Ordering documents at Records

[geno500]

Has any body had trouble ordering documents at Chelmsford Records,you used to put the document ref number in then you put your readers ticket number and the date you would be there so that when you arrived and booked in the documents were brought up to you,now all you get is the page for paying a sub to look at records online.

[Diblet]

I think I've read somewhere on SEAX that if the images are on-line they will not bring out the originals anymore. (for obvious reasons)

So, it may be that what you're trying to order is only available to view as an image on their web-site.

[elmo]

You will NOT have to pay to view the documents on a computer if you are at the ERO  Chelmsford.

[geno500]

Thanks for the posts but it seems that they have changed the way you log in to order documents,also the Records are putting into force a ruling that the records have to be 100 years old before they can be produced so records I viewed last year are now no longer available for instance a school admission book from 1909,wait you say 1909 is more than a hundred years,you are right but the book covers 1909 to 1922 so it's no go so it would seem we have been marching forward with our quest for our family history with records being digitised and on line but we have set backs like this prior to this ruling SEAX used a 40 year cut of,I also think they are a little sheepish about this ruling as online you seem to be able to order the records,I went there this morning and used one of there computers to order records and it put up that this admission book was to fragile to view as happens with old records sometime when I questioned this as I had seen the book last year and it was fine,the whole sorry story comes out,they did look at the record for me after I had given them certain details and did supply me with a detail that I wanted,the other Admission books were a search and hope expedition so I could not see them.strangely I looked at Electoral Registers for 1930 with no problemso the whole thing is a mess,it would seem if you wanted a record from 1912 and the records covered until  1950 you will have to wait to 2050 to view them ,crazy.

[Diblet]

I can only think that some jobsworth busybody has paid a visit to the ERO and opened up their silly rules and regulations book.....

 

[colcourt]

I think it all comes down to the type of records you want to look at - school log books sometimes give information on children misbehaving (possibly even criminally?) and admission books sometimes say where a child has gone after leaving the school which can be a problem if they've gone to Borstal or similar.

[geno500]

I can see what you are saying but if you want a tree that is just compiled of census and freebmd and other subscription sites then it is fine,I suppose, but this ruling puts a end to fleshing out info on people who were around in the early 20th cent and it applies to all record centres,they said I could see the record but she would have to stand by me and make sure I did not go past 1912,all the people I was looking up were dead ,thats what we do look for dead people,I suspect there will be some very angry people around,what about all the fiche going up to say 1945 on marriages and baptisms where say fathers name unknown on a marriage cert or only womens name on baptism there still on show at Chelmsford,it is as I said a mess.

[louisa maud]

I have just spoken to a person at the ERO who assures me that there is no payment for looking at original documents if you visit them, you only get charged a subscription if you go on line to do so. I hope this person is correct as I hope to visit soon

regards

Louisa Maud

[geno500]

of course there is no charge for looking at original documents,what I said was that they have changed the way you can order them from the comfort of your home,it is the easiest way saves alot of time,but you need a readers card,so you can put that number in when ordering documents,they are free but you need to apply at the records you need some forms of documents like a utility bill or council tax bill something like that ,you will have to have one if you want to see original records,keep a look out on the SEAX web site because they will be closing the centre for one day once again,they did it two weeks ago,I said I thought it was for changing light bulbs but it seems one of the large plate windows which make up one side of the records has a crack in it,so they closed the records for a day to get it changed,but it did not happen as they brought the wrong glass.