RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: shazs on Thursday 04 September 08 11:33 BST (UK)
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Hi,
Can anyone tell me if I can check what I've ordered online at the GRO?
I feel a right twerp- I've ordered 3 certificates, received one had one partly refunded because it didn't match reference and I'm still waiting for one. The only trouble is I can't remember what I ordered! I know I paid for 3.
My computer has crashed since the order and I've lost all my emails, so I haven't got any confirmation etc.
Many thanks,
Sharon
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If you go to whoever provided your email address, shouldn't your emails still be all there?
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No, I'm with Virgin and if you open your email on your computer it all empties out of the Virgin server.
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I don't think you have much hope with the GRO, even if you do have a reference. Not so long ago, I made a goof, and I thought that one of the certificates that I'd ordered hadn't arrived, so I phoned the GRO to chase it up, not realising that I already had it. It was obvious that the person at the other end had no way of checking the progress of the order, and all they did was to advise me to phone back if they hadn't turned up in the next 5 days. Your best bet is to always print the order confirmation page - I know it's easy to be wise after the event ! :)
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I maintain a spreadsheet of certificates on order
Name
Surname
Spouse Name
Spouse Surname
Type (B/M/D)
Year
Quarter
Vol
Page
Date Ordered
Date received
Notes (things like "might be this one or might be xxx, 8a, 123"; "should be the wife of xxx", and after receiving them "not mine"; etc.)
I find it less wasteful than printing out the confirmation page and I can also instantly check that I've not already ordered the same certificate (which has been known ...)
The downside is you see how many lines are in the spreadsheet and hence you can all too quickly see how much money you've spent on certificates! :o
Now I'm in the habit of never ordering a certificate without adding it to the spreadsheet, it's working very well for me.
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The spreadsheet is a good idea- I've learnt my lesson now!
I don't know why but I seemed to think it was the same as when you order anything else online- you have an account where you can check your orders. Oh well we live and learn.
I've found an application number on the cover sheet that came with the certificate I have received it says #/2 so I'm hoping the one I'm missing is just the same application number #/1 or #/3 as I ordered 3 together. I'll give it a go anyway, I've sent off an enquiry via email.
Thanks for all your help,
Sharon
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It's not unusual for one of several certificates ordered at the same time to be held up. It has happened to me a few times. I have no idea why.
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Hi Nick
I think it has something to do with the way that our orders are dealt with, it was once explained here on rootschat. From memory our order is not taken and searched for as a whole but as different parts depending on volumes that need to be searched. I think anyway!
Spreadsheets are invaluable and sorted me out from ordering a certificate I already had, just didn't bother to look in my file and find it ::) ::) ::) ::)
Kerry
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First time ever, I ordered 6 certs and they all turned up on the same day, ;D
Kerry's right you're order gets split up, hence half a dozen certs all in different envelopes plus postage, no wonder they cost what they do :(.
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Thanks for that, Kerry - I hadn't seen that before ! :)
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Well it surprised me when I read it, because I would have thought logic would dictate you take the whole order and search for them, then stick the resulting certificates into a envelope and post, but obviously my logic works in a different way ::) ::) ;D ;D
Kerry
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Cost of extra hours manpower is more expensive than postage cost which is trivial in comparison - hence streamlined service is more important than extra time coordinating things from different sources. Orders from same county do come together. And they have saved postage by changing from A4 to A6 size envelopes.
I have always found the service excellent. However, I am going to set up a spread sheet of what I have ordered and received to safeguard againts ordering duplicates - especially for those certificates which turned out NOT to be the right ones which are otherwise unrecorded.
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Meant to say, there is an email contact for queries about GRO orders. Iused it once and had quite a quick response
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Me too Liz, I have queried twice and found the staff both times very helpful. It is such a pleasant experience these days to query anything and get a response from a human being rather than a faceless, nameless machine ::) ::)
Kerry
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I have actually recently ordered 3 certs but so far have only received one although i must admit in the past when certs havent arrived i have found the GRO very helpful they actually told me if i didn't rec the certs within a few days they would resend them ;D needless to say i did receive them.
Billa 8)
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I think that the GRO is excellent value, especially when compared to what other countries charge. I'm not sure how much labour goes into the production of the certificates, but it's certainly very reasonable, IMHO.
Just don't tell Gordon Brown - he may be watching, and decide to slap a tax on it ! ;) ;D
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I always print out the order and file it. Then tick it off when arrived.
The spreadsheet is a good idea, but I would possibly forget.
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That's the part I dont understand how can it be called freedom of information if they charge you????????
Billa 8)
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I usually copy the order and save it in my documents under GRO orders. When all the certificates have arrived, I delete the appropriate order.
I found it very useful to have a copy of an order a few months ago, when I had to contact GRO about missing certificates.
Lizzie
ps. Aulus, I know how much I've spent on certificates, I don't need a reminder. ;D ;D
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That's the part I dont understand how can it be called freedom of information if they charge you????????
Billa 8)
They never said it was 'free' information ;D
There is a difference ;D
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I don't mind paying, what else can you do for £7.50 and without certain certificates my family history would be going no-where fast.
A death cert received recently has given me a link to otherwise unknown Military connections, something I'd never have known without that cert. So, that particular one was worth every penny ;D
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Hi,
Well I've been really impressed with the GRO. I emailed them with my problem and they've sorted it out and sent me a duplicate certificate.
Great service!
Sharon
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I've just started a spreadsheet, so thanks for that suggestion!
I have about 12 birth certificates for my Thomas Jones before I found the right one (turns out he wasn't Thomas Henry Jones, just plain Thomas Jones).
I am currently up to number six for his brother George and still haven't found him.
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I`ve found the GRO to be very good. I live in Ireland but of British descent and have always received certs very quickly.
Regards
Sarah
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I've just started a spreadsheet, so thanks for that suggestion!
I have about 12 birth certificates for my Thomas Jones before I found the right one (turns out he wasn't Thomas Henry Jones, just plain Thomas Jones).
I am currently up to number six for his brother George and still haven't found him.
Umm ... you do know you can add in "reference checking" and that you could put in the names of the parents (if I'm doing that, I try to be fairly vague)?
You still pay, but if it doesn't match, then they will email you to say the certificate won't be produced because the field you specified doesn't match, and they'll refund you either £3 or £4 (I forget which).
That said, I'm up to four for Great Great-Aunt Florence (my avatar to the left). Not only did she upset the family we know not why, but she's incredibly elusive.
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Well I've got some good news about the GRO for a change.
I ordered two certificates on Monday and they have just arrived on the proposed despatch date ;D ;D ;D
and for once they were actually helpful to my research.
Oh I am a happy bunny.
Kerry ;D ;D ::) ::)
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I don't mind paying, what else can you do for £7.50 and without certain certificates my family history would be going no-where fast.
A death cert received recently has given me a link to otherwise unknown Military connections, something I'd never have known without that cert. So, that particular one was worth every penny ;D
I'm bracing myself for getting death certificates for quite a few of my lot. It feels a bit morbid, but it's quite nice to be able to "close someone off".
I've been surprised how many of my lot, even in the 19th century died of cancer - either explicitly stated, or pretty obviously so from the description given. I always thought of cancer as a 20th century disease (and have always had a pet suspicion that margarine had something to do with it), but it's been killing my family for generations. Still, at least I know my fate. ;D
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know what you mean about death certs am presently waiting on a few myself.
Still my genes are living on with mine and my sisters kids.
Sarah
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I've just started a spreadsheet, so thanks for that suggestion!
I have about 12 birth certificates for my Thomas Jones before I found the right one (turns out he wasn't Thomas Henry Jones, just plain Thomas Jones).
I am currently up to number six for his brother George and still haven't found him.
Umm ... you do know you can add in "reference checking" and that you could put in the names of the parents (if I'm doing that, I try to be fairly vague)?
You still pay, but if it doesn't match, then they will email you to say the certificate won't be produced because the field you specified doesn't match, and they'll refund you either £3 or £4 (I forget which).
That said, I'm up to four for Great Great-Aunt Florence (my avatar to the left). Not only did she upset the family we know not why, but she's incredibly elusive.
I didn't realise about reference checking until several months in. I kept looking at the button marked 'reference checking' and thinking "I wonder what that means?" ::)
The most recent three George Jones certificates have been reference checked.
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I've been surprised how many of my lot, even in the 19th century died of cancer -
Me too, Aulus, although it probably shouldn't have come as a surprise, as my paternal gran, her three sons, including my dad and my brother all died of cancer. Oddly, I haven't found any cancer on my paternal gran's side of the family previous to this, it is in her husband's family. My maternal side of the family is all heart attacks and strokes etc!
Lizzie