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Does anyone know if the sandwell register office will accept payment with visa elactron card or will I need to pay with cash? Richard

Do I have to have them sent in post or can I go and collect them? Regards Richard

Do I have to ring the buzzer at the front door?

Richard, You walk straight in and speak to someone on reception. You can give them your address and ask them to post the certs to you or you can tell them you will collect. They will accept cash, postal order, cheque or card. Elaine :-)

I'm sorry Richard but I don't know if they'll accept payment by the card. Perhaps you could ring and ask them? My certificate was posted to me but I know someone who ordered one later and he collected his. Sorry I can't give you definite answers. Heather

Ok, Thanks everyone, I will let you know how i get on tommorow evening, Richard

I went to West Bromwich today and went to reception at register office and the lady gave me a form to fill in. I found this really hard and I didnt know what details to put on the form so I had to walk out, Regards Richard

Richard, Didn't you take the details of the birth and marriages with you ? If you did, then you could have explained to the lady at reception, that you are not very confident with filling forms out ... and she would / 'should' have done it for you or helped you. If you went without the details, then go back again and take the details with you. Give them to the lady and ask her to help you complete the form. They should be helpful ... but you need to tell them that you can't do it on your own. Elaine :-) Now I'm frustrated and don't care WHO knows it :-)

Richard, I am VERY proud of you for going in the first place. I hope you are proud of yourself for getting as far as you did ?? I'm NOT frustrated with you .... ** but with them and the whole situation. Please don't be offended by my last remarks ... they aren't directed at you personally. Elaine :-)

Hi Richard I'm sorry it didn't work out for you. Is there any chance you could get your printer fixed or do you know anyone who has a printer and access to the internet and could print the form for you.............it would be so much easier. Heather Elaine, I thought they might have the facilities for printing a form off from their database...........obviously not.

They asked me for her mothers maiden name, but this is what I want to find out from the certificate, It doesnt make sense, Regards Richard

I am pleased with myself for getting as far as I did, but I was dissapointed with the situation, Regards Richard

Richard You don't have to put anything in that box. Did you take the form home with you? Heather

They DON'T need to know that ... Oh this is so maddening. This is where applying online from GRO has its benefits ... Richard, I am so sorry you are having so many problems. I wish I could come and do it for you but I can't. I just don't know what to say or do to help you Richard. Elaine :-) Just going for a walk up the garden for a few minutes X

I am worried about going back because if the lady remembers me she might ask me why I walked out,

I was reading the rules in the register office and it says I will need to prove why I need the certificate, but I dont know how to prove it, regards Richard

Richard I think this rule is for certificates of people who are still alive. I seem to remember that there was a bit on the form I filled in about why I wanted the certificate and I put 'Family History' in the box. I've just looked at the forms again on the westmidlands bmd site and there's a question that says Are you applying for your own birth certificate? and if you aren't you have to state how you are related to the person. Did your form have something like that? Heather

I just dont know what to do, Maybe I should just forget about family history and find a new passtime,

Richard Did you take the form home with you? Perhaps someone could help you fill it in. Heather

Hi again Richard, Have just read your last post. Family History is VERY addictive ... but it is also very expensive. It is very pleasurable whilst things are going smoothly .. BUT its very frustrating when you come up against problems. Firstly, only YOU can decide whether or not you want to continue. It CAN get more frustrating than it is already, and none of us can guarantee that we will always be around to help you. You DO need money and do WILL need to buy certain certificates along the way. If both of these things combined are a problem for you, then I would think things through very carefully Richard. Maybe have a break for a month or so. Have a long hard think about Family History and its good things as well as its bad things. Work out if you will be able to over come the things that you find hard to do - like today for instance, do you think that now you have been once, do you think you could go back again with more information ... or would it be too much for you to do ? Only you can decide Richard. Have a think about everything for a day or so ... you know where we are if you decide to go ahead. You also know now what is involved and what you will need to do in order to get further with your family tree. Elaine :-)