How long are GRO certs taking?

[Sloe Gin]

It does seem that they ARE being used doesn't it. I cannot see then, at least for the certs that are covered and have been scanned, how it can possibly cost 15-20 pounds to produce a copy, it must surely have made it much simpler, just call up the image from a database, print and send. How much can that cost them? I think that makes the price rise even more dubious and extremely hard to defend. Also wasn't it taxpayers money that paid to have them scanned..shouldn't any benefit be passed on to us?

I dunno, I wouldn't presume to contradict Guy as he generally knows what he's talking about, and has a depth of knowledge of these matters whereas I'm just a humble googler  

[richarde1979]

Lol, Fair enough Sloe Gin..Well I'm not claiming to have any greater knowledge on all this than Guy certainly, but it at least seems to me that their long term plan to make up their losses is make the system simpler and cheaper for themselves, i.e lower their overheads, which they must surely have already have done quite significantly if all the births 1837-1934 are done, and deaths 1837-1957. At the same time raise the price for and profit margin from the customers!

I think it all depends on whether this works for them  as to whether we will ever see the images themselves online. If it does I doubt we have a hope in hell. If on the other hand the high prices put off enough customers, or reduces volume of orders to such extent that the losses continue anyway, then we might, because then the GRO themeselves might  press for the law to change on this. I think the GRO lobbying the government on the basis to make them some profit, (or stop them at least making losses!) is of course more likely to carry far more weight and produce more results than us lobbying as a band of relatively small and self interested hobbyists. (Not saying it's not worth a go anyway....)

[coombs]

You never know my certs might be here tomorrow but I wont hold my breath.

[richarde1979]

Did your priority one give you any good info Ben?

[coombs]

Did your priority one give you any good info Ben?

It was the remarriage of my 3xgreat grandfather in 1866 to Elizabeth Edney. I am awaiting his first marriage.

William Snell died in the Mar Qtr 1900 in the Abingdon district and on the very same page (8 entries to a page) is an Elizabeth Dandridge. Someone who is researching her says she died 7 Jan 1900 in a parish that falls in that district so could it mean William died within days of her?

[richarde1979]

That's an intereting way of trying to 'guestimate' the date Ben. I think you will probably be right there. I can't imagine deaths were usually registered long after they had happened.

[Sloe Gin]

I think it all depends on whether this works for them  as to whether we will ever see the images themselves online.

Personally I would like to see the improved indexes online soon - there can't be any legal barrier to that, and being able to see mother's maiden name on birth entries and ages on deaths would be enormously helpful to us all.

As for Ben's theory, yes, you'll be right.  Two of mine died in the same quarter in Birmingham in 1890, wife on 3 Feb (page 13) and husband on 16 Feb (page 18).

[coombs]

That's an intereting way of trying to 'guestimate' the date Ben. I think you will probably be right there. I can't imagine deaths were usually registered long after they had happened.

I think he died in January 1900.

I have tried to guestimate his first marriage date by looking at all marriages in that district in that quarter and some are on the IGI. I have concluded he wed in the last week of July or first week of August 1845. Page 6 185. On page 183 is a marriage submitted on the IGI as having taken place 31 July 1845.

[richarde1979]

Sloe

I agree, and I think this is what they must mean by creating an 'improved and enhanced service' for us customers. I wonder though if it will backfire on them, in as much as where people buy 2 or 3, or more certificates at moment, on a long shot, they may in future buy just one being able to identify easier which is correct. They would obviously then lose even more business and money than now! That could be a good thing if it again leads them to lobby to get the images themselves online.

Personally I think we will eventually get there, but who knows when. I know from using Scotlands People how truly addictive it is, and how much money you happily spend without even realising it, caught up in the moment on ancestor hunts. If the same system was in place here I'm sure I'd be bankrupt (maybe I shouldn't be pressing for it!). If I'm even slightly indicative of other users, that suggests to me the GRO, a massive loss making department as it stands, are sitting on a goldmine without even knowing it. If only we could awaken them to this potential, that's the problem I think.