Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to commonly asked questions from Tulip families. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, just give us a call at (844) 942-4909.
At-need cremation (immediate or imminent need)
Payment plans
What if I’m partially through a payment plan and I stop paying?
What happens if I pass before I have paid off my payment plan?
Can I pay my payment plan off early?
When will my credit card be charged each month?
What if my credit card on file expires?
How do I change the credit card on file?
Can I pay off the remaining balance at any time?
Can I put a partial amount as a down payment and then pay the remainder over time?
General Questions
Who is Tulip Cremation?
Tulip provides a simple direct cremation package that you can arrange online or over the phone. No funeral home visit is required. We promise a simple process, transparent prices, and exceptional care
We offer the best value direct cremation package in California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Back to the TopWhat is Direct Cremation?
Direct cremation is the simplest funeral option, where the cremation takes place in the days immediately following the passing, and without a viewing or funeral service beforehand.
Read our article on direct cremation here
Back to the TopIs a funeral / memorial service included?
No, but many of our families will hold a memorial or celebration of life service at a later date. By choosing a direct cremation provider like Tulip you’re able to arrange a much more personalized service for your loved one, and without the cost and time-pressure of a traditional funeral home.
Back to the TopHow can you offer such affordable prices?
We have a different business model to traditional funeral homes. By offering one simple package that can be arranged online or over the phone, we don’t have the same high overheads. We don’t require expensive physical locations to provide a high-quality service.
Read more about the costs of cremation here
Back to the TopHow do you guarantee high-quality service?
We’re a licensed funeral establishment in the States of California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin, which means we’re regularly inspected by the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau. Our team consists of highly experienced funeral professionals and we only work with partners who meet our own exacting standards. We take great pride in offering exceptional care to the families we serve.
Back to the TopWhat areas do you serve?
We currently serve over 100 counties in California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin.
See our full service area.
Back to the TopWho do I contact if I have further questions?
Our Care Team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone at (844) 942-4909.
Back to the TopAt-need cremation (immediate or imminent need)
What do I do when a loved one dies?
This depends on a number of factors. If you call our local Care Team they’ll be able to help.
Back to the TopDo I need a death certificate?
Certified copies of the death certificate are required by banks, government agencies, credit card and insurance companies, former employers and other organizations. We generally recommend ordering between 5-8 copies (we can do this for you – not everyone does).
Find out how many death certificates you need here.
Back to the TopHow is the final price I pay calculated?
The final price you pay is based on your location and specific requirements. You’ll never pay for what you don’t need, there are no hidden costs, and we promise never to upsell you. Our pricing model is very simple:
- Base package price: starting at $1,195 depending on the state.
When do I pay?
As is normal in the funeral industry, payment is requested at the point of arrangement, so prior to your loved one being brought into our care.
Back to the TopHow are the ashes returned?
We return your loved one’s ashes to any US postal address via USPS Priority Mail Express. In some of our regions, you can choose to have them hand-delivered, or you can collect them in person.
Back to the TopWhere can I get the ashes returned to?
We can return your loved one’s ashes to any US postal address. If you’d like to have them sent abroad, our Care Team will be happy to advise. The laws on sending ashes to foreign countries vary.
Back to the TopHow are the ashes packaged?
- USPS Express Priority Mail: You’ll receive your loved one’s ashes back in a simple ashes container. Also included in the mailing box is the disposition permit issued by the State. We follow strict USPS Guidelines to ensure safe shipping (via USPS Priority Mail Express, with signature required).
- In-person collection: You’ll receive your loved one’s ashes in a simple plastic container.
How can I be certain that I get the correct ashes back?
We take this very seriously - from the second your loved one is brought into our care, they’re ID’d and ‘tagged’. Before cremation, an ID number is assigned and stamped on a metal disk – this then accompanies your loved one throughout the cremation process, so we always know who is who.
Back to the TopWhen can I collect my loved one’s ashes?
We’ll contact you in the days immediately following the cremation to schedule a time for you to collect your loved one’s ashes.
Back to the TopPre-need cremation (planning for the future)
How do I know my money is safe?
We put your money into an insurance policy for safekeeping. We work with Homesteaders who are the largest preneed insurance company in the US. Only when you require our services is the money sent to Tulip. This means that if something were to happen to Tulip, your money is always safe.
Back to the TopWhat happens if I move?
If you move within our service area, you will continue to be covered by your Tulip Plan. If you move outside of our service area, we can transfer your Plan to another funeral home of your choosing. Just let us know if you move address.
Back to the TopWhat happens if I die outside your service area or overseas?
If you purchase travel protection with your prepaid plan you will be fully covered anywhere in the world. Without travel protection, your family may have to pay domestic or international transport fees. We will charge these at cost.
Back to the TopCan I cancel my prepaid plan?
All prepaid plans can be canceled for a full refund within the first 30 days of purchase. To request a cancellation or if outside of the first 30-days, please contact Homesteaders at 800-477-3633 or by email at service@homesteaderslife.com.
Back to the TopWhat does my family do when they require Tulip's services?
Your family simply calls our 24/7 Family Care Team and we will help your family through the next steps.
Back to the TopCan I transfer to another provider?
Yes. Your money is kept in an insurance policy and can be transferred at anytime. We can’t however guarantee that other providers will honor the value that we offer.
Back to the TopWhat’s the difference between Tulip and the Neptune Society?
The biggest difference is that Tulip is a third of the cost of the Neptune Society. We can offer such great value as we do not operate a portfolio of expensive funeral home locations. Our simplicity and care is also unparalleled in the industry.
Back to the TopWhat happens to the ashes with pre-need?
You can either choose to have your ashes collected from one of our local crematories, have them sent to your Next of Kin by USPS Priority Mail Express, or have them scattered at sea.
Back to the TopPayment plans
What if I’m partially through a payment plan and I stop paying?
In most cases, you will still retain some level of benefit even if you stop making payments. The amount of this reduced benefit can be determined by contacting Homesteaders at 800-477-3633 or by email at service@homesteaderslife.com. If you are paying by credit card, ACH or mailing a direct payment to Homesteaders, we will notify you in the event your payment is returned unpaid for any reason.
In the event that your policy does lapse and is not reinstated, we can’t guarantee that you will receive the same price for our services as when you initially purchased our prepaid plan.
Please contact Homesteaders at the previously provided phone number or email address for assistance with reinstatement inquiries.
Back to the TopHow is the price calculated?
You have the choice to either pay the full amount upfront, or to split the payment over 36 months. If you choose to pay upfront, it is the same price every time. If you choose to split the payments over 36 months, the price will depend based on your age. It is ultimately more expensive to pay in installments due to greater costs in administering this type of plan.
Back to the TopWhat happens if I pass before I have paid off my payment plan?
If the cause of death was an accident then we will provide your arrangements at no extra cost. If the cause of death was a natural cause/not an accident, then your family may be required to provide additional funds to cover the cost of our services. The level of additional funds required depends on how far into your payment plan you are.
If you pass within the first 6 months of the policy, then your family will pay the cost of our services minus what you have paid already. If you pass in months 6 to 12 months of your policy, then your family will pay for half the cost of our services. If you pass after month 13 but prior to paying off your plan in full, we will provide our services at no additional cost to your family.
Back to the TopCan I pay my payment plan off early?
Yes. You will need to contact Homesteaders directly to arrange for your payment plan to be paid off early at 800-477-3633 or by email at service@homesteaderslife.com.
Back to the TopWhen will my credit card be charged each month?
We’ll charge the card made during your initial purchase on the same date of each following month until all payments are completed.
Back to the TopWhat if my credit card on file expires?
You don’t have to worry about updating the card on file if it expires. We can still charge the account associate with the expired card, unless the card has been closed or reported stolen.
Back to the TopHow do I change the credit card on file?
Call our Family Care Team at (844) 942-4909 and we can help you update the payment method we have on file.
Back to the TopCan I pay off the remaining balance at any time?
Yes. Please call our Family Care Team at (844) 942-4909 and we can help you complete the final payment.
Back to the TopCan I put a partial amount as a down payment and then pay the remainder over time?
Not yet. The only adjustment to payment schedule at the moment is early completion of balance due.
Back to the TopAffirm Financing
What is Affirm?
Affirm is a financing alternative to credit cards and other credit-payment products. Affirm offers instant financing for online purchases to be paid in fixed monthly installments over 3, 6, or 12 months.
Back to the TopWhy buy with Affirm?
Buy and receive your purchase right away, and pay for it over several months. This payment option allows you to split the price of your purchase into fixed payment amounts that fit your monthly budget.
The application process is secure and real-time. Affirm asks you for a few pieces of information. After you provide this information, Affirm notifies you of the loan amount that you’re approved for, the interest rate, and the number of months that you have to pay off your loan -- all within seconds.
You don’t need a credit card to make a purchase. Affirm lends to Tulip Cremation directly on your behalf.
You may be eligible for Affirm financing even if you don’t have an extensive credit history. Affirm bases its loan decision not only on your credit score, but also on several other data points about you.
Back to the TopHow does Affirm work?
Affirm loan-application process steps:
- At checkout, choose Pay with Affirm.
- Affirm prompts you to enter a few pieces of information: Name, email, mobile phone number, date of birth, and the last four digits of your social security number. This information must be consistent and your own.
- To ensure that you’re the person making the purchase, Affirm sends a text message to your cell phone with a unique authorization code.
- Enter the authorization code into the application form. Within a few seconds, Affirm notifies you of the loan amount you’re approved for, the interest rate, and the number of months you have to pay off your loan. You have the option to pay off your loan over three, six, or twelve months. Affirm states the amount of your fixed, monthly payments and the total amount of interest you’ll pay over the course of the loan.
- To accept Affirm’s financing offer, click Confirm Loan and you’re done.
After your purchase, you’ll receive monthly email and SMS reminders about your upcoming payments. You can also set up autopay to avoid missing a payment. Your first monthly payment is due 30 days from the date that we (the merchant) processes your order.
Back to the TopDoes Affirm do a credit check, and how does it impact my credit score?
Affirm does a “soft” credit check, which verifies the customer‘s identity but does not affect a customer’s credit score. Affirm‘s underwriting model does not use a hard credit check. There is no effect on a consumer‘s credit score when they apply for an Affirm loan.
Back to the TopWill I see how much interest I am paying prior to accepting my loan?
Yes! Affirm works hard to be completely transparent. You’ll see the amount of interest you’ll owe on the terms page and again on the loan confirmation page. If you pay off your loan early, you’ll receive a rebate for any interest that hasn’t yet accrued.
Have more questions about Affirm? Please visit www.affirm.com/help/.
Back to the Top