- The official England and Wales fees are £12.50 standard, £38.50 priority and £3.50 per search without a GRO reference.
- In 2011 the Advertising Standards Authority upheld the Registrar General’s complaint about two private certificate sites.
- The General Register Office phone line is 0300 123 1837, so you can ask what an order should cost.
A documented case
On 28 November 2011 GOV.UK reported that the Advertising Standards Authority had upheld a complaint by the Registrar General about two private certificate sites. The ruling said they must stop appearing or implying that they were the General Register Office, and the Registrar General stated that there is just one official online ordering service for England and Wales. At that time, one private site charged up to £74.99 for an express certificate, against an official express fee of £23.40 and a standard fee of £9.25. That is more than three times the official express price. Those prices are out of date. We use the case as an example of the pattern, not as today’s price list.
How it unfolds now
- You search for how to replace a certificate and click an advert whose headline mentions “official” or “GRO”.
- The form asks for the same details as the real service, and often more.
- The payment page shows a total made of the official fee plus a “search”, “research” or “processing” charge.
- The certificate that arrives is normally the same one the General Register Office would have sent.
What a private site says, and what the register office charges
| Private site line | Official position |
|---|---|
| “Standard certificate” at well above £12.50 | £12.50, and extra copies cost the same as the first. |
| “Records search included”, priced at several pounds or more | £3.50 per search, and only if you do not have a GRO index reference. |
| “Express, guaranteed delivery” | Priority is £38.50, sent the next working day if ordered by 4pm. |
| “We verify your application” | You give the details yourself; verification is not a separate paid step. |
Signs of a look-alike
- A search advert whose headline mentions “official” or “GRO” but whose address is not gov.uk.
- A price well above £12.50 for a standard copy, or a “search” or “research” charge larger than the £3.50 the General Register Office charges.
- A request for more personal information than the government asks for.
- Delivery claims that sound faster than the priority service’s next working day.
Private firms may legally help people with applications, but they must not pose as the government. Where they do, Trading Standards can act.
Two-minute checks
- Go to GOV.UK yourself, find the page to order a copy of a birth, death or marriage certificate, and compare the fee.
- Look at the total at the last step. Anything above £12.50 plus £3.50 (if you lack a reference) needs an explanation.
- Ring 0300 123 1837 if you are unsure; it is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
If you have paid too much
- Contact your bank or card provider about the charge and say the site implied it was the register office.
- Keep screenshots of how the site described itself, and the confirmation email.
- Call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 for a referral to Trading Standards.
- Report to Report Fraud if the site collected data it did not need or the certificate never came.
For the steps on a payment scam in general, see what to do after paying a scammer, which apply here too.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a birth certificate website is official?
In England and Wales the official ordering service is on GOV.UK. Check the address ends in gov.uk and the standard fee is £12.50.
Is it illegal for a website to charge more for a birth certificate?
A private firm may charge for helping, but it must not pretend to be the General Register Office. The 2011 ASA ruling upheld a complaint on that point.
Where do I report a site that overcharged me?
To the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133, which refers cases to Trading Standards.
Will a private site's certificate be different from the official one?
Normally no. The certificate is the same record. What differs is the price, the extra personal data you hand over and what the site implies about who it is.
What is the official search fee?
£3.50 per search, charged only if you do not have a GRO index reference, according to GOV.UK, checked 5 October 2026.
Can I ask the General Register Office what an order should cost?
Yes. Its phone line is 0300 123 1837, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.