Salford Council are having a laugh aren't they?

[Parmesan]

quote: "therefore the administration fee is set to cover all costs including postage."

How can it be postage when you have to enclose an SAE? 

'Taking the ****' is what Salford excel at!

edit: btw I've stopped getting notification on any post I make how can I reverse it please? !

[acorngen]

Parmesan,

I noted that point as well so when I have to send for a cert from them I will send them just £9 and wait the extra day.  I also noted on their website if you go into the office and pay an extra £5 they will produce a cert in 30 minutes.  Well I go into doncaster pay the set fee and get one in 5 minutes although occasionally they do say we are busy can you wait or can we post it to you.  Grrr Lancastrians wanting something for nothing lol

As for your problem that occurred for me last night but seems to have been rectified today so maybe a quick message to a mod may answer your question

Rob

[Parmesan]

Hi Rob, thanks.  I think I will also send a query to them, noting Guy's quote from the Act.

Yes mine seems to be working today also.

[LizzieW]

i suppose some one has to pay for the Salford MP's expenses?

I used to work for an Labour Alderman of Salford Council (at the time when there such things) and he was so rich he could have bought up most of Salford.  Not sure he claimed expenses though, we never heard of them in the early 1960s.

By the way, I've mentioned it before, so I will again.  My grandfather died in Aberdeen.  I had guessed the name of the cemetery, thanks to my aunt who gave me an approximation of the name.  I sent an e-mail to the council asking if they would be able to do a search for me and what the cost would be.  They replied saying there was no cost and that they had found him, they also said that if I sent them my full address they would photocopy the maps of the cemetery, showing the whole cemetery and the part he where he was buried.  This is what happened and the whole cost - NIL.

That's what I call good service.

[acorngen]

Lizzie,  That is great service and one I commend but I am also not against paying for searches of burial records that took place in municipal cemetaries.  I think this is just certain councils wanting to make money and then not look so bad at the end of the year when they dont show a defecit

Rob

[andycand]

I think I will also send a query to them, noting Guy's quote from the Act.

Having worked with legislation for many years (including in Local Government) I don't think that its a good idea to quote from Acts unless you either have Legal advice from a professional or legal training yourself as it can backfire. I haven't read the actual Act but suspect that whilst it states the fee for a certificate is 9 GBP (from a local register office) I doubt whether it states that the office is obliged to post it. In other words, we've issued the certificate and it's available for collection.  If you wish us to post it then that's a separate administrative function not covered by the Legislation, requiring staff to process through the mailing system. Many organisations also document all ingoing and outgoing mail.

Salford City Council is now operating a guaranteed 2/3 day delivery with the post with a different postal service provider. It is now advisable not to send your own stamped addressed envelope as you may receive your certificates quicker, by letting us address your envelope

Salford now ask you not to send a SAE

Andy

[Parmesan]

Ah! okay - lucky for me the email I JUST tried to send failed! 

Just a note on the response you received from them though.   I don't get this paragraph

"As the turn around for issuing certificates at Salford is very high, usually within 24 hours, we often receive praise for the service we provide and therefore the administration fee is set to cover all costs including postage"

The fact they get praised for their service is totally irrelevant to your query!

[acorngen]

Andy,

And as my email from them confirms the extra pound is for administration purposes which they are not allowed to charge subject to the acts quoted.  They say on their website that you must send a stamped addressed envelope so it cannot be for postage costs.  Likewise they also state that if you don't send the extra pound in your certificate will be delayed again suggesting that this is not for postage.  The fact is they have a statutory obligation to provide certificates on request for a fee and that fee is laid down by the registrar general for England and Wales. The Superintendent registrar cannot then add monies to this price as it is a statutory price.

I agree that quoting law without some training and the full knowledge of the act is risky but one I am prepared to take but then I have some training in the law.  I have used that knowledge to gain concessions from archives across the country when they start quoting copyright law on parish registers etc. 

Rob

[LizzieW]

So basically they are doing what lots of business do, charging extra for a quicker service.  So I suppose you pays your money and takes your choice.