Genealogy Chat

On Monday 18th December 2006 I used the on-line service at 11.23am to order two Marriage Certificates, £7 each post-free. I chose Standard 4 day service but did not expect delivery before Christmas. Today (Friday) the certificates arrived at 10.45am. Well done indeed, Excellent service. From now on all my certificates will be ordered this way. Ray Whincup

You were very fortunate! To be honest I think they are probably at the slowest time of the year for them. We have had occasions, particularly when the Who do you think you are/' programme came on tv where we were waiting at least 3/4/5 weeks! This is obviously the best time of year to order!

I also ordered certificates on 18 Dec - I received 2 yesterday and 3 today - sadly 2 and maybe even 3 are not the right ones. My fault I hasten to add not GRO! Too many James Jones and Henry Moore's living in Bethnal Green! Merry Christmas everyone and thanks for everyones help, Sue

I ordered 2 by post on 8th December, which arrived this morning with a despatch date of 27th December. Now THAT'S good service. Also found out that my GGGrandmother was illegitimate! Luckily I have the fathers name, so my research is now going off at another new angle lol

I think the GRO is a shining example of how a government run department can get its act together if there is a will. They caught a big cold after the first series of WDYTYA but rose to the challenge, streamlined the process, took on and trained more staff and it was sorted in weeks. Supply and demand will effect delivery dates as anyone who manages a business process that has to cope with peaks and troughs well knows.

Judith, with a bit of luck, they will be there tomorrow, mine were due 27th and got here today.

I agree, Peter. I was madly impressed by the reply that the GRO sent to someone on here who had complained about folded certificates. The reply went into great detail about how certificates are produced, collated and despatched.It also addressed the problem of folded certs and suggested several solutions. Someone had READ the complaint, UNDERSTOOD it, ADDRESSED the problem and replied in very readable English. I thought that email should have won some sort of award, myself! OC

i ordered a marr.cert on the 22nd oct. and only got it on Monday gone ........ ann xx

Only just back on-line for a few minutes before the very funny programme on BBC1 at 9.30pm (modern day version of Frank Spencer).I see that members have had good, and bad, experiencs with this site. Hope the service in future is as good as my first useage of system. With so many different ways available of checking GRO refs, particularly in period 1837 to 1910, it is sometimes possible to isolate whole families, even with a common surname. I recently researched a neighbours family. She only gave me a rough date of a brother & a sister in a Yorkshire village circa 1878. Having found the target family I eventually found the main ancestor was born, married, raised a family all on the same farm. By selecting the District for his marriage on Free BMD I then did an 'All Types' search on this one district, and found his Birth, Marriage, Death + birth of all children, including probable ones that did not survive, on one printout. In this case she did not require any certificates, but by using this method you vastly cut down possible targets. Merry Christmas to everyone, and a happy new year. Raymond Whincup

I ordered certs on 18 Dec, they were due yesterday...which I think is brilliant for this time of year! They didnt actually turn up yesterday, but Im hoping they will tomorrow.

I ordered a birth certificate on Monday 18th too by first class mail. It arrived today. Quick turnaround or what? Congratulations GRO !!

I ordered a cert on Tuesday and it arrived today, but its not the right one. Sue

I ordered three on 18th December, despatch date 27th December. They came this morning. Brilliant service. Linda