Distinct Cremations vs Golden Charter
Buying a funeral plan, like any financial product, can be confusing. Understanding the differences is key, which is why we've compared our Funeral Service Plan and Direct Cremation Plan with Golden Charter to make it easier.
Exceptional service
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Over 76,000 cremations a year
Expert funeral care
Supporting families for over 30 years
Funeral Service and Direct Cremation Plans
Both Golden Charter and Distinct Cremations provide funeral plans. However, a key difference is in how we deliver the services.
Golden Charter is not a funeral provider and do not own any crematoriums. All of their services are allocated to a funeral director available at the required time. With a Golden Charter plan, your family will receive a contribution to the cost of the cremation at the time it is needed, with no guarantee this will cover all of the services you need.
Why Distinct Cremations?
Distinct Cremations is part of Westerleigh Group, the UK's largest cremation provider. As a funeral provider, we manage every aspect of each funeral service.
Our consultants will support you in choosing the right plan for the funeral you want. Our funeral arranger will support the bereaved family, and the funeral service will take place at one of our 42 crematoriums. With our plans, there is nothing more to pay for the services you choose at the time of purchase, including options such as adding a celebrant.
It's our end-to-end service that guarantees the quality of care you expect, with no unexpected costs.
Borders Crematorium
No future costs
With our funeral plans, you know that all of the essential elements are included in the price you pay today. There is no need to add anything later, at future prices.
Experienced funeral providers
We handle everything from managing your plan to support with arranging the funeral. By providing end to end care, we can guarantee quality of service we provide.
We use our own crematoriums
As part of the Westerleigh Group, we have 42 crematoriums across the UK. With a Funeral Service Plan, you choose the crematorium.
Ashes are hand delivered to a family member
Our funeral plans include hand-delivery of ashes to a family member within 14 days of the cremation or scattering at the crematorium if you prefer.
How does a Distinct Cremations funeral plan compare to a Golden Charter funeral plan?
When you choose a funeral plan, it's important to confirm what's included. Our services are guaranteed at the price you pay today.
Where a plan provides a contribution only, you may have to pay more later.
In the two tables below, we have compared our plans with Golden Charter to consider what is included, and what may be added on at the time of the funeral.
Funeral Service Plans compared
Distinct Cremations offer two Funeral Service Plans, giving you a choice of 30 or 60 minute services at the crematorium.
| Product feature | Golden Charter Value Plan | Distinct Cremations 30 minute Funeral Service Plan | Distinct Cremations 60 minute Funeral Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,130 | £2,295 | £2,795 |
| Cancellation fee | £325 | £275 | £275 |
| Service length | subject to contribution # | 30 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Collection 24 hours a day * | |||
| Collection throughout mainland UK | 25 miles of Funeral Director | ||
| Removal of pacemaker, medical implants or artificial limbs | |||
| Provision of standard coffin | |||
| No charge for oversized coffin | |||
| Transport of the deceased | |||
| Guaranteed cremation fee | £800 contribution | ||
| Choice of crematoriums | ** | ** | |
| Use of own crematoriums | |||
| Choice of cremation time | |||
| Includes Celebrant | +£250 | +£250 | |
| Personal return of ashes included |
| Product feature | Price | Cancellation fee | Service length | Collection 24 hours a day * | Collection throughout mainland UK | Removal of pacemaker, medical implants or artificial limbs | Provision of standard coffin | No charge for oversized coffin | Transport of the deceased | Guaranteed cremation fee | Choice of crematoriums | Use of own crematoriums | Choice of cremation time | Includes Celebrant | Personal return of ashes included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Charter Value Plan | £3,130 | £325 | subject to contribution # | 25 miles of Funeral Director | £800 contribution | ||||||||||
| Distinct Cremations 30 minute Funeral Service Plan | £2,295 | £275 | 30 minutes | ** | +£250 | ||||||||||
| Distinct Cremations 60 minute Funeral Service | £2,795 | £275 | 60 minutes | ** | +£250 |
*Collection from any place of death throughout mainland UK, 24 hours a day.
**Choice of any Westerleigh Group crematorium
#Length of service not specified & subject to contribution amount
All information correct as of 05/02/2026
Direct Cremation Plans compared
We also offer a direct cremation, often called an unattended cremation. This has no service, giving the family the choice of a celebration of life at a time and place that is unique to them.
| Product feature | Golden Charter direct cremation plan | Distinct Cremations direct cremation plan |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,885 | £1,795 |
| Cancellation fee | £325 | £275 |
| Collection 24 hours a day* | ||
| Collection throughout mainland UK | 25 miles of Funeral Director | |
| Removal of pacemaker, medical implants or artificial limbs | ||
| Provision of standard coffin | ||
| No charge for oversized coffin | ||
| Notification of the date of the cremation | ||
| Use of own crematoriums | ||
| Personal return of ashes included | ||
| Viewing of the deceased |
| Product feature | Price | Cancellation fee | Collection 24 hours a day* | Collection throughout mainland UK | Removal of pacemaker, medical implants or artificial limbs | Provision of standard coffin | No charge for oversized coffin | Notification of the date of the cremation | Use of own crematoriums | Personal return of ashes included | Viewing of the deceased |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Charter direct cremation plan | £1,885 | £325 | 25 miles of Funeral Director | ||||||||
| Distinct Cremations direct cremation plan | £1,795 | £275 |
*Collection from any place of death throughout mainland UK, 24 hours a day.
All information correct as of 05/02/2026
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What sets Distinct Cremations apart?
Distinct Cremations specialises in providing a simple alternative to traditional funerals. When you choose a funeral with us, you'll be given a dedicated funeral arranger who will support you at every step. We'll help you choose the service that you want and explain your options clearly, without any hard sell.
As well as 42 crematoriums around the UK, we have our own state-of-the-art facilities in Staffordshire. This gives us the flexibility to offer affordable and straightforward cremations, and the experience to deliver each one with professional dignity and compassion.
Forest of Dean Crematorium
How we care for you
A dedicated funeral arranger by your side
Your family will be assigned a dedicated funeral arranger to offer support at each stage of the arrangements.
Here for you every day
We're available 24/7 to bring deceased loved ones into our care.
A choice of crematoriums around the UK
Our crematoriums have beautiful gardens to scatter ashes, and offering a place to visit for reflection.
Hand-delivered ashes returned to you with care
Ashes are individually identified and tracked at all times, and hand-delivered within 14 days of the cremation.
With our affordable plans, you can choose the kind of funeral that suits you and your loved ones best. Answer the quick and simple questions for an instant quote.
Find a funeral plan to suit you and your loved ones. Answer the quick and simple questions to decide which plan best meets your needs.
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Our Funeral Service plan includes a funeral service at the crematorium. Mourner numbers are unrestricted so the whole family can come together to pay their respects and take comfort in shared memories.
Our Direct Cremation Plan guarantees a dignified cremation without a traditional funeral service or mourners present. Loved ones can pay their respects in their own unique way.
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At Distinct Cremations we are part of Westerleigh Group, with many beautiful crematoriums located throughout the UK mainland.
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Important information
Before you proceed, please confirm the following statements are correct:
- You do not have any other funeral plans in place for the Covered Individual
- The Covered Individual is not receiving end-of-life care
- You are of sound mind and have the mental capacity to make this purchase or support from the person who helps you with purchases
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We want to ensure we always provide you with the best possible service. If happy to do so, please provide details of anything we may need to consider when communicating with you. For example, do you suffer from any hearing loss, speech or sight impairments? For more information, please see our Funeral Plan Terms and Conditions.
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We recommend that you tell someone you have a plan in place, so they can tell us when the funeral is needed. You may choose to add this to your will, but these are often not read until after the funeral takes place.
You can add a nominated representative at any time. You don't have to tell us now.
We will write to the person below to confirm you have nominated them to tell us when to put the Covered Individual's funeral plan in motion, and include details of the plan.
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- is at least 18 years of age
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Instruction to pay your Bank or Building Society: Please pay Distinct Funeral Plans Limited Direct Debits from the account detailed in this Instruction subject to the safe guards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this Instruction may remain with Distinct Funeral Plans Limited and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.
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- If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit Distinct Funeral Plans Limited will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request Distinct Funeral Plans Limited to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request
- If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by Distinct Funeral Plans Limited or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society
- - If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when Distinct Funeral Plans Limited asks you to
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All prices are inclusive of administration fees. If you decide to pay via instalments, make sure the monthly payments are affordable and maintainable for the full term selected. Your plan will be cancelled if you don't keep up your payments.
If you have any concerns about committing to a long-term payment arrangement, please call us on 0808 304 8747
If you have any questions, our customer service specialists are happy to help. Call free on 0808 304 8747.
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If you have any questions at all or want to talk through your options about any of our funeral plans, please call our friendly, expert team today.
We are wholeheartedly committed to providing funeral services we'd be proud to give our own loved ones.
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Over 76,000 cremations a year
Westerleigh Group including Distinct Cremations carried out over 76,000 cremations in 2025.
