Family Historian User Group

I've recently ordered quite a few 'certified copies' of certificates from local records offices. Whilst most have been excellent, I have had real problems with Bournemouth. On one certificate the year contained 8 digits! They only seem to issue typed transcripts rather than photocopies of the original entries as some other offices do.

I do not post this message lightly, and have only done so after having notified the Registrar General in Stockport, and having him contact the local office. I didn't even get so much as an apology from them. After giving them ample time to correct there procedures I ordered another certificate from them, and this seems to suffer from the same problems.

So it seems that 'certified copies' are not all they are made out to be.

Sorry if this sounds like a bit of a rant, but I thought I should warn others before they suffer the same frustrations as I have.

Graham
[frown]

ID:874

I must say that I tend to get mine online almost exclusively. One from the office in Clun was hand-written by the Registrar who apologised that he couldn't read his mother's maiden name. The photocopy of the original showed it perfectly!

vliet

Over the past few months I have had 20 or more certified copies all ordered online. Twice I thought I had found errors and I felt that the bods in the office delighted in being able to tell me I was wrong.
One, where I could not possibly be wrong, has remained without a reply!
Do they not realise that without us and our ancestors they would be unable to sell to us what is in effect our history.

It seems the service from the various local offices varies widely. A friend of mine has ordered several certificates from Keighley, and they have been superb.

On one of the certificates I ordered the registration date was given as 8 years before the birth. I returned it and got a replacement, which gave the registration date as 100 years and 2 weeks after the birth.

I'm not talking about problems with reading the original entries, but errors that could be caught with a simple sanity check. I've still not heard anything from the Bournemouth office, not even acknowledgement of receipt of my complaint.

Graham

I have recently ordered om line, it is nice to get scanned copies of the origional. but they dont check all the info supplied and twice i have received incorrec certs. the local offices do seen to check the supplied info more thoroughly.

Carrie

I have just received a marriage certificate from 1844 where the father's names consist of an initial, surname and deceased. I rang Wolverhampton registrars who said that was all the information they had. It is practically useless.