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Original poster

Birth certificate woes

35 replies

TheOrigRights · 13/01/2021 23:09

My understanding is that a short Birth Cert does not include the details of the parents.
The long form, which is called the Certified Copy can be bought at the time of registering.

Is that right?

My application to open a child bank account for my 11 yo son has been rejected 4 million times because first they said the DOB on the application form didn't match the birth cert.

They didn't tell me this at the time of rejection, it was only once I finally got to talk to an actual person I found out. She checked and there was NO discrepancy, but because it had been rejected she said it was quicker to start again.

Rejected. No reason given. I thought maybe it wasn't clear enough, or they want a scanned version not a photo.
Rejected. No reason given.
Rejected. Needs to be original cert not a registered copy
Rejected. Needs to show relationship between mother (applicant) and son (account holder).

To be clear, the registered copy is not a copy I've sent off for, nor a photocopy, it is the original thick cream paper with red ink one issued at the time of registering the birth.

I actually do not know what to do. I bank at this bank so it should be more straight forward.

OP posts:
Lemmeout · 13/01/2021 23:12

I’d go elsewhere tbh. It sounds reeediculous!
Having said that I suppose they have rules for money laundering. ??

TeddyBeans · 13/01/2021 23:12

How very odd. I've used the certified copies of DS's long certificate for everything and it's been fine so far.

Sorry you're having trouble, is it worth phoning the bank and having them go through the application with you?

Lovethewater · 13/01/2021 23:48

You are right about the different types of birth certificates but you can still buy a full version though they are a bit slow at the moment like everything else due to covid. You will need the full version if you want to apply for a passport for your son at some point.

ExclamationPerfume · 13/01/2021 23:58

You can get a certified copy for about £10 from the General Registry Office.

Original poster
TheOrigRights · 14/01/2021 00:04

He has a passport so what I have must have been OK.

I have been through the painful process of trying to talk to a person twice. Luckily I can put it on speaker while I'm on hold and carry on with my work.

They tell me the certified copy is not the original. I think maybe the person doing the manual check doesn't know what they're doing.

I might just go elsewhere.

I have the same versions for both my sons and have never had a problem with using them as ID.

We are not money launders Grin

OP posts:
ultrablue · 14/01/2021 00:18

Yes it's weird, I couldn't get a bank account for DD1 at my local bank, despite having her full birth certificate as she didn't have a passport.. erm to have the passport she would surely have to use her birth certificate right.

I've also had similar myself with DBS checks.. I only have the short version of my birth certificate. With it I have gotten married, been issued a passport etc but have had to send these to get my DBS as the birth certificate that issued them wasn't enough for DBS IYSWIM. Not that I had a problem with that as far as I am concerned DBS need to be as watertight as possible....

RickiTarr · 14/01/2021 00:22

They tell me the certified copy is not the original. I think maybe the person doing the manual check doesn't know what they're doing.

All UK birth certificates are “certified copies” of an entry in the official birth register. Do they realise that?

BeaLola · 14/01/2021 01:00

@RickiTarr

They tell me the certified copy is not the original. I think maybe the person doing the manual check doesn't know what they're doing.

All UK birth certificates are “certified copies” of an entry in the official birth register. Do they realise that?

This. The "original" is the signed Register page at the actual time of the registration - all the certificates you pay for are certified copies of the entry.

The short certificate only shows date of birth, name given on registration and whether child is Male or Female. Up to a few years ago the short certificate was given free of charge on registration - now you to pay for it.

The "long one" referred to up thread is actually a Full Birth Certificate - and it shows parents details, exactly where child was born , parents occupations, address details etc. This is the certificate needed for bank accounts, passports, everything really.

OP sorry you are having problems . No consolation but my DH had similar recently trying to get a Power of Attorney lodged with bank recently - the conversation with the staff member was awful - they at one point actually said that they didn't understand why my DH had PoA for his dementia suffering mum as she wasn't dead and it was her account !

BeaLola · 14/01/2021 01:10

Re the DBS checks etc - if you were born before 1/1/1983 a short birth certificate is enough usually for most things - the law then changed around British citizenship I think and if you are born after that date you need the full certificate

NoOneOwnsTheRainbow · 14/01/2021 03:06

They're being useless. Try a different bank.

TheWitchersWife · 14/01/2021 03:25

Just go elsewhere. My first bank account should have been with natwest, but they wanted a lot of evidence. Walked down the street to barcalys and I had an account set up in 10 minutes.
Very recently tried to set up junior ISAs for my children, barclays have completely suspended accounts, Tesco say a parent need an active account with them, ended up going to NS&I.
Good luck.

TooManyKidsSendHelp · 14/01/2021 03:49

Use a different bank.

They sound ridiculous. There are loads of banks in the UK so there's no need to go through this much trouble with them. Their loss!

Original poster
TheOrigRights · 14/01/2021 10:13

This is NatWest.

I've given it one more go and then I shall go elsewhere.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 14/01/2021 10:17

Are you using the long version?
Do they need to see a hard copy of it rather than however you are sending it to the.?

HavelockVetinari · 14/01/2021 10:40

You need to get hold of the long copy - if you keep trying with the short copy it'll keep getting rejected.

Original poster
TheOrigRights · 14/01/2021 10:42

They do need to see the long version.
It's all online, I don't think it's possible to open a bank account in person at the moment. You upload your supporting docs to an app which does an initial check and then it goes on to a manual check.

They require a photo of the account holder, passport or other ID and then birth or adoption cert. The first 2 have gone through OK, it's just the birth cert they're having problems with.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheOrigRights · 14/01/2021 10:44

I have the long copy, I have sent it to them.
I think because it says "certified copy" they think it's a copy not the original or something.

OP posts:
Angel2702 · 14/01/2021 10:44

Just order a full certificate it will be needed at some point in the future. It’s £11 from www.gro.gov.uk

dementedpixie · 14/01/2021 10:45

How frustrating. We moved away from natwest and bank with nationwide now (although I opened the kids accounts online with santander as they had a better interest rate)

dementedpixie · 14/01/2021 10:46

Idiots! All birth certificates are certified copies of what is in the register

ArnoldBee · 14/01/2021 10:47

I know when my hubby was doing id checks for recruitment he was told he could only accept long certificates issued within 3 months of birth. As a family historian I gave him the lecture on it but his employer was still adamant.

Original poster
TheOrigRights · 14/01/2021 10:50

@Angel2702

Just order a full certificate it will be needed at some point in the future. It’s £11 from www.gro.gov.uk
Read the thread. I have a full cert.
OP posts:
LakieLady · 14/01/2021 10:54

They tell me the certified copy is not the original. I think maybe the person doing the manual check doesn't know what they're doing

You're right, OP!

The "original" is the copy that the registrar general keeps and which forms the public record. The copy anyone else gets is the certified copy". (I used to manage the registration service for a local authority.)

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 14/01/2021 10:57

You can't fix stupid OP. It's frustrating though, I had the same problem with a pension provider & the death certificate after my Dad died. In the end the very kind Solicitor I'd used for a couple of bits wrote a strongly letter worded letter on my behalf (free of charge, I gave him a bottle of his favourite tipple as a thank you).

RickiTarr · 14/01/2021 10:59

@TheOrigRights

I have the long copy, I have sent it to them. I think because it says "certified copy" they think it's a copy not the original or something.
Who are these idiot staff who aren’t familiar with what a UK birth certificate looks like, though? Frightening that such fools are allowed to work in banks.