HELP! Advice on ordering cert

[Peggy]

|help|

All the certs I've bought so far have come from the Birmingham RO. Now I need to venture out and get one from Liverpool. The Liverpool RO tells me that they have a 10-12 week backlog. Is there any disadvantage to ordering through the GRO site? Do they really send them promptly? And is the reference found on FreeBMD the correct one to use in either case?

Thanks,

Peggy

[Geoffers]

The Liverpool RO tells me that they have a 10-12 week backlog. Is there any disadvantage to ordering through the GRO site? Do they really send them promptly? And is the reference found on FreeBMD the correct one to use in either case?
I haven't used the GRO website for 6 months or so, but last time they were very prompt (sent within 5 days) - I understand that the service has slowed since the broadcast of a TV series on the BBC. If the reference on Freebmd is correct, then yes this is the one you should use. Don't add anything to the reference, which you may like to check against the GRO index e.g. using 1837 online.

Geoffers

[Peggy]

Thanks, Geoffers. I hope the BBC series hasn't caused the GRO a 10-12 week backlog too!

These things can be a boon - - - getting more people started in genealogy, some of whom may turn out to be relatives with helpful info - - - or a curse. I started all this a little before Alex Haley's "Roots" aired and started a genealogy craze here. Before that, I could write off to any agency in the U.S. and get an answer by return mail. Certs that now take months to get came in a week. Many agencies didn't even charge for sending me copies of documents! A school board sent me student transcripts. The California drivers license division forwarded my request for an address to the relative concerned. Those days are certainly long gone!

Best,

Peggy

[mary elms]

I ordered some from the GRO last week and they arrived exactly 7 days later - much better than last time I tried.

I suspect that many will have reached the sticky point where a bit more thought is required. Those with a real interest will continue and the others will decide that the sun is shining and that there are other things to do - something many of us decide at this time of year anyway! :cool:

Mary.

[Peter Goodey]

"I hope the BBC series hasn't caused the GRO a 10-12 week backlog too! "


I think not. I put in an order on 30 April, estimated despatch date: 9 May (one public holiday in this period). It remains to be seen whether they will meet this estimate.

Note that FreeBMD recommends that you check the reference for yourself before ordering a certificate.

Note also that the GRO reference is totally useless when dealing with a local RO. At worst it might simply confuse them so NEVER use it in those cases.

[Peggy]

Thanks all!

Rather than spending time and a few more of my shrinking (v. the £) dollars checking the ref, I've put my faith in the FreeBMD transcribers and charged ahead with the order. I know. . . but life is too short. They say it should go out on the 13th. So in a couple of weeks

a) There will be rejoicing in South Florida
or
b) There will be another Unwanted cert on offer.

Btw Peter, I've always given the ref from FreeBMD, or from 1837online, to the wonderful folks at the Brum RO. Doesn't seem to have caused a problem. :confused:

Best,

Peggy

[Peter Goodey]

"Doesn't seem to have caused a problem"


I wasn't guaranteeing that it would cause a problem. That's why I said "at worst".

The fact remains that the GRO reference is completely irrelevant to Birmingham RO. They don't need it and it doesn't help them.

If you give people irrelevant information, there will come a time when someone tries to do something with it and you will not be happy with the result.

[Peggy]

Hello Peter,

I see. (I think.) The volume and page numbers are assigned at a national level, and not used on the local level? That does make sense, now that I think about it. And I guess it would be too much trouble to do any sort of cross-referencing.

[If you give people irrelevant information, there will come a time when someone tries to do something with it and you will not be happy with the result.]

Quite! I've been lucky that the Birmingham staff are (according to frequent testimonials on the rootsweb list) very competent as well as helpful.

Thanks,

Peggy

[ruthrrr]

The last two certificates that I ordered were due to be sent out on the 6th May but were posted the day before. This also happened with the last ones that I ordered (ordered Monday - on the door mat Thursday!), so I think that they are back up to speed.

Ruth

[Peggy]

Hi Ruth,

Well, if they are up to that kind of speed, I may get the cert sooner than expected. Air mail from the UK usually does get to me pretty quickly. But I'll try not to get my hopes too high.

[The last two certificates that I ordered were due to be sent out on the 6th May but were posted the day before.]

Er . . . how do you know they were posted 5 May? Surely you don't have them already?! Do you get e-mail notification? Or was this 2004?

Peggy

[ruthrrr]

Er . . . how do you know they were posted 5 May? Surely you don't have them already?! Do you get e-mail notification? Or was this 2004?

Peggy
Hi Peggy... I still had the envelope so checked the postmark :) but yes for once first class mail is just that - and it got here on the 6th, but as to how long it takes to get to you, well guess that would depend on the pigeon |laugh1|

[Peggy]

Hi Ruth,

Posted on the 5th, arrived on the 6th?! Er . . . could y'all send someone over to sort out our Post Office? :)

[as to how long it takes to get to you, well guess that would depend on the pigeon]

Just so it isn't a passenger pigeon. :D

Peggy

[Peggy]

Hi Ruth,

Thought I'd let you & anyone interested know. The cert was mailed on the 12th (a day earlier than estimated), but I guess the pigeon ran into headwinds. Got it today. Not bad! Already have another on order. :)

|cheers|

Peggy

[Burrow Digger]

My first time ordering certs from the GRO.

Ordered on 5th May - posted 12th May -arrived in Canada on 16th May :)

Now I'm gonna order some more.

BD