Genealogy Chat

Has anyone ever requested an estimate for documents before ordering from National Archives?
Found this

Royal Hospital Chelsea: Soldiers Service Documents WO 97/544/94
SAMUEL ELD Born MARGARETT, Leicestershire Served in 38th Foot Regiment Discharged aged 36 . SAMUEL ELD Born MARGARETT, Leicestershire Served in 38th Foot Regiment Discharged aged 36 38th Foot: Col - FarDate range: 1825 - 1844.

Just wondered if it was a good service and if anyone had used the service, so far have an email saying an estimate takes up to 10 days

Elaine

Yes I've received estimates and purchased off NA. Brilliant service.

When your estimate is received of what you want to purchase, it is held for several weeks, so gives you time to decide if you want to go ahead


WO documents have cost me about £3 - £5


A tip
If you are wanting an estimate of the above, write what you have written there in your estimate. If you just do a generalisation then you usually get the response that they can't do your estimate as it would take too long.

Thanks Bascat

This is what they sent back

This email is to confirm we have received your request for an estimate for document copying.

Your request for an estimate should be completed and sent to you within 10 working days. You will be sent another email explaining how you can view your estimate. You can then proceed with an order to copy some or all of the items you requested.

Please save or print this email or make a note of the following details. You should quote your estimate number in all correspondence and queries.

Am hoping it all comes back soon and will be as easy as it was for you, can't wait!
Willsy

Yes its brilliant i got 5xgrt grandads Army record that way he was in from 1825 to 1849 and came out as a pensioner I paid the min £10 for the estimate and you then get an email giving you the total cost for the docs, if its less than th £10 then you dont get a refund of the diff, you click on the link within the email to confirm your order and then wait for the copies to be sent to you by snail mail . Mine was on A3 paper and about 8 pages so was well worth it

Shirley

Thanks Shirley

Hoping it will give me some backgound info too

Willsy

Hi Keith

Google national Archives and use the search box to put in a name, that's all I did to get my bit up, the same for a medal card I downloaded quite a while ago. Would you like me to have a look online too?

Willsy

You can only request copies if the item has been indexed on the catalogue. If his name and any appropriate record doesn't come up in the search, then a longer search would be required, which only you, or someone else (not their staff) could do, by visiting Kew.

Shirley
Did you mean you paid for your estimates, as I didn't.
Got the estimates done free and then paid what they had estimated.

Keith

I haven't checked,. but it's unlikely that his name will be indexed on the catalogue. It's mainly (although there are some exceptions) those who were discharged up to 1854.

Hi Bascat .
yes when i did it the method was to pay £10 up front and then they sent the estimate. if it was more than £10 you paid the extra but if it was less they told you would be £8.50 or whatever ,but as you had already paid over that then there was no more to pay ,however no refund would be given as £10 was their minimum charge.
Perhaps they had complaints about it so now they only charge the exact amount when you confirm the order.

It was about three years ago i got the records though.

Shirley

mine was only 75pence!!!,,,,,,,,,a snip for WO 1814 record..........

kay

75p, plus about £2.60 p and p, LOL, still cheaper than going there and searching yourself.

O I see Shirley, have only used them in the last 6 months.

Mine was worth the tenner tho as it was his full Army records including when he was a naughty lad and got given fines etc for being drunk on duty!!, gives all his postings and when he was transferred from 38th Foot Regiment to the 3rd Regiment of Foot,The Buffs.
Its all on A3 size paper and is twelve pages (just counted it again!1) it cost £1.17 to post it so £10 was a bargain .

Shirley

I got an estimate for some documents relating to a court case about my great-grandfathers death. I was quote £78!!!!

Neil

That's because there would be loads of pages - I know because I've looked at the court case records before!

Hi Keith

Have sent you a message
Willsy

Good luck Keith

Willsy