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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: annaandchester on Wednesday 22 February 06 09:44 GMT (UK)
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Are certificates taking at the moment - I have a few to order but I am away on holiday soon so I want them before I go (to take to see the rellies) otherwise Ill order then for their addresses.
Anna x
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I ordered a marriage cert online on 9th Feb- it gave me an estimated despatch date of 17th Feb.........now 22nd and still no sign of it.
I blame the BBC ;D ;D ;D
The last time the WDYTYA programme was on,all the certs took ages.
Hope this helps,
Carol
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Thats what I was thinking too.
I ordered one on the 30th Jan and it got here today!
I am glad it is here but what a wait
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Flipping 'eck I've got a bit of a wait yet then >:(
Carol
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I ordered 6 on Feb 8th. I received one on Monday (20th) and the rest today (22nd). I didn't think that was bad in view of WDYTYA etc.
Jill
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I'm getting a date of 14 working days at the moment from GRO. I'm really not complaining thou, the more interested people the better I think!
Kerry
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I agree!
I don't care if it takes another week or two for the certificates to arrive as there will be more going onto GenesReunited. Then we'll all have more people to find and then you can find out more about your family history.
Andrew.
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I ordered 4 on 11 feb, but not expected to be dispatched until tomorrow. Suppose they won't be here until well into next week. :(
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I ordered a cert online today ( after 5pm) and they gave me a time of eight working days, with a dispatch date of March 8th....I won't have any fingernails left !!!!
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So what have you got that I haven't then, if I get 14 days and you get 8!! Did you slip them an extra £5.
Kerry
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Kerry
Don't worry I don't think Runey has his/her maths right ;D
Today is 22nd Feb,so 8 days from now does not give you 8th March.
I know 8) I will be ** years old on the 8th March and it is NOT only 8 days away!!!
Carol
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Ordered Marriage Cert. on 4th Feb, arrived here (Portugal) 20th.
So for overseas - 16 days.
Watermusic
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Kerry
Don't worry I don't think Runey has his/her maths right ;D
Today is 22nd Feb,so 8 days from now does not give you 8th March.
I know 8) I will be ** years old on the 8th March and it is NOT only 8 days away!!!
Carol
I didn't even notice that, my maths aren't that good either!
Kerry
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Hi Kerry and Carol,
my maths is not that bad :(, the waiting time is eight working days, as in not including Saturday or Sunday, as I ordered after 5pm, it is as if I didn't order until tomorrow,
Don't know why I got 8 days, but as the last certs I ordered got lost on route, went to Cork then back to Southhampton and finally arrived in Dublin three weeks after they were dispatched, I won't be holding my breath,
Just hope they will be the right ones after all that.
Carol, happy birthday in advance
Runey :)
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Just ordered 3 death certs from GRO. Estimated despatch date :'( 27 Feb 2006. Seems a long way away.
Oh well, knew they'd be busy just now.
Sally
Still waiting. Not 27th until next week, and that's despatch date. Expect will take couple of days after that.
Why is it that the more interested you are in the contents, the longer they take to get to you.
There must be some scientific formula to it....... ;D ;D
Sally
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There must be some scientific formula to it....... ;D ;D
Sod's Law ;)
Andrew.
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I always try to use the local registry offices (only possible if you live in the UK) they are quick, cheaper and you get a personal service.
:D
Wendi
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i cant complain
i sent for 4 ::) on the 13th Feb and received 3 on the 21st!! :o
And thats doing the round trip for Oz to UK back to Oz again!!
Jen
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Crikey, you obviously get priority!!!!
Kerry
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Hey, im just as surprised as you are!!
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i sent for 4 ::) on the 13th Feb and received 3 on the 21st!!
Here's a plan Buttercup, how about you order all my certificates, and when you get them you can post them back to me in the UK. Will still get here quicker than the GRO. ;D
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Me too and I'll pay the extra postage!!!!
Kerry
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Finally received mine today- promised date of despatch 17th.
Trouble is although it confirmed the marriage that I'd hoped.
She names dad as the wrong bloke........so is this really my family after all. ;D
Oh dear- back to the censuses to find another one with this nice unusual name ::)
Carol
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Carol
I know that one, you wait ages for the cert to arrive ---- and then it's the wrong one!!
I'm hoping the six I am awaiting are the right ones!
Kerry
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Here's a plan Buttercup, how about you order all my certificates, and when you get them you can post them back to me in the UK. Will still get here quicker than the GRO.
Hehe shall it be called Jen's express postal survices?!?! ;)
Anyhow, who's to say they'll come this quickly next time??
Speaking of mail though i did get my 4th and last certificate ordered yesterday (24th)....
BUT having said all that im still waiting for a local ozzie one which was sent waaaaay back in early Jan >:( ... guess that one has gone walk about though, oh well its a call il have to make..
Cheers, Jen
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Although I had been told here in NZ about the WDYTYA programme and that the certificates would take much longer to arrive - the wait hasn't been too long at all.
First order said they would be despatched within 7 days -they were and the second lot ordered are going to be despatched in 10 days. Eyes glued to the letter-box from now on but as long as they travel 12,000 miles and arrive safely I don't really mind.
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Mine should be coming on Tuesday so not much longer to wait now!
Kerry
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So what have you got that I haven't then, if I get 14 days and you get 8!! Did you slip them an extra £5.
Kerry
Kerry, were you guys ordering from the same place ??? Maybe some people are faster at posting the certificate than others. 14 days is probably quoted to be on the safe side and you may find it will arrive well within that period. What puzzles me is how Runey ordered hers after 5pm :-\ I thought offices issuing BMD certificates closed at 4.30.
All the Best,
Christopher
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Hi Christopher
I always order my certs from the GRO, I only recently found out that local offices do them and then East Sussex where many of mine come from charge extra for ordering online anyway, so I continue with GRO.
Never mind they should be here by Tuesday.
Kerry
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Kerryb
I always order my certs from the GRO, I only recently found out that local offices do them and then East Sussex where many of mine come from charge extra for ordering online anyway, so I continue with GRO.
That's rough :(, I have to say that I have always used the local offices - don't everyone shout at once :-\, I know not everyone can for various reasons, but where you can they are much better ;D. Prime example this week - cert arrived by return of post, the other one I sent for at the same time was a different father so they sent my money back! ;D
And they have phoned me up before now (on more than one occasion) to make sure they have the right cert ;D
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Cool that's is helpful!!
Kerry
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Well my certificates were due today, and guess what they still haven't arrived. I sent for them on 15 Feb.
Now I am cross, I can't even remember why I ordered them now except I needed them for my next line of enquiry.
Kerry :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
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and they will probably all come (6) in separate envelopes!
:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
Kerry
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Just ordered 3 death certs from GRO. Estimated despatch date :'( 27 Feb 2006. Seems a long way away.
Oh well, knew they'd be busy just now.
Sally
Still waiting. Not 27th until next week, and that's despatch date. Expect will take couple of days after that.
Why is it that the more interested you are in the contents, the longer they take to get to you.
There must be some scientific formula to it....... ;D ;D
Sally
Me too. Still waiting. Dashed home today, not expectant exactly, but hopeful.
Nothing. :'( :'(
Still, always tomorrow. ;)
Sally
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But I'm back at work tomorrow so I can't spend all day on the computer searching the next questions. I shall have to wait to the weekend.
Kerry :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
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Can I join in ?
I'm still waiting for a death cert ordered 13th Feb. ???
Have emailed asking why so long. ? Yes I know all about TV progs, but have not even had a reply to that. ??? ???
Meliora
Follow up on that, I have just been in contact with ONS & they tell me that they are now working on certs that were due to be sent out on the 23rd Feb (that's mine). So, still waiting.!!!!
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They probably just assume that you know the reason why it is taking so long - TV progs so aren't answering.
It will get better eventually. It did last year!
Kerry
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And at least they haven't hiked the price to £11.00 a cert like they did last time!! :o
They'll get here..........eventually.
Sally
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I ordered online on 14th and were due to be sent out on the 24th, so maybe they will send mine off tomorrow :-\
Here's Hoping,
Frances
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Hope not I've got piles of certs to order!
Kerry
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Just found the following message on the GRO website
Service Announcement
This is our busiest time of year (January to April) and our service to customers is currently being affected by exceptionally high levels of demand. Although we are working hard to ensure certificates are despatched as soon as possible we expect these problems to continue until after Easter.
I hope that doesn't mean I've got to wait til Easter for certificates to arrive.
Kerry :( :( :( :(
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Patience, Kerry, Patience :D
All the Best, Chris
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So far mine have arrived on the estimated date. (usually within 2 weeks of ordering) They used to arrive early so I feel like I've waited ages :(
Kimi
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Patience, Kerry, Patience :D
All the Best, Chris
Hi Chris
Believe I am being patient! I'm not complaining about the GRO, I know they are under pressure but actually feel quite positive about the fact that all these new people are getting interested in their family history.
I just want my certificates :'(
Kerry
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At Last,
Cert ordered 13th Feb
despatch date (est) 23 rd Feb
cert arrived 29th, dated issued 28th Feb.
Then it turned out to be a wrong 'un, GRRRRRR.
Whatever happened to the days when I could order a cert at the new FRO late Tues after a days research, & have it arrive first post the following Sat morning. Happy days.
Meliora
Meliora
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Hi All,
I ordered a death cert on 6th Feb est despatch date the 17th Feb. Still hadn't received it today (2nd March) so called the GRO this morning, they said the week i ordered my cert they had 7000 orders in one day!! so the whole system crashed and didn't print out the orders. :( this week they have been working to print out all the orders and get them sent out, so i should receive my order next week....hopefully!!! :)
not sure if i can wait much longer!! :)
Lena x
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I have received mine today. Ordered on 14 February, estimated dispatch time 24th, never mind. I will probably be ordering later today with the information gleaned fromthis one!
Frances :)
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I'm afraid I must once again be a bit of a hate figure :o :( ;D, and also champion the local offices if you can use them!
Posted a second class letter on Sunday 26 Feb...certificate arrived today :-X...Should also mention that they phoned me yesterday to check if I still wanted the cert as the bride's father's name was different from the one I had quoted...said yes please (thought what the heck I could eliminate it.) When it arrived thought ??? as the name was correct and it was the certificate I wanted... checked my letter to them...I had put the wrong name :-[ ;D
Do you all hate me now :( :o :'( :(( ;D)
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I've just ordered 3 death certs from the GRO.
My last order was about 3 weeks ago. I always make a note of the reference no. they give. Todays was 211027 and 3 weeks ago it was 148247.
If my maths is right ( big IF) that's 62,780 orders in 3 weeks. I don't know about you, but I rarely order one cert at a time, so even if you only allow 2 certs per order, that's 125,560 - the equivalent of 41,853 a week.
That's a hell of a lot of certificates!! :o
I used to work in student grants so I have some idea how the GRO staff must be worked off their feet ( at least they don't have to deal face to face with us!!)
Having said all that, I STILL want my certificates like tomorrow!!! ;D ;D ;D
Jill
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I'm afraid I must once again be a bit of a hate figure :o :( ;D, and also champion the local offices if you can use them!
Posted a second class letter on Sunday 26 Feb...certificate arrived today :-X...Should also mention that they phoned me yesterday to check if I still wanted the cert as the bride's father's name was different from the one I had quoted...said yes please (thought what the heck I could eliminate it.) When it arrived thought ??? as the name was correct and it was the certificate I wanted... checked my letter to them...I had put the wrong name :-[ ;D
Do you all hate me now :( :o :'( :(( ;D)
No we don't hate you. Just jealous. ;D ;D We have the same option, so can't possibly take it out on you........ :D
Sally
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Yes, Jill, you are right with your figures. this morning I saw a notification from the ONS explaining the delay, at one time they were processing over 45,000 applications in a week.
At £7 a time, WOW !!!
Meliora
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I don't have a problem with any of that and as frustrating as it is I am prepared to wait, however I noticed from my bank statement that the online payment I made has been paid into their bank on 18 February! My certificates ordered on 14 Feb are still awaited.
I don't personally think they should bank any money till they actually send out the orders, what would happen if the service crashed and they lost the orders!
Typical civil servants.
Kerry
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;D ;D ;D ;D Guess what arrived today ?? ;D ;D ;D ;D
Also in same post, a CD with the transcription of a school log book that, hopefully, should hold details of a generation of my Wild family plus several other families that connect to my tree.
What a great day !!
Sally
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Two of my six arrived today, although not the ones I particularly wanted, I am happy because they all must be on the way!!!
Kerry :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
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Typical civil servants.
Kerry
Just finished a verrry long week at work and thought I'd cheer myself up with an hour on Rootschat
Carra (a civil servant!)
:'( :'(
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Carra
Sorry, I meant in tongue in cheek, I work for a Local Authority, so I have no room to boast!!!!!!
Kerry ;) ;)
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My tongue was firmly in cheek as well - no offence taken really. You have to develop a thick skin in the public sector anyway!
Carra
:D
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Absolutely agree with you there! I've worked for the same council now for 16 years so I've got plenty of ribbing. Usually about the fact that my wages are paid by people's taxes. Where they think my taxes go, I'm not sure!!!!
Kerry :D
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Two of my six arrived today, although not the ones I particularly wanted, I am happy because they all must be on the way!!!
Kerry :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
You give me hope Kerry! I ordered online on 18th Feb (Saturday) and was given a despatch time of 8 working days :-\ but nothing so far :'( - hopefully that means next week sometime ....
However the post that didn't bring the certs, did bring long awaited news of the results of my job regrading and I've got a pay rise ! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Now I will be able to order more certificates!
Veron (also in the public sector)
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There's a lot of us about Veron!!!
Two more of my six certs arrived this morning so that leaves 2 yet to come. I am sure yours are on the way now!
Kerry :)
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CONGRATS Veron on ure pay rise!!
Certificates in the mail make us all cheer up (except of course when they dont provide the details we want ::) )
No certs in the mail makes us all a little grumpy by the looks of things
Hmmm makes me wonder why theres such a saying as no news is good news?!?!?!
Jen
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And after all that, one that arrived today was the wrong one!!!!
Kerry :'( :'(
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Oh, Kerry, how disappointing!! :'( After all that time waiting.
Does it at least rule someone out, though ?? (Anything to make it seem better? :))
Still, two more yet to arrive. Hope they're more use to you.
Sally
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I've just received ONE of those I ordered 2 1/2 weeks ago. It was the right one :) but I do have a growing collection of wrong ones - not counting because multiplying by 7 makes an awful lot of ££££s :'(
Gadget
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Gadget
I know what you mean, I haven't got too many wrong uns but a small handful x 7 is more than I can afford really.
Still we can always advertise on rootschat in the hope they might be useful to someone one day!
Kerry
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Hi Kerry
I think I've got about 10 in all - mostly Roberts and Jones :( :( :( But I suppose that's not bad cos I've got all my lines and husband's to before 1837 so hopefully I won't need anymore ;) There are three deaths that I need though but that involves two Jones in Corwen RD, Merionethshire and a Parry in Oswestry RD.
..and then there are those distant collaterals that I usually just take a note of - but it's always tempting ;)
Gadget
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Gadget
It is tempting, I have ordered a few of the siblings where they look interesting or might solve puzzles or for instance I have two sisters that both died within a month of one another, one 17 the other 19, why?
Kerry
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I've just received one of the two I ordered on 18th Feb. It's the right one, but unfortunately doesn't tell me anything I didn't know already (which I hoped it was going to) - ah well! The other one is still in the pipeline I understand.
Veron
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I ordered some more at the weekend and I am trying not to frustrated. The proposed date of arrival is 20 March.
We'll see!
Kerry
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I am still waiting for certificates ordered on the 23rd.
Hopefully they will be here next week
Anna x
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I've just realised something rather interesting.....
My other cert. arrived today but says on the despatch note "2nd March" ???. However - light dawned when I bought some 1st class stamps later today which were 30p each - the cert from the GRO only has 29p postage on it!
QED - the cert has been treated as 2nd class, thus taking much longer to arrive! I am about to email and tell them to check their franking machine - it might explain some of the delay! (How long has 1st class postage been 30p?)
Veron
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About a year or so I think!!!!
Kerry
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Hi Veron,
I believe it is cheaper if you use a franking machine ::)
Special deal worked out in 2005!
Susan :)
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Susan is right - franked first class mail is 29p. Presumably because the money is paid up front to get the credit on the machine. And Southport must put thousands on at a time!
Nell
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I stand corrected, it wasn't like that last time I used a franking machine (about 5 years ago). Funny how the certs took a week to get to me though isn't it!
Veron ???
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Veron,
You should always sit down to be corrected! lol!
Seriously, I've noticed that the date on the despatch note is often quite a few days before it's actually posted - I put that down to a backlog in the Despatch Office. When you see how many they're dealing with, I suppose that's entirely understandable.
Jill
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I've got caught up in this too >:(
Ordered a birth certificate on 22 February and was given a dispatch date of 7 March, which I thought was a long wait at the time.
Now its 14 March ....... and I still haven't received it >:(
Have sent them an e-mail about it, so will have to wait to see what they come back with. Probably have to wait just as long for a reply!
Chui
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Doesn't bode well for my certs due to arrive on the 20th then!!!
Kerry :(
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My cetificates ordered on the 22 with a despatch date of the 7th have arrived today!
Anna x
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Oh, maybe mine will too then!
Fingers crossed!
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I spoke to one of the staff from GRO on Saturday at the Cheshire Family History Fair and he said that there was a delay of approx. 10 days over and above the estimated despatch date.
Saying that .........two of the certs. I ordered on 23rd Feb. due for despatch on 10th March, arrived this morning
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My 3 certificates have a despatch date of 16th March (tomorrow) and I was hoping that they'd be here by Saturday - it's nice living in this little dream world of mine!!
:P :P
Perhaps I should forget about them until after easter!! I wouldn't mind but I'm not 100% sure they're going to be the right ones when the pigeon finally brings them!
Just as important, I've just noticed the eyes on my Mr Roll Eyes are stuck down and he looks a bit like a chinese Robert Mitchum!! ;D
Jill
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Have just had a phone call from my mum to say that my certificate has arrived .... the finger crossing did good! only 8 days late!
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It is good that yours and mine appeare at the same time - it shows that they do work through them in order
Anna x
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I'm about to order, will be interesting to see how long I have to wait. Last time mine took about 15 days.
Dolly
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I find my problem is that I don't mind waiting, I understand it is a busy period but by the time my certificates arrive, I have forgotten why I ordered them!!!
Perhaps that is just my age!
Kerry :)
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Does anyone have an update on this?
I ordered 3 certificates on 2 March with a despatch date of 16 March and I still haven't got them. :'( :'(
Any idea how much longer I'll have to wait?
Jill.
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I also ordered 2nd March with a dispatch date of 16 March. I received an email this morning from them to say a certificate had been issued and giving the reference number. I think this was because I had asked for 2 references to be checked.(£10)
Lets hope this means that both of ours arrive tomorrow :-\
Frances
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I certainly hope so, Frances. Fingers crossed!
Jill
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My despatch date is 20 March, so if your's was the 16th and they arrive tomorrow, that means I've got to wait til next week!
Kerry :'( :'(
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Kerry,
Will let you know if they come tomorrow ( or not) so you'll have a better idea when to set your sights!
Jill
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Thanks
It's so nice having something to look forward to!!!
Kerry
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Yes, mine has just arrived. I just wish it was the right one ??? This one died at 4 weeks old :'(
Yours should not be to long now Kerry, I hope not anyway.
Frances
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My 3 certificates arrived this morning. Not only that, but they were the right ones as well! Plus, last night I found 2 ( possibly 3) wills on the National Archives site.
They say these things come in threes, don't they? So I'm now hopeful of a positive result from some research I've requested from the Aberdeen FHS. Wouldn't that be great!
I reckon yours will arrive very early next week, Kerry. Hope I'm wrong and it's tomorrow!
Jill.
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My last order for 2 certificates placed the 22 March have an estimated shipment date of 12 April. It seems that the time is getting longer and longer.
Regards
Geoff
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Good heavens, Geoff!
That means they've gone from an estimated 14 day wait to a 21 day wait in less than a month! And that's only the estimated despatch date - and that's currently running 7 days late. So are we now looking at a turn round of a MONTH? ::)
Surely they're going to have to take on extra staff?
Jill
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Sheesh I wish I had known this when I ordered mine last week - Ill be on holiday when they arrive.
Poohey
Anna x
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It is quite asonishing. Last week I was at the FRC and ordered 2 certificates which were for shipment within 4 days. In fact they were here in France by the time I arrived home. I then ordered 2 more certificates as explained and received this shipment time of 21 days, so it seems that ordering online has a very low priority. I just wish they would explain something very clearly.
Geoff
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It is cheaper to order online isnt it? Maybe they are trying to force us to buy the more expensive way.
Anna x
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No Anna, the price is the same. £7 at the FRC or £7 online.
Geoff
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Where did I get the figure £11 from? I must be going ga ga
Anna x
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I ordered 2 on 28 Feb. One arrived yesterday, the other, today.
meles
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Anna, the cost of a certificate with GRO ref supplied is £7. I am not sure where you got your figure of £11 from.
Geoff
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It is certainly £11 to order from East Sussex directly rather than GRO, which is why I use GRO.
Glad to hear mine must be on the way, I can't wait, I feel like a child at Christmas!!!!!
Kerry ;D
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I think it costs £11 if you don't have the reference numbers.