have a look at the confirmation email that arrived after you completed the web page, or search for the number here.

4. Will I need to register the death?

Yes. You need to register the death and you have five days to do this. You’ll find help on what you need to do here. Once you’ve added the details on the web page, the funeral home will call you on the next working day to talk about the next steps.

5. I want to attend the funeral

Our website specialises in unattended funerals, but we’ll be able to arrange a funeral that people can attend. Your local Central Co-op funeral home will help you, and you’ll find their telephone number here.

6. I have a funeral plan I’d like to use to pay for the funeral.

Our website specialises in buying an unattended funeral online. Your local Central Co-op funeral home will help you to use a plan to pay for the funeral, and you’ll find their telephone number here.

7. Will I earn Membership points?

The person who makes the funeral arrangements with us, whom we refer to as the client, can use their Central Co-op Membership card to receive the eligible Member benefits. You, or the client, will need to let the local funeral home know what the Membership card number is before the funeral. Have a look at the confirmation email that arrived after you completed the web page, or search for the number here. Members of other Co-op Societies can’t receive Central Co-op Member-exclusive benefits.

8. I’d like to order flowers

Yes, of course. Your local Central Co-op funeral home will help you. Have a look at the confirmation email that arrived after you completed the web page, or search for the number here. You’ll find our floral brochure online at this link. Any flowers that you choose are not included in the price of an unattended funeral and will need to be paid for on the date you ask us to order them.

9. I want to personalise the funeral.

Our website specialises in unattended funerals that offer a standardised service, but we’ll be able to personalise a funeral that’s right for you and the person who’s died if the unattended option isn’t quite right and you want them to wear their own clothes and include flowers, for example. Your local Central Co-op funeral home will help you, and you’ll find their telephone number on the confirmation email or online here.

10. Will I know when and where the funeral is taking place?

Yes - the funeral home will be in touch to let you know what day the funeral will be on and where it’ll be held.

11. Can I visit the person who’s died?

Yes - you can visit them Monday to Friday, between 9am - 5pm, at least 48 hours before their funeral takes place. Your Central Co-op funeral home team will help you. Have a look at the confirmation email that arrived after you completed the web page, or search for the number here.

12. The person who’s died was under 18 years of age.

Please contact the funeral home and ask us about ‘Our Rainbow Service’, as we take care of the standard costs on funerals for people under 18 years of age. Take a look at the Rainbow Service brochure that’s included on our prices and services web page. You can find your local funeral home’s number here. Please read the online Rainbow Service brochure so that you understand what is and isn’t a standard inclusion.

13. What if I change my mind about the funeral I’d like?

That’s okay - we can change the type of funeral to one that’s right for you, if the unattended funeral hasn’t already taken place. Your local Central Co-op funeral home will help you. Have a look at the confirmation email that arrived after you completed the web page, or search for the number here. Please note you will be charged for any additional services that aren’t included in an unattended funeral.

14. I work for Central Co-op, how do I get my colleague reward?

Please let the funeral home know. They’ll check if you’re eligible and will apply the reward if you are. Details to contact the funeral home can be found on the confirmation email that arrived after you completed the web page, or you can search for the number here.