GRO reference checking options?

[benny1982]

Do any of you use this when ordering certs? I never use it as the info you supply which you got from a census or baptism might not tally in a marriage or death cert. Ie if you know Joe Bloggs was baptised in February 1857 so of John Bloggs a carpenter and you find John died in 1862 and you send off for the cert stating that he should be a carpenter the cert might say Timber Yard Worker and you will probably not get the cert but get your partial refund.

And if you state that a birth cert should say the father is Thomas, then the cert might just say Thos and you may not get the cert. I always send off for the cert for £7 as the cert could easily be the right one, just slightly different descriptions of occupation or name.

 

[duckweed]

I haven't even though of it. I generally send for certificates from the local registration office and have found they are pretty helpful. My very local one they even do a quick search on their system while I'm there to check they have it in the area I think they lived in so I have chance to say if they don't find it there, another place they can look. They really are the most pleasant helpful people in Sheffield registration office.

 

[Robesur]

I agree with both the previous messages. The local registrar is probably better if you live nearby, but those at a distance find it more convienient to order on line from the GRO. Generally I do not request checks for all the reasons that benny gives. Although you do end up with unwanted certificates.
There is one time however when checking is useful. If you are not sure which of more than one Birth/Death is yours and you want to order at the same time. You know only one can be the correct one so giving a checking point saves money and a lot of unwanted certs. Just hope though that they don't all fail the check!

 

[benny1982]

I do know that ordering from the local RO is a lot quicker than the GRO as they can deliver within days but not all local RO's have a system where they issue BMD certs.