Whenever the cost of certs goes up it's invariably by a significant amount because the increases are not done annually. Yes, an increase of 2.25GBP is a lot in one go but the certs haven't gone up for 7 years. Now using a calculator ('cos my maths isn't that good), that increase works out at 32.1428571 pence a year. That's less than the annual increase in the Carer's Allowance I get for my son and less than just about every other State benefit and allowance. It's also less than wages have increased for the non self employed. If pensions and other State benefits and allowances had been kept at the same level for 7 years and then the accumulated annual increases were given us in one hit, we'd all be dancing on the ceiling and planning round the world trips! We won't know whether the withdrawal of the reference checking will mean the GRO will keep the fee or return it until after 6 April. Yes, it will make it more difficult for people researching common names. It may well be the addtional information that's not required at the moment will need to be given, if known. Clarification on this would have to come from the GRO themselves because they are the ones who'd know the answer. Yes, they do make mistakes from time to time. They are no more perfect than anyone else and we all make mistakes from time to time even if we don't like admitting it. These charges will go ahead and petitions to the Government aren't going to stop them. As far as I'm aware, there are only two petitions that have ever had an effect. One of those was for a conversion to allow a severely disabled soldier to live as independent a life as possible. I don't think the wishes of hobbyists will have the same impact somehow. I know that all sounds harsh and uncaring but it's not. My income is as severely limited as all those who are on a pension or DLA so it's going to have just as great an impact on me as well. This discussion is one of those that's going to go round and round until it disappears up our exhausts, so I'm asking everyone to, please, send it to our ancestors. For those waiting to see if they have anyone mentioned int the Hearth Tax book I have - I'm getting there! :)) I still have the Lay Subsidy book to go through as well. -- Charani (UK) OPC for Walton, Greinton and Clutton, SOM Asst OPC for Ashcott and Shapwick, SOM http://wsom-opc.org.uk

Charani wrote: > Now using a calculator ('cos my maths isn't that good), that increase > works out at 32.1428571 pence a year. That's less than! the annual > increase in the Carer's Allowance I get for my son and less than just > about every other State benefit and allowance. It's also less than > wages have increased for the non self employed. That calculation assumes that we each buy only 1 certificate per year... Is that realistic? Regards, Jan ---------------------------------------- > Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:33:20 +0000 > From: familyhunter@family-hunter.co.uk > To: bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [B&D] Changes to certificate ordering > > Whenever the cost of certs goes up it's invariably by a significant > amount because the increases are not done annually. > > Yes, an increase of 2.25GBP is a lot in one go but the certs haven't > gone up for 7 years. > > Now using a calculator ('cos my maths isn't that good), that increase > works out at 32.1428571 pence a year. That's less than the annual > increase in the Carer's Allowance I get for my son and less than just > about every other State benefit and allowance. It's also less than > wages have increased for the non self employed. > > If pensions and other State benefits and allowances had been kept at > the same level for 7 years and then the accumulated annual increases > were given us in one hit, we'd all be dancing on the ceiling and > planning round the world trips! > > We won't know whether the withdrawal of the reference checking will > mean the GRO will keep the fee or return it until after 6 April. Yes, > it will make it more difficult for people researching common names. > It may well be the addtional information that's not required at the > moment will need to be given, if known. Clarification on this would > have to come from the GRO themselves because they are the ones who'd > know the answer. > > Yes, they do make mistakes from time to time. They are no more > perfect than anyone else and we all make mistakes from time to time > even if we don't like admitting it. > > These charges will go ahead and petitions to the Government aren't > going to stop them. As far as I'm aware, there are only two petitions > that have ever had an effect. One of those was for a conversion to > allow a severely disabled soldier to live as independent a life as > possible. I don't think the wishes of hobbyists will have the same > impact somehow. > > I know that all sounds harsh and uncaring but it's not. My income is > as severely limited as all those who are on a pension or DLA so it's > going to have just as great an impact on me as well. > > This discussion is one of those that's going to go round and round > until it disappears up our exhausts, so I'm asking everyone to, > please, send it to our ancestors. > > For those waiting to see if they have anyone mentioned int the Hearth > Tax book I have - I'm getting there! :)) I still have the Lay Subsidy > book to go through as well. > > -- > Charani (UK) > OPC for Walton, Greinton and Clutton, SOM > Asst OPC for Ashcott and Shapwick, SOM > http://wsom-opc.org.uk > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message _________________________________________________________________ Do you have a story that started on Hotmail? Tell us now http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/195013117/direct/01/