Replacement educational certificates

[Pebbledashery]

Hi all..
Due to fleeing domestic abuse and leaving practically all of my possessions behind I am unable to obtain my A level, Gcse and Degree certificates. My ex isn't allowing me to go back to the old family home to collect anything.
I've applied for a job that is asking for proof of qualifications, has anyone ever needed to reorder their certificates to provide to a potential new employer? It looks like it's going to cost about £100 :(
Do schools hold exam results in the form of exam slips and do universities do the same? I don't really want to have to shell out all that money :( so frustrating.

Might previous employers have taken copies of anything?

I would be inclined. If they have to have these certificates, to explain that they are not available but negotiate for them to accept a copy of your degree certificate. Frankly, as an employer if you have a degree, I'm not that bothered what GCSEs you have.

I had to order a replacement degree certificate. Unfortunately yes it did cost £50.

Dh had to get proof of his school qualifications which was in the form of a transcript and also cost, but I don't think as much as that.

Could you speak to the employer and see if there would be the possibility of only providing evidence of the highest level qualification to save you having to get them all?

Would the police help you retrieve belongings? I understand if you just don't want to go there.

For GCSEs and A Levels, you can contact the exam board but I can't remember if there's a fee for replacements.

I wouldn't worry too much about replacing your lower quals but I'd definitely look to replace the degree certificate or at least get evidence of it as I have only ever not been asked for this by 1 employer.
Usually you have to confirm that it is lost/destroyed to get a replacement and it will often state that on the certificate so if there's any chance that you might get it back you could contact your awarding dept and see if they can offer a letter or academic reference confirming your studies and award instead. Employers will sometimes accept this, if not they could check with the uni themselves perhaps?
This might not be chargeable, or at least hopefully a smaller charge than the certificate.

Can you not just wait until he goes back out and go in to get everything?

I had to, was around £250 for GCSEs and a levels (multiple boards). I got a letter confirming my degree for free though

I’ve had to do it. It takes a few weeks. You have to pay for each replacement from each exam board too so, if you sat A Levels from different exam boards it’s three replacements and three fees.

Ps yes my employer demanded my gcse certificates despite me having a masters degree

I got a copy (for free) of my Scottish O and S grades, as the SQA aren't doing replacement certificates cos of Covid - you may find the English exam boards are doing something similar (if you get in quick before lockdown ends!).

I used to work for a university admissions department and this comes up a lot for adult returners. You can get replacement certificates/statement of results from exam boards and unis. Universities vary in how much they charge for transcripts. Depending on how formal your employer wants the evidence to be, some schools and universities are happy provide email confirmation of results from their records for free. It’s worth asking your employer what they actually need so you can figure out if you can do it without a full set of official replacements.

I believe you can ask the police to accompany you to the property if you need to get your stuff - have you tried going down that road?

@sunflowersandbuttercups yes but I've been told he has to agree a time with them and he's ignored all of their calls.

I think I'll definitely replace my degree certificates and see if I can obtain an exam slip or transcripts of the a levels and gcses. So annoying.

I’d be keeping on at the police on a daily basis.

Do they know why you need to get in, that it’s to collect your stuff? That it’s for a job?

I know they are always busy but if he’s legally obliged to let you in and he isn’t then they should be able to sort it out. Phone every day. For the next week if you have that much time in hand.

If he’s breaking the law by not allowing you access then he’s a criminal so presumably they don’t just disengage with criminals who don’t answer their phone or nobody would ever get arrested for anything.

I did a subject access request for GCSE and A-Level results. It was free (and was well worth it because both came back with better results than I actually got in a couple of subjects 🤷🏼‍♀️)

@JanetandJohn500 how did you do that??

I knew which exam board and they had a subject access form on their website. They have to offer it because of GDPR- they have to share all information they hold on you if you request it.
The increase in grades was just a bizarre twist to the saga

@JanetandJohn500 could I just also request it directly from my old school and university? I'm sure my school will have the exam slips and my university will have my exam transcripts etc..
That's such a good idea. How long did you have to wait?

It took a month but I had to go to the exam board, not my school.
I just paid for my degree certificate because o didn't think about this then but if the uni are their own awarding body, you've nothing to lose from trying it

The school won't have kept them.

Did you try the police again OP. A week has gone by. Time is marching in and you want that job!

As a school we do hold these records and copies of the results slips as these are generated by the school. We do not hold copy certificates.
They can be obtained from the boards for a fee.

I am often asked to provide transcripts setting out date, board, level, subject and grades which we provide free of charge, on headed paper and stamped.

I would ask the school for these and see if the employer would accept these. Explain they are mislaid and you are applying for new ones.

Someone else has already commented regarding degree certificates.

Look on website for your university - they will usually have provision for transcript (cheaper) or replacement certificate but can charge a fee even with DP laws as they allow for this where a fee is usually charged for a service.

Hello, so I left my ex last year in the summer, throughout that time he's ignored various calls from the police, various letters from my solicitor to make arrangements to get my stuff.. He's even had the social worker who relocated us trying him but he's just ignored them all. It's punishment. The police passed me all around and eventually said they can't just rock up to his and it has to be a set appointment time. On the plus side, I got offered a job last week in the NHS :) so I just have to see what they ask for, I've emailed the awards department of my university to see if I could get my certificate reissued. I'm also 99% certain I provided my degree certificate to my previous employer before my current and have asked my former line manager to see if she can retrieve it off my HR file and send it to me.. So have made some progress!
The next task is handing in my notice to my tyrant of a boss... Absolutely dreading that 🤮