Sending original birth certificate through the post

Geoffo_M

I will soon be applying for the annual fuel allowance. I have downloaded the form and notes and see they are asking me to send the original of my birth certificate through the post, in order that they may verify my age. This is unbelievable. I have already had correspondence with the pension office, so they clearly know my age. Add to this the prospect of so much mail that goes missing these days, I feel this a surprising, dangerous and archaic procedure.

Does anyone know if they accept any other form of verification? Or perhaps they think it's easy to obtain a copy birth certificate should it go astray.

Geoff

elsien

Can you get an authorised copy done by someone local, then send that to them? Don't know about government agencies, but I did that at a local branch of a building society to send to their head office, free of charge.

soolin

I have no problem at all ins sending a birth certificate in the post as it *is* easy to get another one. You can even request one online, costs about £6 and arrives in a week.

I am doing family history research and have birth certificates now going back 5 generations..all obtained with very little fuss.

In fact the ease at which they can be obtained is why so many places will no longer accept them as ID.

VeryTrying_2

soolin wrote: »

I have no problem at all ins sending a birth certificate in the post as it *is* easy to get another one. You can even request one online, costs about £6 and arrives in a week.

Perhaps the govenment department means an original copy, rather than THE original copy which would now be an antique of some 60 years. THE original one would be quite precious in that it would be written in somewhat faded ink, and handwritten too, not some computer produced form. This would indeed be too precious to send in the post to some jobsworth.
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soolin

VeryTrying wrote: »

Perhaps the govenment department means an original copy, rather than THE original copy which would now be an antique of some 60 years. THE original one would be quite precious in that it would be written in somewhat faded ink, and handwritten too, not some computer produced form. This would indeed be too precious to send in the post to some jobsworth.
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Nope an original copy is any copy obtained from the proper source, ie not a photocopy that has been notorised. There is no difference between a copy bought when an infant is first registered, or one bought a few (or a lot ) of years later.

I have recently been doing a lot of work for my father and many departments asked for his birth certificate , along with other documents. I just ordered two additional copies and sent them round.

TomsMom

I had to send my birth certificate for something official last year, can't remember what now but I know I wasn't happy about sending the original.

I queried it and was told that I could send a "certified" copy and that my local Job Centre would provide this certified copy free of charge.

Off I toddled to the JC, explained what I wanted and immediately, no questions asked, they copied it, stamped the copy with their official stamp and signed it.

Job done!

Savvy_Sue

Not a lot of help to any of you, probably, but for my 3 boys I have both 'short' and 'long' certificates. I've only ever sent the 'short' one off in the post, the 'long' one doesn't leave the house until it goes with them!

When the eldest was born, in hospital, I registered his birth and was in two minds whether or not to get a 'long' one - which cost money - or just the 'short' one which was free and doesn't name his father. His father insisted on having both ... I was only trying to save money! :rotfl:

soolin

Order as many long or short versions of anybody's birth certificate here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4017640

All you need is a debit or credit card and the following info:

Full name and postal address
An e-mail address
Details of the registration event you are applying for - e.g. birth, death, marriage or adoption

Just be warned that you can search for any certificates issued more than 18 months ago (more recent ones aren't online yet). So if you suspect any of your frineds have shaved a few years of their age, you can even check that and get their birth certificate if you are prepared to search.

When you start doing family research you turn up a lot of oddities, marriages a few months after they were supposed to be, missing brothers and sisters, extra marriages that have been 'forgotten about'.

Geoffo_M

soolin wrote: »

Order as many long or short versions of anybody's birth certificate here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4017640

All you need is a debit or credit card and the following info:

Full name and postal address
An e-mail address
Details of the registration event you are applying for - e.g. birth, death, marriage or adoption

Just be warned that you can search for any certificates issued more than 18 months ago (more recent ones aren't online yet). So if you suspect any of your frineds have shaved a few years of their age, you can even check that and get their birth certificate if you are prepared to search.

When you start doing family research you turn up a lot of oddities, marriages a few months after they were supposed to be, missing brothers and sisters, extra marriages that have been 'forgotten about'.

Thanks for the link. I prefer that idea and will order one. Like others, I'm not very happy to release my original certificate. It does pose the worrying question that if it's easy to order one online, it would be just as easy for someone intent on identity fraud. I know what you're thinking "Some people are never happy".

Thanks again

Geoff

soolin

No you are quite right Geoff.

The ease at which anyone can obtain any certificates is why birth certificates are not used to prove ID in most places, more often they are used as secondary id to prove a date of birth once a more formal form of ID has been taken. For example open a bank account and they want utility bills showing your name and address, a birth certificate is not considered proof of ID.

miaxmia

Send it recorded delivery.