It would be good if

[pinefamily]

...I could concentrate on one ancestor at a time rather than keep being side-tracked

Rishile

And I thought that was just part of being a family history nut! Lol

[pinefamily]

..... all record offices and the GRO would recognise the distinction between BMD certificates needed by family historians and those requested for other purposes.  I'm thinking that it would be good if they could just scan in the original entry and email it to us, or send a photocopy by post.  It would keep the costs down for them and us.  I just find it irritating to have to wait for a hand written/typed formal copy of the requested entry I don't really need and then pay £9.50 or so for it.  I have a feeling that if they did this and brought the price down a bit they would receive far more requests and generate more income for themselves in the process.
Janet 

And that would require common sense, something that public servants seem to have little of, in my own experience.

[Graham47]

Still happens I'm afraid. My stepfather lived with my mother for years before they were married yet he was always known and recorded by her previously married name. Screwed up quite a few documents as effectively my three half siblings all carried the wrong surname as did their children. Fortunately they all had daughters so no lasting 'damage' done. 

Here in Wales of course it is very common even today for men to use their middle name as their first, as for Jones the Dairy, and Jones the Post..... nightmare Butty boy bach!

[KGarrad]

..... all record offices and the GRO would recognise the distinction between BMD certificates needed by family historians and those requested for other purposes.  I'm thinking that it would be good if they could just scan in the original entry and email it to us, or send a photocopy by post.  It would keep the costs down for them and us.  I just find it irritating to have to wait for a hand written/typed formal copy of the requested entry I don't really need and then pay £9.50 or so for it.  I have a feeling that if they did this and brought the price down a bit they would receive far more requests and generate more income for themselves in the process.
Janet 

And that would require common sense, something that public servants seem to have little of, in my own experience.

It would also require a change in the law! (in England/Wales)
And, of course, it would take the nearly the same amount of labour - so how would it be cheaper, and still generate a profit?!

[eadaoin]

..... all record offices and the GRO would recognise the distinction between BMD certificates needed by family historians and those requested for other purposes.  I'm thinking that it would be good if they could just scan in the original entry and email it to us, or send a photocopy by post.  It would keep the costs down for them and us.

In Ireland a photocopy of a BMD costs 4euro ...

It might generate income in England/Wales ... I'll happily take a chance on Irish photocopies at 4 euro, but I agonise very much about buying English ones - I know if they were cheaper, I'd  buy several "less important" ones

regards eadaoin

[genjan1953]

And, of course, it would take the nearly the same amount of labour - so how would it be cheaper, and still generate a profit?!

Yes, I see that the person would need to search for the record but scanning it and then emailing it would take a few minutes at most.  I would much rather see a copy of the actual entry rather than a typed or handwritten copy, surely that would save time? I know that some record offices do that now, but only some.  Also the formal certificate paper they use must be expensive so they wouldn't need that.  I think the biggest savings they could make would be by using email instead of snail mail - no need for an envelope or a paper copy or postage costs.  And finally, I'm no economist but it seems logical to me that if the price were reduced many more requests would be received = more income.  Countless people on Rootschat, including eadaoin here, have said that they would buy more certificates if the price was reduced - I certainly would.  Just my thoughts 
Janet

[KGarrad]

It still requires an Act of Parliament, in order to change the current law, though!

[IMBER]

Following the example of the Scottish GRO and putting records online would be a start, but I gather the proposal to do something similar in Engalnd and Wales has been shelved.

Imber

[genjan1953]

It still requires an Act of Parliament, in order to change the current law, though!

. 
I'm curious to know what exactly English/Welsh law says on this subject.  I'll have to see if I can find some info online.  Laws can be changed if enough people lobby parliament and set out a convincing case.  How come Scotland and Ireland have managed to set up a more sensible system? Hmmm
Janet