Genealogy Chat

If you had ordered one for John Smith there could have been many in each quarter, the GRO only carried out your instruction, and therefore they were not at fault ,sorry but your mistake. Very annoying though . I must say I too have made a mistake ordering a marriage cert for someone who was not even born ! I was 100 years out. You will only do it once hopefully . In our lifetime we all make mistakes, and learn from them, I have made so many I should be a bl**dy genius now. Merry Christmas Maurice

If you're after a copy of a marrieg record with the original handwriting and not a transcription, you could do worse than use some of the links on www.ukbmd.org.uk to local ROs. Many of them have freely searchable databases which give specific name-matches + place of ceremony. If you know the place, then you can often get a photocopy of the register page (possibly as much as £5 if you don't go yourself, and they charge a minimum fee) from the regional (e.g. county) library or archives. Christine

Can i just add that if the GRO make a mistake they do bend over backwards to sort it out. I ordered a death cert for my Grandad and was sent the wrong one, i phoned them and was asked to send it back with covering letter with all the details on approx 4 days later i recieved the right one at no extra cost. Michelle.

I bet you wish you hadn't said anything now Peter! I'm with you! Jackie (who just wants everyone to be nice to eachother) Williams

I have no complaints about GRO I think they give excellent service considering their work load. If you make an error that is not their fault surely, especially knowing that the service is computerised. as with anything else computerised they can't deviate from the norm to give you special service. i think we should be grateful that we have this service and can get copy certificates usually within about a week of ordering. Ann Glos

Ann I agree. I think its brilliant! nell

I'm really, really pleased with the service they offer. Order lots of certificates and these days they always come a day or so earlier than promised. Had a problem for the first time this week. Ordered two certs with a delivery date 5th Dec and then four more with a delivery date of 9th Dec. The four arrived yesterday but not the two earlier ones yet. I sent an email querying this and they almost immediately emailed back saying they didn't know what had happened but were going to issue them straight away.

The GRO do put mistakes right when they are their mistakes. I ordered 2 death certs both for a Jane Smith in Burbage, both same page, vol and qtr. I knew this wasnt a mistake as they were both in the NBI a fortnight apart. I suspected they were mother and daughter. I put in the reference checks that I wanted both of them. They sent me 2 the same. I emailed them and they sent the other one by return of post, and apologised. I didnt have to return the wrong one either. They were mother and daughter by the way, died 2 weeks apart. Margaret