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A cheer for Certificate Services GRO

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

AnninGlos

AnninGlos Report 24 Sep 2003 12:31

Hi some time back I had a problem when I sent for a certificate for Tony's Gt Grandmother's marriage certificate. I asked for John Ingram and Sarah Masters. It was returned - minus £3 because they said the bride's name was not Sarah. I then phoned them and they confirmed that they were right, the bride's name was not Sarah. I looked at 1837 again and on the same page was John Ingram, Sarah Masters and Elizabeth Masters. So I was puzzled as I knew he married a Sarah. So I sent for the cert in John Ingram's name only, when it came there was a handwritten note with it to say "please note, bride's name is Elizabeth but she has signed as Sarah". Because I was cross as I had taken the time to phone, I e mailed them about this yesterday. Had a reply today very apologetic, they said they "should have studied the certificate more closely on my first application and they would then have saved time, effort and money". They have now refunded the £3. So it pays to complain and well done Cert Services for a very quick response. Ann Glos

Michelle

Michelle Report 24 Sep 2003 12:38

sadly I have not been so lucky. I sent for my grandfather's birth certificate and asked them to look under the christian names Edwin and Edward for both father and son. I received a letter two weeks ago after waiting three weeks, and they had only used Edwin, so did not find the certificate and charged me £4.50 for the search. I have emailed them twice in two weeks, received two emails to confirm they have received my emails, but never had a reply from them. Very disappointing and a waste of money, because I now have to try again at Bristol Register Office for the certificate. M.

AnninGlos

AnninGlos Report 24 Sep 2003 17:10

Morfydd When you e mailed them did you put GQ in the subject line? If you don't all you will get is their automated reply message which just tells you how to get certificates. Ann Glos

Michelle

Michelle Report 25 Sep 2003 15:07

Thank you Ann, I will email them immediately. I'll let you know what happens. Morfydd.

Michelle

Michelle Report 28 Sep 2003 17:27

Ann, I contacted GRO and put GQ in the subject box and I received an answer almost immediately. They are quite adamant that I only put one name in my search, so I cannot get any further with them. I will send info to Bristol again and try to get birth certificate from there. Thanks again for your help.

Alison

Alison Report 30 Sep 2003 10:01

I had a problem with them saying they could not find certs and deducting £4.50 for the search then when I resubmitted the same info they found the cert. I photocopied all my requests for certs to prove that the searches were the same and they reimbursed me with certs to the value of the unneccesary search fees