I bought 4 OPR certificates a couple of month's ago (2 M and 2 B). I paid the £40 to the GRO not knowing what goodies they held. I was very disappointed with the info in them which cannot be helped but I think £10 is very steep. Anyone else think these should be made cheaper?
I'd like another 4 for my records but as they are not going to give me any information that is not already in the index I'm not willing to part with £40 to do so. I'd just like to see what you all thought considering BMD certificates in England can be bought online for £7.
A tenner for OPR certificates! .....
Moderator: Global Moderators
-
JustJean
- Posts: 2520
- Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2004 12:52 am
- Location: Maine USA
Hi Rab
Couldn't agree with you more!!!
Being from across the pond I have had to resort to a researcher doing some leg work for me more than once....and have found that it can be cheaper to pay for a transcription than buying the OPR info straight from GROS......live and learn the hard way.... 
Best wishes
Jean
Couldn't agree with you more!!!
Being from across the pond I have had to resort to a researcher doing some leg work for me more than once....and have found that it can be cheaper to pay for a transcription than buying the OPR info straight from GROS......live and learn the hard way.... Best wishes
Jean
-
LesleyB
- Posts: 8184
- Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2005 12:18 am
- Location: Scotland
Hi Rab
I've found its cheaper to find somewhere you can see the microfilm. Depends where you live - if you are local to the area you are researching your local library may have them. Or try your local LDS centre. Even if you have to order the film in it will be cheaper than the "official" copies from GROS and there may be the added advantage with births that you can see several of the children rather than just the one. You should then be able to take a "screen image" print-out from the film. I think most LDS centres have at least one film reader you can do this on. They make a small charge for print outs.
Sometimes I've found the OPR info on the original can hold small clues which are not shown elsewhere in summaries of the content - e.g. a father's occupation, if mentioned, can confirm and cross-reference with other mentions you may have found of the family, or the name of a farm or area can help you work out where they lived.
Best wishes
Lesley
I've found its cheaper to find somewhere you can see the microfilm. Depends where you live - if you are local to the area you are researching your local library may have them. Or try your local LDS centre. Even if you have to order the film in it will be cheaper than the "official" copies from GROS and there may be the added advantage with births that you can see several of the children rather than just the one. You should then be able to take a "screen image" print-out from the film. I think most LDS centres have at least one film reader you can do this on. They make a small charge for print outs.
Sometimes I've found the OPR info on the original can hold small clues which are not shown elsewhere in summaries of the content - e.g. a father's occupation, if mentioned, can confirm and cross-reference with other mentions you may have found of the family, or the name of a farm or area can help you work out where they lived.
Best wishes
Lesley
Last edited by LesleyB on Tue Sep 06, 2005 11:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Researching:
Midlothian & Fife - Goalen, Lawrie, Ewart, Nimmo, Jamieson, Dick, Ballingall.
Dunbartonshire- Mcnicol, Davy, Guy, McCunn, McKenzie.
Ayrshire- Lyon, Parker, Mitchell, Fraser.
Easter Ross- McCulloch, Smith, Ross, Duff, Rose.
Midlothian & Fife - Goalen, Lawrie, Ewart, Nimmo, Jamieson, Dick, Ballingall.
Dunbartonshire- Mcnicol, Davy, Guy, McCunn, McKenzie.
Ayrshire- Lyon, Parker, Mitchell, Fraser.
Easter Ross- McCulloch, Smith, Ross, Duff, Rose.
-
AndrewP
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6189
- Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2004 1:36 am
- Location: Edinburgh
Hi Rab,
Many Local Studies Libraries hold the OPRs (local to them) on microfilm. Most of these libraries have microfilm readers with a photocopy facility. Their charges vary (I have found prices between 20p and 40p per copy). Significantly cheaper than £10.
There is a down-side. Many of the library microfilms have lines worn into them as they have seen a lot of use. Some of the copiers are not first class. You have to judge if the quality is sufficient for your purposes. Or would you be satisfied by reading the OPR and copying it in your own handwriting? The choice is yours.
The public libraries that I know of with the largest selections of OPRs are the Edinburgh Central Library and the Glasgow's Mitchell Library. You need to work out which OPRs you are looking for and trawl the library websites to check their holdings (or phone them).
For researchers outside of Scotland, I guess that means the LDS Family History Centres. I don't know their policies or costs for copying.
All the best,
Andrew Paterson
Many Local Studies Libraries hold the OPRs (local to them) on microfilm. Most of these libraries have microfilm readers with a photocopy facility. Their charges vary (I have found prices between 20p and 40p per copy). Significantly cheaper than £10.
There is a down-side. Many of the library microfilms have lines worn into them as they have seen a lot of use. Some of the copiers are not first class. You have to judge if the quality is sufficient for your purposes. Or would you be satisfied by reading the OPR and copying it in your own handwriting? The choice is yours.
The public libraries that I know of with the largest selections of OPRs are the Edinburgh Central Library and the Glasgow's Mitchell Library. You need to work out which OPRs you are looking for and trawl the library websites to check their holdings (or phone them).
For researchers outside of Scotland, I guess that means the LDS Family History Centres. I don't know their policies or costs for copying.
All the best,
Andrew Paterson
-
Rab
- Posts: 359
- Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 1:24 am
@JustJean- That is a shame that you are having to rely on transcriptions. I'm sure if the cost was more reasonable you'd be happier with the certificates- like myself.
@lbathgate- Thanks. That is interesting. I may well try ordering a film as my time is limited (by a 2 year old and a 2 month old) at the moment.
@AndrewP- Cheers. That's given me more to think about. Nearest at hand for me would be the Mitchell Library but as I said my time is limited. Photocopies though would be fine.
Thanks for the replies.
@lbathgate- Thanks. That is interesting. I may well try ordering a film as my time is limited (by a 2 year old and a 2 month old) at the moment.
@AndrewP- Cheers. That's given me more to think about. Nearest at hand for me would be the Mitchell Library but as I said my time is limited. Photocopies though would be fine.
Thanks for the replies.
-
sporran
- Posts: 496
- Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 11:40 pm
- Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK
Re: cost of OPRs
Hello Rab,
I would not pay £10 for an OPR certificate either, but some of your argument is not correct.
The BMD certificates from England and Wales (E/W) cost £7, but the equivalent Scottish ones cost 6 credits (if it takes only one search) or £1.10 for the user to print off at home.
There is no direct E/W service equivalent to ordering an OPR from GROS. In England, you have to ring up the appropriate Records Office and pay a research fee plus copying and postage costs. My local Records Office charges £21 an hour for that. Of course, you can visit and transcribe free of charge, but you have to visit the Records Office in the county where the event occurred.
The parish records in E/W are usually just as limited as OPRs. For example, baptisms are often lined columns on a page with number, date, name of child, names of parents (no maiden name), occupation, and abode.
The Scottish cost of £10 per OPR fairly represents the work that is involved in finding the register, copying the entry, posting, and associated payment processing costs. It's like a plumber charging £50 or more to change a washer worth £1 - the perceived value to the customer is not the same as the cost to the supplier.
Regards,
John
I would not pay £10 for an OPR certificate either, but some of your argument is not correct.
The BMD certificates from England and Wales (E/W) cost £7, but the equivalent Scottish ones cost 6 credits (if it takes only one search) or £1.10 for the user to print off at home.
There is no direct E/W service equivalent to ordering an OPR from GROS. In England, you have to ring up the appropriate Records Office and pay a research fee plus copying and postage costs. My local Records Office charges £21 an hour for that. Of course, you can visit and transcribe free of charge, but you have to visit the Records Office in the county where the event occurred.
The parish records in E/W are usually just as limited as OPRs. For example, baptisms are often lined columns on a page with number, date, name of child, names of parents (no maiden name), occupation, and abode.
The Scottish cost of £10 per OPR fairly represents the work that is involved in finding the register, copying the entry, posting, and associated payment processing costs. It's like a plumber charging £50 or more to change a washer worth £1 - the perceived value to the customer is not the same as the cost to the supplier.
Regards,
John
-
Rab
- Posts: 359
- Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 1:24 am
Hi Sporran,
I'm in complete agreement with you about the Statutory certificates. Scottish research from 1855 is alot cheaper and alot easier thanks to SP. I didn't realise how much so until I had to trace the English roots in my family. For SR records, and the available online census for Scotland, SP cannot be beaten and I'm very happy with it.
My gripe is with the OPR records. For one there should not be a charge to search those indexes and additionally the cost for purchasing a certificate is way too high- in my own opinion. I don't think there is alot of work involved in locating the certificate as it is done via the index you select so it should be a simple print and post job thereafter. To me £10 seems a but steep for that.
In saying that it's up to the individual and I'm glad cheaper alternatives have been provided. In hindsight I probably shouldn't have used the E/W GRO as a comparison.
Cheers
Rab
I'm in complete agreement with you about the Statutory certificates. Scottish research from 1855 is alot cheaper and alot easier thanks to SP. I didn't realise how much so until I had to trace the English roots in my family. For SR records, and the available online census for Scotland, SP cannot be beaten and I'm very happy with it.
My gripe is with the OPR records. For one there should not be a charge to search those indexes and additionally the cost for purchasing a certificate is way too high- in my own opinion. I don't think there is alot of work involved in locating the certificate as it is done via the index you select so it should be a simple print and post job thereafter. To me £10 seems a but steep for that.
In saying that it's up to the individual and I'm glad cheaper alternatives have been provided. In hindsight I probably shouldn't have used the E/W GRO as a comparison.
Cheers
Rab
-
JustJean
- Posts: 2520
- Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2004 12:52 am
- Location: Maine USA
Hi again RabRab wrote:@JustJean- That is a shame that you are having to rely on transcriptions. I'm sure if the cost was more reasonable you'd be happier with the certificates- like myself.
Actually I've had excellent success with the transcriptions I've received and am very satisfied so don't see myself as losing out at all! Of course I am still saving my spare change for a trip to Scotland just to see all the fun I've been missing
Sounds like you are definitely challenged for time what with two little ones so best wishes to you in all your future searching!!
Jean
-
Malcolm
- Posts: 213
- Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2004 10:53 pm
- Location: Leeds. Yorkshire
Hello Rab
I wanted the 1841 and 1851 census returns for all of Carnock and Cairneyhill in Fife. This was arranged over the telephone with the Family History section of Dunfermline Library and i payed about £40.00 or £0.50 per A3 copy. So, it's not a big place. I have also paid the same for copies of newspaper archives
The same unit cost would apply if i wanted an extract from an OPR or any other rescource. The equipment they use is more advanced than what i have seen in Edinburgh in the sense that the operaters can turn knobs in order to produce images of optimum quality.
You should be able to get better value by making contact with the Central Library relevant to your search area or the local family History Society.
With Sympathy
Malcolm
I wanted the 1841 and 1851 census returns for all of Carnock and Cairneyhill in Fife. This was arranged over the telephone with the Family History section of Dunfermline Library and i payed about £40.00 or £0.50 per A3 copy. So, it's not a big place. I have also paid the same for copies of newspaper archives
The same unit cost would apply if i wanted an extract from an OPR or any other rescource. The equipment they use is more advanced than what i have seen in Edinburgh in the sense that the operaters can turn knobs in order to produce images of optimum quality.
You should be able to get better value by making contact with the Central Library relevant to your search area or the local family History Society.
With Sympathy
Malcolm
Morris (formerly Morrice) of Fife and Geekie of Scone
-
DavidWW
- Posts: 5057
- Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 9:47 pm
Unfortunately, it's not that simple!Rab wrote:....snipped.....
My gripe is with the OPR records. For one there should not be a charge to search those indexes and additionally the cost for purchasing a certificate is way too high- in my own opinion. I don't think there is alot of work involved in locating the certificate as it is done via the index you select so it should be a simple print and post job thereafter. To me £10 seems a but steep for that....snipped
The index entry tells you which microfilm to look at, but if you are unlucky then it can takes a few minutes to spool to the end of the film.
If the index entry has a frame number, - only a proportion have, - and if the frame numbers are easily visible on the microfilm, - then it can be just a few minutes work to locate the correct page on the microfilm, and photocopy it.
If there is no frame number reference, it can take quite some time to locate the correct page, especially if the events are not in strict date order.
The use of the word "certificate" is a bit misleading, as the records are no more than the entries in the parochial records of the Established Church of Scotland, and the amount of info is normally much less than that on the equivalent statutory records from 1855 onwards.
An analogy here would be the situation on statutory register entry copies over the last few years..
Some 10 years or more ago, the only way of obtaining a copy was to buy a so-called extract. Due to the legal nature of this copy there was (still is) a multistage checking process. It used to cost £5.50.
The photocopies were introduced based on the microfiches, but a staff member had to check the request form, another staff member had to locate and deliver the microfiche to the copy room, and then deliver the copy to the front desk, - cost £2.50.
Then, a few years ago, when DIGROS and the associated digitised images became available, all that was required was a click on the button on the screen, and the copy popped up on the copier at the front desk, with your seat number on it, - cost 50p (NB for the same years as on SP).
David