GRO Certificates by email

[ssjdc]

I don't know about you, but I'm getting pretty fed up with the post office going on strike yet again, and the certificates I have ordered from the GRO being delayed, yet again. It seems daft to me that we have to use the postal system for certificates when I think many family researchers would be happy with being emailed a copy.
The GRO say that they are required by law to produce certified copies, which means they can be used for passport applications etc., but that doesn't seems very relevant when dealing with GG-Aunt Maud's birth certificate from 1861. Maybe now with the massive growth of genealogy as a hobby there ought to be an option for non-certified copies for information only, which could be emailed.   

Anyway, I'm thinking of starting a petition to get the law changed so am interested to hear what others think of the idea. Is there something I haven't thought of that would make it a non-starter, do people want the option of an emailed certificate ?

[perth tiger]

it would certainly be a lot quicker. the only problem i see is the size of the file they would be sending. a lot of servers wont download files that big and i wouldnt want a copy thats not scanned to its full potential

perth

[Steve G]

 Speaking as what, I suspect, may be termed a 'Heavy User' ~ If they were born, married or died? I want that paper!  ~ I'd have to say that ;

A/ Making my own scans of e mailed copies wouldn't cut it for me. I like my bank busting folders full of bought and paid for, 'proper' Cert's. I kind of feel their possession shows my ancestors they're worth it to me.

B/ Getting the information, like same day? That'd be cool. We often as not can't move on till we've proven that relationship. Then we can research off that info' and thus buy more, loverly Certificates! 

 But, I see a snag here. What would an e mailed scan cost? Fiver? At least? Great. So, for a fiver, we get instant gratification. But then I, at least, want to own that paper. Twelve quid a throw?! 

 Naah. I'll stick to the old fashioned method. Waiting for the next lot to turn up gives me time to concentrate on my work from the last lot, anyway 

[sarra]

I have ordered lots of certificates from the GRO......yes sometimes it has taken weeks to arrive (Australia), but they are the real thing.
 
Here in Australia (some States) we have the option of downloading an uncertified, image of a certificate.
I have done this a number of times...simply because I wanted the information in a hurry. After downloading it I have to print it out, some of the older certificates are, A3 size, my printer only prints A4, so it has to shrink to size.


The cost of the certificate (if you have the reference number), is the same as a certified copy sent by mail.

I'm really not happy, with the downloaded copies..I don't think you can beat the certified copies.

Sarra

[Snoosh]

Well, I think yours is a good idea, thanks for posting. I suspect it may not be the first time the topic has been aired. People at the GRO are probably fed up with it; it gets a mention in their FAQs. The law is the law [by the way, what is the law in question and when does it date from!!??] and the GRO have to obey it. Maybe they would like to send out certificates by electronic despatch but their hands are tied by the law.
 I have never had any postal strikes interfere with any GRO certificate delivery from UK to Australia and have been entirely happy with the postal service provided by GRO both cost wise and speed of despatch.
For me there is nothing special about a printed certified copy of a certificate, except perhaps ones issued at the time of the event. Modern certificates are just a piece of paper with information on it and I would be quite happy with them coming as an email attachment which I could then print out at home. Indeed, as soon as I get a printed certificate from GRO I immediately scan it and burn the file it to disc as a safety measure. I have made .jpg scanned image files of certificates at a piddling 250KB which give microscopic detail when zoomed to 100%.
I would be quite happy to pay the same price for an email attachment as a certified copy. Good luck in trying to change the law.

[stanmapstone]

The law is the law [by the way, what is the law in question and when does it date from!!??]

1953 Act for the registration of births and deaths in England and Wales
(2) Any person shall be entitled to search the said indexes at any time when the General Register Office is open for that purpose, and to have a certified copy of any entry in the said certified copies, on payment to the Registrar General or to such other person on his behalf of the following fees respectively,



Marriage Act, 1949
(2) Any person shall be entitled to search the said indexes between the hours of ten in the morning and four in the afternoon of every day, except Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday, and to have a certified copy of any entry in the said certified copies of marriage register books, on payment to the Registrar General or to such other person as may be appointed to act on his behalf of the following fee,

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~framland/acts/actind.htm


Stan

[Keeweegal]

I ordered 10 certs back in July and all received in 5 working days and that is to Perth, Aus   yes I was shocked too,  previously took abt 10....seems to be getting quicker..... I agree with Perth Tiger and SteveG.

Kimberly

[Nick29]

I knew Stan would know the answer ! 

[LizzieW]

The problem is not that we can get them for a price, but that GRO entrust Royal Mail to deliver and the posties are having strike days, especially in London and are being balloted about an all out strike.  I know many other companies now use alternative methods of delivery, but it's one thing paying about £5 for a large parcel (cheaper than driving to the shops, parking etc). but would you want to pay £5 postage for each certificate?

Lizzie