GRO fees

[Sloe Gin]

There is no handwriting on the certificates that isn't original.

It is not a copy of the original document, though.  It is a copy of the transcription of the original document that was sent to GRO from the local Registrar soon after the event.  It will not have your relative's signature.  Take a look at a GRO marriage certificate - assuming at least one of the parties or witnesses signed their name (as opposed to making a mark) - you will see that all the "signatures" are in the same handwriting - because it's a transcription.

Another good reason for approaching the local Register Office rather than GRO - some local ROs (not all) are able to supply a scanned copy of the original document.  GRO has no access to the original documents, these remain with the local registrar.

[Guy Etchells]

Mutley,

snip
 Certs from the GRO are not printed off any microfiche they are in fact handwritten or type written copies of the copies of the originals. 
snip

Rob

The GRO Southport has thousands of microfilms on cassette, these used to be the first line for supplying copies of certificates. The relevant frame was chosen, aligned with the mask and printed onto the certificate paper.
Many of these microfilms have been digitised for internal use, the digitised copies are printed through a mask in the same way as the microfilm.

When the image is too poor to be printed the order is transferred to another station where a typed certificate is produced.

As has been previously mentioned the GRO holds transcripts of registers not original registers.
Cheers
Guy

[coombs]

The increase has not put me right off as I have just ordered 4 more certs. I am spending a birthday windfall I recieved.

[LizzieW]

Coombs - The price has not put me off - much - but I think it must have put lots of other people off, because certs are arriving in around 4 days from request now.  I'm sure it would have been more profitable to reduce the prices, that's what supermarkets do when they want more customers and more profit.

Lizzie

[Guy Etchells]

Coombs - The price has not put me off - much - but I think it must have put lots of other people off, because certs are arriving in around 4 days from request now.  I'm sure it would have been more profitable to reduce the prices, that's what supermarkets do when they want more customers and more profit.

Lizzie

The GRO is not a supermarket and their pricing structure is not worked out the way a supermarket works out its prices.
The pricing structure for certificates is calculated according to costs and set down in a statutory instrument.
The GRO has to cover the costs of a service without making a profit.
They cannot run a loss leader as a supermarket would do to attract customers who would then purchase other goods with higher profit margins, each service has to cover its own costs.

If the full costs of producing a certificate, including the costs to archive the registers was taken into account a certificate could cost around £20 (it is for that reason that supermarkets do not run vast warehouses storing products, instead they only purchase enough to stock for about 4 weeks supply).
We are actually getting a cheap service as the archive costs are being allocated elsewhere.
Cheers
Guy

[LizzieW]

I agree up to a point Guy, but the costs to archive the records have already been paid for over the years that people have been buying certificates.  I agree that the taxpayers should not subsidise our hobby though. 

However, what I did find irritating was that when I registered my mother's death in 2007, for some reason the registrar had to make the entry by hand first and then type it onto the computer.  Having got the info on the computer, I had to pay the full price for each copy that was printed off.  I know the paper is more expensive than white paper bought from an office stationer, but surely they buy the BMD paper in bulk and it cannot possibly cost £7 (now £9.25) to print off each copy.

Lizzie

[Jebber]

Lizzie,

From the Government's own website.

You'll be able to buy one or more death certificates at this time (the price varies between local authorities). These will be needed by the executor or administrator when sorting out the person's affairs.

Your local authority were on to a good money making scheme.  Last year for seven certificates I was charged £17-50, the six extra were charged at £1-75 each.

Jebber

[Guy Etchells]

I agree up to a point Guy, but the costs to archive the records have already been paid for over the years that people have been buying certificates.  I agree that the taxpayers should not subsidise our hobby though. 

However, what I did find irritating was that when I registered my mother's death in 2007, for some reason the registrar had to make the entry by hand first and then type it onto the computer.  Having got the info on the computer, I had to pay the full price for each copy that was printed off.  I know the paper is more expensive than white paper bought from an office stationer, but surely they buy the BMD paper in bulk and it cannot possibly cost £7 (now £9.25) to print off each copy.

Lizzie

I was writing about the GRO not the local registrar Lizzie.
Many local registrars charge full price for one death certificate then a reduced price for copies.

With regard to the archiving of registers, there are ongoing costs which increases every year, it is wrong to assume the archiving costs have already been paid.

Without heating/air conditioning the registers would deteriorate. In addition replacement microfilms have to be made when the originals wear out/scratch. Digitising costs to replace microfilm format records, computers etc. to store the new digital records, power, staffing costs etc., etc.

It is easy to assume the only cost is the paper and ink but there are really far more costs involved in producing a certificate than may first be thought.
Cheers
Guy

[davidft]

However, what I did find irritating was that when I registered my mother's death in 2007, for some reason the registrar had to make the entry by hand first and then type it onto the computer.  Having got the info on the computer, I had to pay the full price for each copy that was printed off.  I know the paper is more expensive than white paper bought from an office stationer, but surely they buy the BMD paper in bulk and it cannot possibly cost £7 (now £9.25) to print off each copy.

Lizzie

I am sure there was something in the new fees details that said in future all multiple copies will be charged at the full price, however I can not find the link at the moment - someone else may have more luck