New GRO indexes

I have looked at my order online and the PDF that I have received says 'despatched'
and the one that I am waiting for still says 'in progress' with estimated despatch date of 18th November.
It is very frustrating and confusing when they send part of the order one day, but not the rest of the order.
Just wondering how long I wait before I contact them to see if there is a real problem with my order, rather than just too many to deal with.

There is hope for me yet.

 

I have just had the cost of my missing PDF refunded and an email from GRO stating:-

We have been unable to process your application, please refer to the paragraph below.
Due to the nature of the original image, we are unable to produce a PDF of the entry you require. You can apply for a certificate for which a new order would be required.

Any ideas why they cannot send me a PDF but could send me a certificate?

 

Clutching at straws: something written on the Register that you're not allowed to see (in a PDF image of it), whereas a certificate could be handwritten as a transcription without that information? Someone more knowledgeable than me will have to suggest what info that might be!

 

I have now received an email response from G.R.O.

"Please be aware, GRO do not retain PDF copies once they have been sent to the customer so we will be unable to re-send you the attached PDF without a new order being processed.
On behalf of GRO thank you for your order."

My initial reaction was disappointment until I scrolled down to find the attachment was of the re-scanned image showing all the details.

 

I have noticed that in some cases the strip with the entry details is laid on top of another page underneath the heading - some of the letter tops from the entry underneath are still visible.

 

I have 2 copies from the same registration district and the same year.
The headings look as if they are written by the same hand, but the scans are different.
There is more heading on one than the other.
I cannot tell if it is the same heading for each scan.

 

Thank you SO much for doing that! I ordered 6 certificates myself. I can't wait until the marriage records go online!

 

I have made good use of the GRO online birth indexes, particularly on account of the inclusion of the mother's maiden surname. It comes in especially handy with a surname like Jones, although in this case it's the mother's maiden surname that was Jones. One of my Jones ancestors was born before her mother's marriage, and her mother gave her the middle name 'Matthewman' which I took to be the surname of the child's biological father. I found a likely candidate in the Colchester census around the time of her birth. Her mother married and went on to have several more children. When in due course the illegitimate Jane Matthewman Jones herself married, she had 16 children, 6 of whom died in infancy (as recorded in the 1911 census). Although her married surname was unusual there was another family of the same name in the town, so the GRO online birth indexes were invaluable for identifying Jane's children. However, although the births were registered with the correct father's surname, the mother's maiden surname varies between her birth surname (Jones), her middle name (Matthewman), and her mother's married name. I wonder whether the variant recorded depended on who registered the birth. Jane died age 48 - presumably of exhaustion.

 

I thought I would order the above certificate before the GRO price rise.
The same thing happened, my money was refunded, but this time the GRO did not contact me at all to let me know.
I phoned and talked to a very nice man who told me that they could not send a certificate as it was a damaged entry and I would have to order from the local register office.
At least I now know the official reason for not getting the pdf or certificate.

 

Still way ahead of Australia in terms of price and "even-ness" of availability.

All the states are different in Australia - Victoria allows an immediate download of a pdf, but costs approx $21. South Australia only gives you access to transcriptions (which annoys me), but a full transcription costs at least $14. NSW makes you wait and often it costs upwards of $25. QLD also gives you immediate access, but it's still above $20.
WA is the worst, I believe it costs $31. Fairly sure Tasmania is the one which gives you the best access for the cheapest rate (if it's not completely free).

And then, of course, go back far enough and all the records are under NSW.