RootsChat.Com

I got a message from the Registrars this morning.  They have suspended the site for further testing and to fix the errors with other browsers.
I was able to order a cert via Internet Explorer the other day, but all the others didn't work, following my reports.
They say the site will be back up as soon as possible.
I've had trouble in the past where my order was blank but they e-mailed me for the details so they could get the certificate to me.  They are very helpful if you get in touch. 
I think it's just a case that their site is out of date and needs updating to cater for newer browsers, especially the payment gateway.

Sorry I opened my big mouth, but hopefully they'll fix the problems and everyone can benefit.

Thanks for the heads up Richard.  I just tried to order a Certificate. 
It went all the way through as usual, but when I got to the payment (Final Summary)
screen it barfed :-(, saying:
"Your Session has timed out. If you did not receive an EVE- order number, you may need to start your order again"

Maybe it's just a glitch tonight in the payment system.  At least searching is working, so that helps a lot.

Many thanks again.

It's interesting that you mention Barker's and Pottery in the same post.
I'm a descendant of a William Barker, my 5x Great Grandfather who was from Hook, Staffordshire, born 1766.  I understand they were Potters, but have no idea if they are the same as the Potter Bros.
William moved to the North East of England in around 1787 when he married Sarah Hinton who was also a potter, as was her father John.  All from Staffordshire but moved to the NE as potters.

Unfortunately the trail goes cold and I'm unsure about any further back.  I have made an assumption
that the other two Barkers Edward and John who all married in Newcastle.  I know that William settled first in Heworth south of the tyne, and then to Sunderland.  Edward also did the same.
I cannot be 100% sure they were related, but Edward and William were both potters from Staffordshire, moved to the NE, married and ended up in Sunderland.  A co-incidence perhaps, but interesting either way.

Maybe these Barkers were from a Branch connected ?

Just to let you know you cannot order the certificates in the actual Local Studies Library, you need to go to the Customer Service Centre it is in the same building but on the ground floor.

As mentioned in  earlier messages this farce which is occurring with the BDM index is not the fault of the staff in the Registrars Office but the total incompetency of the Council.

Perhaps one day in the future a message will appear on here saying the site is up and running again.

Ryhopelad

Thanks Ryhopelad, I will bear this in mind.  I'm sure if I requested a cert in the Local Studies room they'd have directed me to the correct place (sorry, that wasn't meant to sound sarcastic if that's now it came across).  The staff I have dealt with have been very kind and helpful.  That said I already knew a few of them from my work place ;-).

Even in the Registrars office at the Civic Centre the ladies I dealt with were also kind and helpful.

The only bad experience I've had is when Royal Mail lost one of my certs and I had to make a claim.
Again, registrar help was second to none to assist with my claim.

Also the newer Microfiche readers are good because you can copy the PDF file onto your USB stick instead of having to print them out, better quality too.  The only shame is that they're not digitised and you need to wade through rolls of film which is time consuming.

Also Ryhopelad, I see that you have Swinhoe/Swinney in your sig...  2 of my 3x Great Grandmothers were Swinhoes.... Margaret Maria Swinhoe (1816-1871) and Jane Swinhoe (1809-1903).  A curious find that my 2x Great Grandparents were 1st cousins :-o, but I have the correct number of fingers and toes ;-).