Tired of waiting for your certificates ?

[legs11]

very funny and very good paul

legs

[derryphilip]

I like it Paul   

[Sue Thomas]

Speaks for all of us Paul.............hope I don't grow aa beard though

[kat2004]

Really good Paul!!

I actually believed the GRO when the said 7 working days! Fortnight on and still no sign, how long should you leave it before enquiring?

[cath310859]

i waited till the day it ws supposed to arrive  then i e-mailed them and it arrived 3 days later  i think they sent it after my complaint i need to do it again should have had one by the 4th  feb

[newbie]

In a recent post someone highlighted the fact that one register office are no longer issuing pre 1901 certificates and advised that the person use the GRO.  However they legally cannot do that.  The law states that anyone with just cause to want a certificate upon payment of the fee shall be issued the said certificate.  The law also allows for you at any reasonable time access to the self same registers however you cannot nor have the right to take any notes but instead have to memorise the details or pay for the aforementioned certificate.

Genresearch in an earlier post made the above comment in reply to the delay from the GRO and trying to obtain certs from a Registry Office.
As the fact that one is able to view information at the Registry Office is new to me, can someone clarify whether it is just the index you see (as in the GRO index - I've only ever seen the microfiche ones) or is it the actual Registers you are able to see?
Is this law still current?
If so I'm definitely going to look for some of my elusive rellies..
Newbie

[newbie]

I just checked the Kent site recommended by casalguidi in another post for Birth/Death/Marriage information on this site they state

What if I do not have all the correct information?

For a fee you can search the birth, death and marriage indexes held in the register office. You must make an appointment to do this. Our staff will of course be happy to provide you with certificates for any entries that you find
If the law says we have the right to look at the information do we have to pay to do so? Can they legally charge us?
Help I'm confused
Newbie

[acorngen]

Newbie,

On my post I left a link to the actual law that is written down on Guy Etchell's website.  I would suggest you read that.  Yes they can charge you to look at the index that they have compiled but not the registers.  It is a very sticky siutuation and one that I did take up with HMSO who to say the least would not confirm or deny it.  There reply was it is as the law is written.  Both Guy and I have on several lists made this point known to people and although the ambiguity is there the wording of the law is you can view the original register and can then cause for a cert to be made which you have to pay for but you do not have the right to take notes without payment.  Now since that law was passed the DPA and the latest Freedom of information act as come in and the latter may have altered that position.  That reminds me to ask Guy is views on this.

[johnP-bedford]

For info, I asked for 4 certs on 23/01, with an ETA on 07/02. I got 2 today (09/02) in separate envelopes - I expect the other 2 tomorrow ? Another criticism of the service is that they took their money on 26/01    As a gesture by GRO in keeping good customer relationships, perhaps they should only be paid when they dispatch the goods.  John P