Salford Council are having a laugh aren't they?

[Parmesan]

Isn't the English language wondrous?  If only I could understand it 

Guy, you have my jaw on the floor! You certainly know what you are talking about 

[plimmerian]

finally got a reply to my email, in which I requested a full refund from the birth certificate I applied for, which was just under their "50 year rule"

(The joke being I can apply for someone's birth details, no questions, if they are 51 - surely that cound easily be used for fraud, as those under 50; begs the question why they don't have the "100 year" rule as per census)

"Thank you for your enquiry.

Enquiries or Complaints  regarding  orders you have placed for birth, death or marriage certificates should now be made online using the form on  our  website  which can be found at  www.ips.gov.uk/certcomplaints

If you have further questions about your  original enquiry or complaint please now complete the form online and be sure to tick the box " Please tick this box if you have made a previous complaint about this order"

Please supply full identifying details when you complete the form and quote the email address which was used when you placed your order.

If you are enquiring about a certificate you have not received, could you please allow  at least 5 working days for delivery if in the UK and 10 working days for addresses Overseas, from the estimated date of despatch before contacting us.

Please note that once you have placed your order online, there is no facility for either cancelling or amending your order.

Please note : No  further action will be taken  until we receive you enquiry or complaint made online.

Regards 
Certificate Services"

Feel like I am being robbed and delayed every step of the way!

 

[acorngen]

This whole idea of identity theft is not something new nor will restricting access to items such as certificates decrease or stop this.  Certificates for years have always stated not to be used for identification purposes.  Even the advent of Identity cards wouldn't stop this.  The fact I can search any parish register for information of any person born in the last 50 years who was baptised and then use that information to gain the cert without making a call, shows how daft the GRO are with this rule.  As Guy as pointed out this is in fact not something they can legally enforce.

Graham,  Have you ever walked into a registry office and asked to search the indexes?  Only 4 years ago I did this in Doncaster and was told I had no legal right to but thanks to guys framfield site I had gone armed with the facts and they had to back down, likewise now I would argue with them that they cannot legally charge me to search the said indexes.  With regards to ancillary charges for postage and such like, it is my right in a deomcratic country to choose who I have my certificates carried by and therefore Salfords decision to use a private firm to carry their mail should not impact on who I wish to have my certs sent by so long as I include a stamped addressed envelope.  If however I choose not to include the latter then I agree that they should be able to charge me for the postage.

Anyway we are probably beating the same drum here but from different angles.

See you at York

Rob

[GrahamH]

Graham,  Have you ever walked into a registry office and asked to search the indexes?  Only 4 years ago I did this in Doncaster and was told I had no legal right to but thanks to guys framfield site I had gone armed with the facts and they had to back down,

Never needed to Rob. As our interests were remote from where we live we used the indexes at the FRC and copies of them on film at local libraries. However, when I was employed by a local authority my work brought me into contact with the registrar attached to that authority. Because of my interest, conversation naturally turned to the subject and she confirmed that the indexes could be searched.

likewise now I would argue with them that they cannot legally charge me to search the said indexes.

I agree in the case of a Particular Search but there is provision for a charge for a General Search - and they can charge if you want them to search on your behalf, just like any pro researcher will 

  With regards to ancillary charges for postage and such like, it is my right in a deomcratic country to choose who I have my certificates carried by and therefore Salfords decision to use a private firm to carry their mail should not impact on who I wish to have my certs sent by so long as I include a stamped addressed envelope.  If however I choose not to include the latter then I agree that they should be able to charge me for the postage.

Now there I definitely disagree - just like buying anything mail order we have to abide by the Ts&Cs of the supplier unless a variation is agreed in advance.

Anyway we are probably beating the same drum here but from different angles.

Seems so 

See you at York

All being well - and we will be at Sunderland a fortnight today.

Graham

[Parmesan]

So!  I used the Lancashire BMD form and sent to Salford for a marriage certificate enclosing a cheque for £9 and a note saying "further to your correspondences with 'a rootschatter' I believe the £1 admin fee is for credit card sales only"

Well they sent me the certificate with a compliments slip that said 'certificates are £10'

So come on Salford what's going on?

[MUMMYG]

Are the indexes at a register office different in any way from what you would find for the same office had they put them on line?

[acorngen]

Parmesan,

I would contact them again and tell them that they are £9 and not £10 as per the statutory fees laid down in parliament.  I am going to contact my MP about this as well

Rob

[andycand]

Parmesan,

I would contact them again and tell them that they are £9 and not £10 as per the statutory fees laid down in parliament.  I am going to contact my MP about this as well


Rob

Wouldn't it be a better option to contact the Registrar General and ask him/her whether Local Register Offices are entitled to charge an additional fee, however named, to cover such things as credit card fees, postal charges/delivery fee, staff costs over and above the Statutory requirement etc? personally I have no objection to paying such amounts within reason.

Andy

[Parmesan]

... personally I have no objection to paying such amounts within reason.

Andy

Me either but they seem to be the only local authority making such a charge - at least of all the ones I am using, and that doesn't sit well with me.

I may take  the advice of each of you and contact both authorities.

One has to ask the question, if they can be bothered to put in a compliments slip stating the certificates are indeed £10 why they didn't return my cheque and insist on the correct sum?