Tired of waiting for your certificates ?

[newbie]

Genresearch,
Further to your post re issue of certificates and that one can look at the registers at a Registry Office.
I have looked at Guy Etchells site, and off I went today to Reading to make an appointment to see the Registers.
Humph!!! Fat chance!
I was told they have an index which they would charge me to look in, I agree with this as per your previous statement, but they prefer to do the search themselves, it would be less convenient for me to do the search and would I write in with the details. When I said I didn't want to search the index but the Registers that was a flat no no, no one has the right to search the Registers absolutely not.
Where to now? any ideas recommendations, shall I write to my MP to clarify?
I was flatly refused my request to look at the Registers.
Newbie

[rogerofgoostrey]

Family history researchers.

Take up your arms and storm the records offices to demand our rights!!!!

Seriously though, we need someone to clarify the legal position on this one.  There must be a legal eagle in the massed ranks of Rootschat members.

Regards

Roger

[newbie]

Hi Roger,
I'm hoping there will be a legal whizz amongst the ranks of Rootschatters, clarification would help, but one thing I thought today was if we are already allowed (well technically) to see the registers why are the Government bringing in Freedom of Information Act?
Maybe thats something completely different.
Newbie

[acorngen]

They will flatly refuse and I suspect it will be in the wording of the act.   Searches at a registrar’s office.
Every registrar 1 must, at any time when his office is required to be open for the transaction of public business, 2 allow searches to be made in any register of live births or deaths and register of marriages in his keeping and must on payment of the proper fee 3 give a certified copy under his hand of any entry in them 4. The right of the public to search the registers of births and deaths cannot be taken away by the Registrar General under his power to make regulations 5.  taken from  http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Eframland/acts/hal.htm

So as you see they have to allow a search to be made.  Now I guess they will argue that they will do this on your behalf and free of charge.  I would then argue that they are allowing people access to these registers and that is why the county BMD's are now going online

Rob

[newbie]

Just to update, I have now written to my MP for an explanation - lets see what he comes up with!
Newbie

[Paul E]

Nice one, newbie - whose your MP by the way?

Paul

[newbie]

Andrew McKay, Cons.
Newbie

[kat2004]

just had a reply off the GRO who cannot understand the delay, my certificate was due to go out on the 11 feb! I ordered it about three weeks ago.

I only went through the GRO because my interests lie in staffordshire and due to fire the records office at Dudley did not have a copy there.

Its really frustrating, I dont mind waiting a week but i think three weeks is taking the mickey! I just hope that when the certificates come they have what im looking for on them!

[Paul E]

I was reminded by this thread that I needed to order a cert from Lincolnshire.  I rang them for address / payment details and was advised that 'for family history applications it is taking about a month at the moment'.

Presumably, even the GRO will beat that deadline?

Paul