Salford Council are having a laugh aren't they?

[Guy Etchells]

The duty is very plain and simple.
There is a duty on every vicar, registrar, superintendent registrar, the registrar general or any other authorised person to supply a copy of an entry from any register in their possession where the entry has been identified and the fee paid.

There are no exceptions regarding postal applications, email applications, telephone applications or applications in person.
If the entry is identified and the fee paid the copy must be supplied.
Perhaps invoking the hard labour or the penal servitude, specified in the legislation, may illicit the required response.
Cheers
Guy

[acorngen]

Graham,

I understood that but I would say postal, by phone or in person is one in the same where the statutory duty is concerned.  After all the GRO accept web based requests and postal requests after requesting the correct order form from themselves.  I appreciate the GRO doesn't have a walk in option since the closing of the FRC which to some extent negates that argument.  I do wonder how Salford would cope if everyone with a need for a cert from them was to descend on the office en masse and put in the request there and then.  At least by post they can invoke some time delay in sending the cert which to some extent they cannot do if the person is there in front of them.  Yes I know they would say sorry we are so busy we will have to post this out to you.  If they did would they want the extra pound?

Rob

[Pebbles Kernow]

I know it's different end of the country, but if I want to order a copy of a BMD from Reading registry office they will charge me £12 and that is wether I go there and order it or order by post!

Salford doesn't seem to be the only one trying to get more money out of people.

[Parmesan]

Well my advice is question it.  That's outrageous!

edit: they're not even claiming its an admin fee!

[GrahamH]

Graham,

I understood that but I would say postal, by phone or in person is one in the same where the statutory duty is concerned. 

There are no exceptions regarding postal applications, email applications, telephone applications or applications in person.

That's what we are waiting for official word on isn't it 

Graham

[GrahamH]

I know it's different end of the country, but if I want to order a copy of a BMD from Reading registry office they will charge me £12 and that is wether I go there and order it or order by post!

Salford doesn't seem to be the only one trying to get more money out of people.

Looking at the Reading BC web site - http://www.reading.gov.uk/communityandliving/registrar/General.asp?id=SX9452-A77FE4E5 and linked pages - it appears that the £12 fee covers a General Search at the superintendent registrar’s office.

Given that the latest versions of the Births & Deaths Registration Act 1953 and the Marriage Act 1949 available on the Statute Law database quote fees of £18 for such searches, in addition to certificate fees of £7 each (looks like they are still to be updated for the latest changes) then £12 is a bit of a bargain isn't it? 

Graham

[Pebbles Kernow]

Graham - I bow to your superior knowledge if I have read this wrong but asking for full details ie

Details required for a replacement Birth Certificate
•Full name, date and place of birth
•Father's full name
•Mother's full name

is hardly conducting a search - I am telling them where to find the record - also if that's the case that they are conducting a general search what about a certificate where I have found the exact record by looking in the records which reading this thread I am allowed to do?

[GrahamH]

If you look on the linked pages for the application forms you will find details of the searching they expect to undertake.

Graham

P.S. Mind you, my earlier post was a bit tongue in cheek 

[acorngen]

Under the guidelines I understand they will do a search one year either side of the date you give them free of charge.

What makes me laugh about Salford is when you compare it to say Gwynned they are doing nothing.  I recently had to use Gwynned for a client and the dates I had from the North Wales BMD didnt correspond to the details I had.  Well that was the line that they gave me.  The superintendent registrar there phoned me after I queried why they couldnt find the cert.  After 45 minutes of checking with me on the phone we both decided to give up.  An hour later I received yet another call from her and she had gone back to their records (thankfully they are all indexed on computer there) and she had found the certificate.  What did she charge me for all?  £7

Rob