How Long Before I Call Them?

[Tsu]

Thanks for the tip Diana,  I'll be trying that one if I have to call them again...

[Tsu]

Well, it arrived, but it had been typed out.  Usually, they arrive as a facsimile of the actual written page.  With it was a compliment slip on which was written "Arrived with writers 10 Jan"

Why would they type it out?

Also.  I applied for a birth certificate of my great aunt, born Feb 1909 (she is dead) and the price came up as £10.  The cert for my grandmother (born 1907, also dead) was only £7.  They were both registered in London (Whitechapel and Bethnal Green) so why the price difference?  I couldn't find anything on the GRO site and having waitied on the phone for 23 minutes the last time I called them, I thought I'd ask you clever lot before I asked them.

[Ecneps]

Hi Tsu,

There's a £3 fee for reference checking, which you might have been charged:
 www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/

There is a part of the form where you can ask them to check references including parent's names, spouse names etc.  They say that if you have done your own searching in the GRO indexes and have found more than one reference to the name you are researching, or are unsure which is the entry you require, they offer reference checking online. The charge is £7 for action on the first entry, which includes the cost of the certificate, and £3 for checking each subsequent reference against the information you have provided.  You must give one piece of information that you are sure will appear on the certificate, e.g. the exact date of the event.  A certificate will only be issued if the entry matches the checking point you give them.


Barbara   

[Tsu]

Thanks Barbara,

It's not reference checking.  I do that all the time and the £7 includes the reference check and if it's not the right certificate, they give you a £4 refund, meaning that you only pay the £3 for them to look it up.

Also, I didn't need a reference check for my aunt, I knew it was her, so I never entered her dad's name or anything else, just the Ref no.

I wondered if it was because it was within 100 years?  It is the most recent certificate I have ever applied for...

[CU]

No,  I had one from 1939 and it only cost me £7., but it was a death certificate though 

[Ecneps]

Unless you clicked the reference checking button by accident (which I did once) I can't think of any other reason, certainly not the year - I've had all sorts of certs after 1909

Think it's one you'll have to ask them about    patience required on that phone!!

Barbara 

[Tsu]

Next time I do an order, I'll add the certificate again and see if I missed something..

Thanks!

[Les de B]

I know you have received your certificates since your original posting, however, I will give you a couple of my experiences with GRO ( I live in Australia).

1) emailed 2 requests on same form 5/1/08. Received one 15/1, and now awaiting second.
2) in 2007 emailed a request for certificate. It was in my letter box 5 days later (England to Australia!!!)
3) received a certificate which had the wrong county typed on certificate. Emailed GRO, and amended certificate arrived shortly thereafter)
4) received a certficate, and could not read a word due to poor copying. Emailed GRO, requesting if they could read the word from original. Received an email from GRO 2 days later with correct wording from orignal.

On average most certificates arrive at my home in Australia within 7 - 14 days. Can't really complain about that, or their replies to my emails. I suppose its the same with any Government body, it all depends who receives your request, and whether they're keen enough to help, or whether they treat you as just another "number".


Les

[Tsu]

Oh, they're very helpful when you speak to them, I can't fault them.

I wish they'd change whatever law it is that stops them sending you the certificate by email as a pdf though...