Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Not got my original birth certificate, work won’t accept the copy, help?

117 replies

BCGoneIDontKnowWhat · 04/02/2022 18:39

When I was a child (I’d have been 8 or 9) my parents house caught fire while we were away on holiday. Everything destroyed including my original birth certificate.

My parents insurance immediately purchased certified copies from the General Register Office (GRO).

I’ve never had an issue using this certificate ever; I applied for a driving license using it. I registered my DD for school using this certificate (both the council and her school wanted to see my BC and accepted this copy as proof she was entitled to an education).

I’ve held down jobs in the past and they’ve been fine with it.

My parents and siblings have also got certified copies of their certificates for the same reason and never had issues.

Until now.

My current work have been doing right to work checks and asked for my original birth certificate. I explained I had this certified copy and have never had an issue using it, but work will not accept it. They’ve said it needs to be the original certificate issued with a year of my birth.

I’ve explained I no longer have that certificate and that this one was purchased by the insurance company to replace the original and I’ve never had an issue using it, but they insist it has be the original certificate.

No matter which way I explain I cannot get the original certificate as it was destroyed they say there’s nothing they can do and they have to prove my right to work.

If I send off to the GRO for another copy this isn’t good enough they want the original certificate.

Help, what else can I do?

OP posts:
LittleOwl153 · 04/02/2022 19:01

Email them back and state:

I have provided you with a certified copy of my birth certificate. I cannot provide a certificate dated within a year of my birth as the certificate issued at the time of registering my birth was destroyed in a fire in 19xx.

And leave it at that. They will either figure something else out or not...

Gladioli23 · 04/02/2022 19:01

Have you got a copy of the 20 year old passport?

Passports don't stop being identification (or proof of right to work I guess) when they expire - and your birth certificate doesn't have a photo so the photo age shouldn't matter?

Agree it's ridiculous but I think I would try them on the passport before insisting on talking to someone who can stop with the computer says no stance.

Original poster
BCGoneIDontKnowWhat · 04/02/2022 19:03

There is a date of when my birth was registered and according to that it was only a few days after I was born, I've pointed this out but they say that;s not the issue, its the certificate itself thats the issue.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 04/02/2022 19:03

Maybe clarify it's a certified copy of the original entry and not a photocopy.

Original poster
BCGoneIDontKnowWhat · 04/02/2022 19:05

@Gladioli23

Have you got a copy of the 20 year old passport?

Passports don't stop being identification (or proof of right to work I guess) when they expire - and your birth certificate doesn't have a photo so the photo age shouldn't matter?

Agree it's ridiculous but I think I would try them on the passport before insisting on talking to someone who can stop with the computer says no stance.

@Gladioli23 My mum might have a copy off but doubt she still has the physical passport.
OP posts:
penelopequiche · 04/02/2022 19:05

As others have said this is total nonsense. The whole point of registration is that it's not a problem if originals are lost, burnt in house fires etc. Tell them if the have a concern to reapply for another official copy to the registry office for a copy at their own expense! What a waste of your time and theirs. I really do wish that people would be better informed before talking rubbish.

DrFoxtrot · 04/02/2022 19:07

Take in a little envelope of ash. Absolute fools.

Fujimora · 04/02/2022 19:08

Is this for a CRB check? If so, I suspect that they have misunderstood the instruction to accept only valid, current and original documentation. You should be able to resolve this by explaining that a certified copy issued by the GRO is valid, current and original - ie it is not a copy.

Is there someone in the department with more experience in this area? ery few people have a birth certificate issued within a year of their birth. Parents have often misplaced them.

SoupDragon · 04/02/2022 19:08

How many people actually have the "original" certificate issued when their birth was registered?

sadpapercourtesan · 04/02/2022 19:10

Find out the name of the direct superior of whichever plank-headed jobsworth is doing the insisting. Explain the situation and say that the constant demands for something which does not exist are proving stressful.

Gladioli23 · 04/02/2022 19:11

My mum might have a copy off but doubt she still has the physical passport.

Ah damn, I'm a weirdo and we have all of everyone's passports stored!

Clymene · 04/02/2022 19:13

@DrFoxtrot

Take in a little envelope of ash. Absolute fools.
Do that.
Original poster
BCGoneIDontKnowWhat · 04/02/2022 19:20

@Fujimora

Is this for a CRB check? If so, I suspect that they have misunderstood the instruction to accept only valid, current and original documentation. You should be able to resolve this by explaining that a certified copy issued by the GRO is valid, current and original - ie it is not a copy.

Is there someone in the department with more experience in this area? ery few people have a birth certificate issued within a year of their birth. Parents have often misplaced them.

@Fujimora Not DBS/CRB I already have that and the certificate was accepted for that. This is right to work check.
OP posts:
catfunk · 04/02/2022 19:21

HR here - in lieu of passport we used to have to get 'long form' birth certificate showing both parents names etc. Along with a document showing NI number. A lot of BC re issues don't have them on.
The legislation has now changed. Show them
Gov. Uk list of docs.

Davros · 04/02/2022 19:24

I assume it's not a short form birth certificate?

MyBottleOfRibena · 04/02/2022 19:24

@Mumdiva99

Is this in England? And is it England you are trying to use it? If so, and it's a copy from the registry office then I don't understand their issue. Is it for a DBS check. Or is it because its a short copy (no parents details) and not a full copy (with parent details) of the BC - which you can get a copy of for £11 from the registry office.
Short copies are now accepted as proof of right to work
Original poster
BCGoneIDontKnowWhat · 04/02/2022 19:25

@catfunk

HR here - in lieu of passport we used to have to get 'long form' birth certificate showing both parents names etc. Along with a document showing NI number. A lot of BC re issues don't have them on. The legislation has now changed. Show them Gov. Uk list of docs.
@catfunk This has my parents details and address on from where they where living when I was born. It lists the hospital I was born at and the address of that, it also has my full registered name at birth which matches up to the name entered on the marriage register when I got married. This isn't the problem, they are saying its not the certificate given within a year of my birth so they can't accept it even though it's a certified copy that from the GRO and has all the needed information on.
OP posts:
Georgeskitchen · 04/02/2022 19:25

Smells a bit suspect. I don't have my original but got a another copy from registry office and has always been accepted!!

Original poster
BCGoneIDontKnowWhat · 04/02/2022 19:26

@Davros

I assume it's not a short form birth certificate?
@Davros I only have a long certificate.
OP posts:
CandyLeBonBon · 04/02/2022 19:29

How bizarre op. I'm frustrated on your behalf!

karalime · 04/02/2022 19:34

Tell them that you miraculously found it and give them your certified copy.

As others have already said, all birth certificates are certified copies. The original is in the registry office.

I have my 30 year old birth certificate next to me, the only one I've ever had and it says 'Certified Copy' at the top. Equally a few years ago when my mum died I got her death certificate and that said certified copy too.

JulesJules · 04/02/2022 19:35

They are idiots. I think they have confused 'copy of birth certificate' - which all birth certs are as the original is the register - with 'photocopy' of the certificate which is often not admissible.

RainingYetAgain · 04/02/2022 19:35

An out of date passport is not regarded as a proof of identity in our experience. DH passport expired during the first lockdown and he hasn't bothered to get a new one, as he has health issues at the moment and wouldn't get travel insurance.
However, he couldn't use the old one to get his first photocard driving licence just 3 months after it expired nor could the solicitor use it when she needed proof of identity ( but luckily he could use his driving licence).
I get that the old passport photo couldn't be used on the new driving licence but they wouldn't accept it as proof of ID.

Pashazade · 04/02/2022 19:36

OP ask them to provide you with an image of what particular type of certificate are asking for, and a copy of the relevant piece of company documentation that demands this. Given you have used this documentation for CRB checks and everything else they are being ridiculous. Get them to prove to you exactly what they need. I think someone has got this wrong at their end and is being inflexible or not bothering to see if there is an alternative, especially given what pp have put with regard to required documentation.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 04/02/2022 19:37

Good point, @WeAreTheHeroes.
Sounds as if the OP is dealing with someone a bit clueless.

Swipe left for the next trending thread