Genealogy Chat

Amanda, You can still order certificates from Canada. I think the only restriction is that they have to be sent to a UK address. Do you have a friend or relative in the UK who would forward the certificate for you? Crista

Well - in for a penny in for (£7) pounds! I've just ordered 13 of the on the 13th! Date of despatch 18th it says - so whoopee! Rosi.

Drats, have just ordered a death cert from GRO via freebdm, they've charged me 8.50 by c/card. Never mind, suppose that will go towards postage to NZ. Keeping fingers crossed it's got the info I need!

Deborah Well done. I ordered 2 certificates (with full references) from the GRO by phone on Monday, and still haven't received them. It seems that the new online system will not only be cheaper but quicker as well. Here's hoping. Sandra

Well I've sent off for it now just got to wait till next weekend, how I'll get through this week I don't know. George

George, I just put the surname and year of the certificate that I was ordering. I think that it is only for your own reference. Maggy

Georgina You don't have to put anything there. Margaret

All you busy bees! I've just got around to using the service myself and they are now up to quoting 6 days to despatch. Still, my reference number indicates that they have has 2500 customers since they went live on Wednesday.

Hi I'm ordering a certificate through the National office of Statistics but I don't understand what it means by 'your personal reference number' Can someone explain what you put there? George

Ordered mine yesterday via stats site and eagerly await its arrival!

Debbie Did you order from the statistics site or the 1837 one?

Just ordered 2 certificates last night online. It was quite easy to use. should be despatched on th 18th, so fingers crossed. I usually order from local register offices, but will give this a try. Maggy

I have just used the site and it was very easy and straight forward, they say my certificate will be despatched on the 17th so should arrive by Friday, It will be pretty impressive if it does and cheap at the price, I was about to send off to the local registra which would have cost me the postage both ways as well. fingers crossed, but I bet within a week they will change the delivery dates to 14+ as thats how long my last lot took

Michael I'm sure we will all be interested to hear whether your 13 certificates arrive within 4 days. I had just ordered a certificate from a local Registrars Office before this news broke yesterday. Let's hope it's as good as it appears! Richard Chippenham

Gosh, it's less than 24 hours since I first posted the message and it seems like lots of you have used this already. One good turn deserves another. I found out about it on the 1837online site, which I first found via this tips board. If you use that site and then order online with the full GRO ref's, you need never travel down to the FRC in London again!

Wow. I love it. Just spent an hour ordering 13 certificates. I was going to have to spend some time in London writing them out and queueing and travelling. So easy to do as well. AND only 4 days for them to be delivered. Used to have to allow 28 days. As someone else said "Someone really loves us" Mike

Have just checked this site - and unfortunately you can only order online if you are a resident of UK. Well I am British, but living in Canada, so I hope this changes soon, much easier than phoning and making sure that I'm not calling in the middle of the night!!

Hilary Thanks for letting us know about this. I have just registered on the site as I have had to resort to Southport on a number of occasions and paid £8.50 each time (plus the search fee a few times too). Lynne Sale CHS

Hi all This is fantastic! Somebody up there loves us. It is a very informative site, too. I suggest everyone should read everything on it as it answers a lot of the questions being asked on these boards. THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE FOR THE LINKS ON THE LEFT. www(.)col(.)statistics(.)gov(.)uk/ Thanks Hillary for bringing this to our attention. Vera Manchester LAN

It's £7.00 with GRO index ref and £11.50 without. Will definately be trying that though, same cost with the GRO index ref as the Local Register office.