Don’t be ripped of by unofficial birth certificate services families warned

Families needing new copies of birth certificates are being warned to get them directly from local register offices or the General Register Office.

The Identity & Passport Service is urging people not to get ripped off by unofficial ‘express’ online services charging up to £74.99 instead of the £23.40 official services.

IPS Chief Executive and Registrar General Sarah Rapson, said: “There is just one official web service for England and Wales, and anyone using an online service other than www.directgov.gov.uk/gro is paying more than they need to.

“While other website services for birth certificates and other replacement certificates like those for marriages and civil partnerships can be found online, there is no reason the public should pay more than necessary.”