RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Vendee on Wednesday 27 February 19 09:25 GMT (UK)
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I sent off the forms and cheque to the MOD for the military records of a relative a full month ago but I haven't heard anything and they haven't even cashed my cheque yet. I know the forms arrived there because I send them recorded delivery. Does it normally take this long? Thanks.
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It can take a few months, they will not cash your cheque until they start to process it. Priority is given to providing records to serviceman who are still living
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Someone recently reported (last two weeks) that they had contacted the very helpful help line who said they were still working pre-Christmas applications.
MaxD
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Rosie, Max.... thanks for the prompt and helpful replies.
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It may help to understand that their main priority involves dealing with those still serving, also our service veterans. Applications for family history obviously have to take second place, so the speed of their response is dependent on the workload at the time.
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Recent experience: just over a month.
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Someone recently reported (last two weeks) that they had contacted the very helpful help line who said they were still working pre-Christmas applications.
MaxD
Could someone provide the helpline number, please?
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0141 224 2507
8 to 4.30 Mon to Thurs, 8 to 12 noon Fri.
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0141 224 2507
8 to 4.30 Mon to Thurs, 8 to 12 noon Fri.
Thank you
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So its been eight weeks now and I've heard nothing so I called the number that Rosie posted above. The person I spoke to confirmed that they had received the application but they had identified that I may be related to the the person I'm enquiring about (I am distantly) and they wanted to know if I wanted to continue with a general application or a next of kin application. Apparently someone should have contacted me to ask but it never happened so they have just sat on the application. They are now going to process the request but obviously their own mistake doesn't count for anything because they say the request will take a couple of months from today's date. I'm not impressed.
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I waited almost a year to the day for my father in law’s records (some years ago). I think a wait of only a month or two is quite reasonable. :)
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Mistakes happen, it will probably arrive sooner than you have quoted. :)
I certainly had excellent service from them by phone and email when I was trying to get one that was not straightforward.
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What you have to remember is they are also dealing with other things related to serving and ex service personnel. Family history will be way down on their priorities.
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What you have to remember is they are also dealing with other things related to serving and ex service personnel. Family history will be way down on their priorities.
He is ex service (as am I). I'm enquiring about his record on behalf of his surviving son who is in his 80's so time is a factor. I'm sorry but four months seems excessive especially considering their error. It is made perfectly clear that there are two sets of forms to complete dependant on whether you are applying for a general search or a next of kin search. I chose general search because I am not his next of kin. For them to sit on the application for eight weeks because they thought I might have filled out the wrong form but without actually contacting me is careless to put it mildly but as someone who has worked with the MOD for most of my life, I don't find it surprising.
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As Max said earlier they have a backlog. If you are unhappy then you really need to take it up with them.
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The point is that it’s not HIS record that’s you’ve applied for. The fact that both of you are ex-service is immaterial. My experiences with the service records staff in applying for three sets of records are all very satisfactory.
Imber
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The point is that it’s not HIS record that’s you’ve applied for. The fact that both of you are ex-service is immaterial. My experiences with the service records staff in applying for three sets of records are all very satisfactory.
Imber
Yes it is HIS record I have applied for and obviously he was ex-service because I'm applying for his service record. I'm pleased that your experiences have been good but mine has certainly not been good. If I hadn't telephoned, my application would have sat in someones in-tray for ever.
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I am confused. Are you saying that the records you have applied for are for someone who is still living.
I applied for my parents records, my mother was still alive so she signed both forms and there was no charge.
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No Rosie, he is not alive. Medpat had earlier said "they are also dealing with other things related to serving and ex service personnel" and I said that my deceased relative was ex service (obviously). Then IMBER said "The point is that it’s not HIS record that’s you’ve applied for". Either he was confused or I misunderstood what he meant.
Yes I know that the records of living service personnel are free. I've thought about asking for mine but I don't think it would throw up anything I can't remember and it would be a waste of someones time.
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So its now over four months since I applied and nothing back. I phoned them again today and was told that the records might be with me in another six weeks but not to count on it. I'm really not impressed >:(
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Very strange. Things do look as if they have gone down hill a bit.
I have used the service twice. First for my father - about 10 months ago. And then for my father in law about six months ago. On both occasions, I was emailed very swiftly. Acknowledgement of receipt, dire warnings of backlogs, warnings of feint photocopies, and a time-scale of about six weeks.
Less than a month later a package arrives. All the possible information I could want and easily read.
I will be applying for my uncle's records this week - I am hoping for better luck than Vendee.
Regards
Chas
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Well the records finally arrived on 4th July, making it just over five months after they received my application. On the plus side, I was quite pleased with the amount of information I received.
My relative had served in 1918 and was re-enlisted in 1941 but I only had his service number from the second period of service but they managed to provide records for both periods of service. He served for over three years first time but less that one year second time around. It looks like he got injured during training, was admitted to an army hospital at Porthmadog and medically discharged 21 days later. What is really funny is the entry on his records for admission to hospital where it gives the date and someone has written in brackets "after dinner". I'm not sure why they were so precise.