I got ripped off...

[Archae]

Last edited Wed Jul 14, 2021, 05:14 PM - Edit history (1)

I was looking at Google for a source to get my birth certificate replaced, (the old one is in fragments,) and I went to a place in Sugar Land, Texas called "iVitalRecords."

They took my $59, and have left me in the lurch.
I call the number they provide, no answer.

No return on e-mails.

And no promised actions from the "company."

And the BBB gives them a really bad rating.
This is after many people have been burned including me, the "company" has a fictitious "address," and will readily lie about their "service."

https://www.bbb.org/us/de/wilmington/profile/searchers-of-records/us-vital-records-0251-92001492/customer-reviews

I went to the county register of deeds I was born in, and paid for a new birth certificate.
Waiting for that now.

Update: New birth certificate arrived in the mail today from the county I was born in.

And the Sugar Land Texas "company" that burned me out of $59 can just go (bleep) themselves.

[Demovictory9]

1. call your credit card co... get the charge reversed

[Archae]

3. In the process now.

Hoping it goes through.

[marble falls]

2. Always check with the BBB before a transaction when dealing with an unfamiliar business ...

... These guys?

evitalrecords.com?

[KentuckyWoman]

4. Too many don't understand all vital records MUST come from the county.

Federal records MUST come from the federal government.

In your case, if you used a credit card, dispute the charge according to your card agreement. A hard lesson. I'm glad it was only $59.

The push for complaint license and voting rights has a lot of older people who never had a birth certificate getting bamboozeled out of $100's of dollars. Predators are everywhere.

Edit to add thank you for posting this and know you are not alone.

[dawg day]

9. My employer switched insurance companies--

And the new one said I had to provide a copy of my marriage license to keep my hubster (of 35 years) on the policy. I have the actual for real license, signed in ink by the minister and clerk of courts, and photo'ed it and sent it to them. Not good enough. They needed a "certified copy". The clerk's seal didn't count. They needed an electronic version. I pointed out when we were married, there was no such thing.

Didn't matter. Had to go through the clerk's office across the country with some 'Vital Records Service". It was $59-- the number stuck in my head because geez, that's a lot for something electronic-- I mean, they don't even have to put a stamp on it.

It worked, but now I wonder if this was the actual one that counties work with, and the one OP used put "i" in front of it and was a scam.

I told my husband he sure better make himself worth it.
We have NEVER had to prove our marriage before.

[KentuckyWoman]

11. Vital records are a pain all the way around.

When they start outsourcing it to private companies it only makes it nearly guaranteed to open the door for fraud. Honestly, I think that's why these politicians do it.... so they can get free milk from the cash cow.

[jmbar2]

5. Keep an eye out for identity fraud

[flying_wahini]

6. Not sure (Texan here) but I think you can get these for $10 a copy

Try this link

https://records.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/Vital-Statistics.aspx

[brewens]

7. I took the cheese on an FB add for a PS4 at about $100 a little over a year ago.

I knew it stunk, but they had a working Paypal link and I could use Paypal credit. I was pretty sure that guaranteed a refund if I got screwed and I was right. I just wonder how they can do that?

I placed that order for the PS4 and got a email confirmation, then nothing. It never shipped and the seller wouldn't reply to my emails. This was at the height of COVID, so maybe it was legit, but I don't think so. I suppose a small operation could have been wiped out if COVID killed a couple people.

[alphafemale]

8. Do you know what county you were born in?

It is going to be about $10.

You get it in a week or two.

Never click on a link with AD in front of it.

Look for the .gov links if needing records.

Sorry that happened to you.

It is only $59 right now but watch for other suspicious charges if they have your information.

[Treefrog]

10. Same thing happens with driver licenses, passports, etc.

Always go with a real government agency.

[Archae]

12. Updated...