Who Do You Think You Are Magazine Forum

[YetAnorUsename]

In July I was excited to get an email from WDYTYA Magazine with a significant change and a link to the web site: "Government cuts probate record cost to £1.50 for next 12 months"
http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/news/government-cuts-probate-record-cost-next-12-months?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2025%2F07%2F19_189480_Who%20Do%20You%20Think%20You%20Are%3F_Newsletters

Even better, when I searched I was advised of a 10 working day turnaround, confirmed in the acknowledgement email. I ordered a few wills.

After 20 working days I sent a chaser, and was told sorry but they were busier than expected. Really? Did they not expect a huge take up?

After 25 working days, I got my first will pdf. The web site STILL shows 10 days for delivery for the rest. I suggested to them that they update that timescale. They are thinking about it. It is now 30 working days since I ordered another 9.

The odd thing is that NONE of my emails are going to any government department, but to Iron Mountain, a commercial company. They are not mentioned at all on the order page which is on a proper UK Government web site.

[AdrianB38]

... The odd thing is that NONE of my emails are going to any government department, but to Iron Mountain, a commercial company. They are not mentioned at all on the order page which is on a proper UK Government web site.

Interesting - but not odd.

If I recall correctly, Iron Mountain are a company specialising in archival storage and retrieval - sounds like HM Courts have outsourced the storage and retrieval of will documents to a company that specialises in the storage and retrieval of documents. Makes perfect sense to me. It should also still be advertised as being an arm of the UK Government because that is what it is. Who does the work is not the point.

What doesn't make sense is why they (HM Courts) haven't updated the e.t.a. dates on their web-site. That is bad.