General Chat

That certificates would be folded was announced some time back - not sure why it took them so long (perhaps a huge stock of A4 envelopes to use up!)

http://www.familyrecords.gov.uk/frc/news/fr_37.htm

Doesn't worry me if in future certs come folded from UK - all my South Australian certs are folded in A4 envelope.

BTW - certs from South Australia cost $34 - the UK conversion for GRO certs is roughly $17.95 - big difference.

Gwenda in Oz

Certs are £7 if you know the ref.

On the first page of the ordering form, there is a question Is the General Register Office Index known? The default is set to 'No' You have to change it to 'Yes' before proceeding to the next page. It is easy to miss.

On the question of the envelopes, whilst the postage difference may only be a few pence, there is also the cost of the envelope, A4's cost twice as much as A5's, but more importantly it there were to be a two tier service this would increase the cost by much more due to the increased human involvement. For someone on the minimum wage, which you then need to double to cover premises, heat , pensions etc etc, an extra five minutes time costs a £1.

So before you know the cost has increased dramatically - simply not worth it.

All I can add is that when my certificates have arrived in an A4 envelope they are invariably creased because the postman jams them in his bag and then through the letter box. And as for still waiting for a cert thatw as ordered a wek ago, it is not so long since we were waiting two or three weeks for them.

Ann
Glos

Nudge for Jennifer

i ordered a certificate today...deff £7

Thanks for all your replies... if you would like to have the choice of certs with or without folds please write to the GRO.. or they will never know

I ordered two certificates from GRO a week ago and am still waiting for them...

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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???

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 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!!

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