General Chat

I received two birth certificates from the General Register Office today, both were folded in half in a A5 envelope.

Previously all certificates were flat in a A4 envelope.

I phoned them today to complain and was told that to save them costs all certs would now be folded.

I told them that this was unacceptable as it costs a lot of money to trace family trees, and I want the certificates to look perfect without a dirty great fold mark in the middle.

I was basically told 'tough, cos we are saving costs'. I suggested perhaps a 50p increase in their charges for those that wanted flat certs in a A4 envelope and was told that this was not going to happen.

I am writing a letter of complaint today and suggest that all of you that dont want damaged certs do the same.

Rant over... thanks

Karen

Karen

That's ridiculous ! !

I frank letters everyday at work - and an A4 envelope under 100g is only 44p for goodness sakes ........... an A5 costs 32p - huge saving huh??

And don't forget that A5 envelopes are half the price of A4's so that's another 5p saved.....!

I agree that they shouldn't fold the certificates.......but you can see why they are going to do it. 12p extra might not seem much to us, but if you multiply that by the hundreds of thousands of certificates they send out each year it works out at a large sum of money.

Kath. x

Add that lot up and multiply by the thousands they send out and you have a huge saving.

My certs were never undamaged anyway, they were usually screwed up and creased by the time they got to me.

I don't agree with it though, they should give us the option of A5 or A4

Yeah - then add up all the £7's multiplied by the thousands of certs we all order and you have a huge profit ......................

Wouldn't hurt them to give the option - for 50p extra have an unfolded cert in an A4 env

Well realistically the whole £7 is not profit, they have to pay for staff, admin, insurance, and the costs of storing the documents in the right conditions, not to mention general running of the building, electricity, water etc., out of that. I would imagine that very little of the £7 we pay is profit really.

But I still say they should offer the option of size.

And if the extra cost is more than the current profit?

Add that lot up and multiply by the thousands they send out and you have a huge Loss (to the taxpayer presumably)

They have us over the proverbial barrel...I for one would be only too pleased to pay an extra 50p to receive my certs flat. The annoying thing is they know we cannot go to another outlet to obtain them like swopping supermarkets.

We the customer, have the right to receive in good condition the item we have bought. If you bought something in a shop you would have the law on your side for a full refund or a replacement.

Kathlyn

I appreciate that we can iron the certs and that they have staffing costs etc, but all I would like is the option to have mine unfolded. I am happy to pay a little extra, but we are just told this is how it is, lump it or like it!!

If you have any "original" certificates (i.e. ones obtained when the birth etc. was registered) then you won't find many without folds.

My marriage certificate was given to me folded in four and inserted into a card sleeve with "marriage certificate" printed on it. So I don't suppose anyone "official" cares just because we as family researchers would prefer the certificates we get unfolded.

Kath. x

i would like to have the option of paying a little extra and choosing not to have mine folded, and after seeing a folded one that has arrive from GRO today, with the best will in the world and the most efficient iron, there is no way you could make that cert smooth again. I understand they are trying to save money, but they already offer an express delivery that costs more, why cant they offer an unfolded one for a small extra charge???

I got a birth certificate this morning and they had folded it twice to fit in a long narrow envelope. For the same postage they could have at least used a C5 size envelope and only folded once - luckily everything was legible

vicky

And lets face it, the certs from the GRO are only copies of the copied entries.
Original copies will come from the local records offices, and sometimes they are typed.

Velvet,

Don't laminate your certificate whatever you do. It has been said on these boards many times that laminating can ruin certificates - and you never know, one of your descendants in 100 years time might just treasure your well worn certificate.

Kath. x

I ordered a cert yesterdat and the cost HAS GONE UP -- £10 and with NO WARNING whatsoever --from the GRO site as well
Carol

Maybe they started doing this from September 1st. I had two certificates delivered last week in A4 envelopes, but the dispatch date was in August.

I would also be willing to pay a little extra to keep the A4 envelopes. I'm sure they do not pay the full postage rate anyway because even using a franking machine makes the postage 1p or 2p cheaper than using a stamp. Imagine how many they send out a year so surely they must have a discount of some sort.

Sue
xx

I was definately charged £10 cos I ordered it for my sister and she was transfering the money online as I was doing it and it came up at £10 -what they playing at???
Carol

Just checked my e-mail receipt it was Office of National Statistics which is the online GRO site (I think as I get to it through GRO) and it was definately £10
Carol

Haven't had time to read through all the replies. BUT we are paying £7.00 per cert as it is already, There are no BOGOFs in this department, don't even get a reduced rate for buyihng multiple certs in one go! They are complaining about the difference of 12p and you can bet they're run off their feet and therefore making wads of money especially at this time with the new series of WDYTYA running at the moment. Plenty of £7s coming in right now. disgrace.

In view of the fact that I have a bee in my bonnet re GR charges I'll let someone else take up that challenge!

Lyn x