FPCOB 10.1 Application and purpose

1This chapter applies to a funeral plan provider that enters into a funeral plan contract, under which it undertakes to secure that another person provides a funeral for the covered individual on their death.

1A firm must, within 30 days of the customer’s purchase of a funeral plan contract, make appropriate arrangements for the funeral to be carried out. The arrangements must:

1. (1)

   be legally enforceable;

2. (2)

   be made with a funeral services provider that is located within a reasonable distance of the covered individual’s address, unless:

   1. (a)

      it is clear from the nature of the funeral plan contract that this was not the intention of both the funeral services provider and the customer; or

   2. (b)

      the customer agrees otherwise;

3. (3)

   identify the business name and address of the funeral services provider (including, as appropriate, the relevant branch) that will carry out the funeral; and

4. (4)

   be such as to ensure that neither the customer nor the covered individual’s estate are required to make further payments to the funeral services provider to provide the funeral in accordance with the funeral plan contract.

1Following compliance with FPCOB 10.1.3R, the firm must within 2 business days provide the customer with a notification of:

1. (1)

   the name, address and contact details of the relevant funeral services provider; and

2. (2)

   a summary of the arrangements made with the funeral services provider,

in accordance with FPCOB 6.2 (Means of communication to customers).

1The firm must provide the notification in FPCOB 10.1.4R to the nominated representative at the same time as it is provided to the customer unless the circumstances in FPCOB 9.3.7R apply.

1The firm must regularly review the arrangements under FPCOB 10.1.3R to ensure that the funeral services provider will provide the services required under the funeral plan contract.

1If at any time after a firm has complied with FPCOB 10.1.3R, a firm becomes aware that the funeral services provider is unable or likely to be unable to provide the services required under the funeral plan contract, the firm must make alternative arrangements with another funeral services provider, at no additional cost to the customer or covered individual.

1In accordance with FPCOB 6.2, the firm must notify:

1. (1)

   the customer; and

2. (2)

   the nominated representative, unless the FPCOB 9.3.6R circumstances apply,

of any new arrangements made under FPCOB 10.1.8R as soon as practicable and in any event, within 2 business days of making the arrangements.