VitalChek review: poor service! 69

I also got screwed by this company!

I tried to order a birth certificate through VitalChek, whose link appears on the Ancestry.com site. Though the online order was declined, I was billed $12.oo for each of the two birth certificate copies I tried to order. The emails notifying me of these charges came in with the heading "DoNotRepy@VitalChek.com." Each email claimed to be a "receipt" for a "special handling fee," though the screens on the online ordering site promised to allow a complete review of all information entered before any processing occurred. While VitalChek would not allow me to make an online order, the company did end up with my credit card information and social security number and took without my agreement $24.oo from my account. I understand that VitalChek is owned by data broker ChoicePoint, a company who has been cited for mismanagement of personal information.

Terrible customer service - it's by email only and you can't call them at all. They requested the same documents over and over and once the order has passed a certain amount of time you have to start it all over again.

I can't believe the county directed me to this company to process my order online. I should have walked into the city courthouse to do it in person instead, it would have been less hassle and much much faster, which destroys the point of an online order.

This is the worst company ever. DO NOT USE THEM. Go directly through your state's vital records office instead. EVEN if your state says to order online through vitalchek.com, do NOT USE THEM. Do it over the phone or in person with the official state agency.

They said it would take 3-5 days processing time for my order, and that it would go through quickly if I paid an extra $13 for the faster shipping. THIS WAS A LIE.
They charged my credit card TWICE and didn't send the certificate out until 30 days later.

After calling their parent company, Choice Point, I was finally able to find a phone number for vitalchek. (This is not listed on their website--the only way to contact them is through some bogus email system that they don't respond to.) The only reason, I'm convinced, that my order was even processed at all was because I called and demanded my money back. I am still trying to get my extra money back for the expedited shipping, since the certificate arrived so late that I didn't even need it by that point.

PHONE NUMBER
[protected]
Press #4

Vitalchek is horrible. No one should ever use them. They charged my credit card three months ago and I'm still waiting for my marriage certificate. Every time I call I speak to a nice person who is helpful but can only request a refund. And of course the requests keep getting denied...after three weeks of them thinking about it. I would NOT recommend this company under any circumstances.

I felt I had no choice but to use VitalChek after the Georgia Vital Records Office told me it would take three to four WEEKS to process my birth certificate application -- but by paying VitalChek $36 I could cut the time to no more than five business days! I smelled a rat, but I also needed my birth certificate in time to let the U.S. State Department sit on it for half a year while determining whether I am a terrorist. Back to VitalChek: Everything about their online presence is shoddy. Their web forms are poorly designed, so pay close attention while filling them out, and triple-check everything. As you try to complete the purchase, the VitalChek server will fail several times, either by timing out in a way that allows you to resubmit your data, or by shutting down entirely for a few minutes. I had to start over again three times! If you have a question, you will have to hunt for a well-concealed web form that allows you to send an email, but you must keep your message short. You'll get a reply from a person in "three business days"! (And we're supposed to believe they'll deliver a completed document in 2-4 days?!) This is the worst service I have yet experienced from an online business. I resent having to give my money to a company that cares so little about quality. It would actually please me to see both VitalChek and ChoicePoint shut their doors forever.

VITACHEK IS A SCAM! They give every excuse in the book not to get you your order of any kind of a certificate! THEY KEPT the $38.45 without a refund! I have done EVERY REQUIREMENT daily for the PAST 3 MONTHS, to NO AVAIL! Have spoken w/Reps for OVER AN HOUR M-F for the past 3 months!
SCAM SCAM SCAM !

TOTALLY AGREE -- VITALCHEK IS A SCAM -- NEVER USE EM - MAKE THESE CROOKS GO OUT OF BUSINESS!

for anyone who wants to call and get ahold of them right away-- [protected]

scam. scam. scam.scam.

and complete rip off. they should be shut down for bad business practices- I encourage anyone who's been abused by this company to file with the better business bureau.

Yes, Vitalcheck is awful. I just got off the phone with them and am livid. The website looks sleek, and county records offices unwittingly recommend the company, but their business practices are fraudulent.

I have an unauthorized charge on my bank card and they refused to refund me. The rep did not let me speak with a supervisor, and eventually hung up on me when I presented him with the evidence.

They have several clever ways to trick consumers. Do not go through them for records. If you used their "services" and had a negative experience, report them to the Better Business Bureau. Here is the direct link:
https://odr.bbb.org/odrweb/public/GetStarted.aspx

I want to thank everyone for posting their comments. I was just about to order my daughter's birth certificate online and a little voice inside me told me to search for complaints. Oh my god, the vitalchek website looks so professional. People who post these complaints just saved me almost $50.00. Thank you sooooooooo much. Im so sorry yall had to go through the crap.

I ordered 3 death certificates 7 days ago and paid with credit card. have not reeived them. It said
2 to 4 days. I lost the confirmation e-mail. would like another right now so I can use the check order. or

please call me at [protected]

Unable to contact them waited on phone an hour...finaly hung up I also did not get a email confirmation...these people are the WORSE! they should be put out of bussniess

WE HAVE TRIED ORDERING A BIRTH CERTIFICATE THROUGH THESE PEOPLE 2 DIFFERENT TIMES. The first time I ordered my birth certificate in GA it cost me 36.00 and I did receive it in 3 business days. But my fiancee John ordered his from N.Y. the same day and they charged the credit card but declined the order. Yet, we had to fight to have the money refunded. It was eventually refunded about 3 months later. Now again the Dept. of Vital statistics said to go through this website if I wanted fast delivery and I do. So I tried again as they did help the first time. This time I used my credit card and it was denied because his name appeared as the card holder, as he's not the card holder it was declined. So we tried with me as the card holder. But then the website made it out as if I was the requester and we were still declined because I am not yet his wife. But again still waiting for my money to be refunded. This time it's $64.95. That's alot of money when u don't have it and yet I still have no birth certificate. or more money to order it from someone else. When we spoke with someone on the phone they told me I would have my money back on my card in 24 to 48 hours, but I'd have to pay again now to receive the birth certificate I ordered, with the same credit card they can't just accept the money they already received and send me my damn birth certificate. Theses people will be reported to the BBB from us. Other partied may want to contact and Atty. for a possible class action law suit as this is robbery. We will also be contacting one here in Florida and when we have found one to accept this, we will post it here for you too.

I am sitting here on hold waiting to speak to someone at VitalChek.. very frustrating indeed. I placed my order a week ago and every morning I check the status of my order and it says "Your order is NOT COMPLETE - additional information is required. Please CLICK HERE to produce your Authorization Form and complete your order. " I faxed my authorization form to them a week ago and have emailed a scanned copy as well.. now I am reading that some orders are declined but they charge your credit card anyways? I have been on hold for 32 minutes now, and i am not hanging up.

This company is unbelievable. I got the birth certificate I ordered in a timely manner. The charge of $64.25 was outrageous. But I didn't feel I had any other choice. Now today over 1 week later I got another birth certificate and another charge this one for $60.45. I have been on hold for over an hour now ... I am hoping I can get a refund. But it doesn't seem likely .. The options when you need this type of information are slim.. and this is totally not fair to be overcharged so much

This company is appalling! I have been waiting 6 weeks for a Birth Certificate. I've paid the processing fee and still no documentation. I was told a delivery was attempted and because no one was home to sign, it was returned. It was explained to me that the document has now been sent via US Postal Service. However, after 4 weeks, we still do not have a birth certificate. Customer services is terrible! The service agents uninformed! Supervisors (Tamara Hanson) are rude! Upper management will not return calls or respond to emails. Again, this company is APPALLING! Do not use this company.

I paid $19.50 for express shipping of my birth certificate...4 days ago! Express shipping in this day and age usually means, overnight delivery, for that kind of money. The shipping time is not explained until after your credit card has been charged...and then it's sent in an e-mail. By then..you're stuck! Luckily, someone posted Vital Chek's 800 # on the web. Otherwise I would have never found it. When I called, they told me my order had not even been processed. I asked for a refund because since I didn't get it right away, I didn't need it anymore. They denied my refund request, and told me there was nothing I could do but wait until it arrives. THIS IS DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING AND OUTRIGHT FRAUD!

I looked at all the complaints on this board and was a little sceptical myself, but I needed my birth certificate. Paid the $33 and received my certificate 3 days later, no problems at all. There are a lot of complaints here, but I'm sure it's just a drop in the bucket compared to thousands of others who have not had any problems and don't write back with positive feedback. And the answer is "no, I do not work for vitalchek." I saw those comments around also as I was searching to see if this was a legitimate company.

Freddy, I'm glad you got your cert. I just got off the phone with their 800 number, and it's some dude on a cell who says "call back" - maybe you got lucky, but I need my cert for travel and I'm getting screwed. The state of CT will hear from me for putting the VitalChek link on their site.
Stacey

I ordered a copy of my daugters birth certificate on March 18th 2009, I had it sent by regular mail as I wasnt in a big hurry. I was told to go to this site by my local Health Dept. They immediatly billed my credit card for $17.50 and stated that I should receive it in 5-7 working days. At the end of april I was trying to find a phone number to ask where the certificate was and found it on this site since there is none on their website or any other way to contact them. I was told at that time that vital records would be contacted and if the birth certificate could be released would be mailed. On May 21st after still not receiving the certificate I called again wanting a refund of my money. I was informed that not 1 but 2 birth certificates had been mailed to the address I had submitted and that I could not get a refund due to it being sent by regular mail and there was no way to track it. I first told them that they shouldnt offer that type of service since there was no way to determine anything and they probably did it for that reason and I then threatened to turn them into the BBB and contact the Health Dept office and alert them that they shouldnt be giving this bogus companys address out for this purpose. I was still told that I could not get a refund. I asked to speak to a supervisor. Once the supervisor got on she pretty much stated the same thing until I once again threatened, she then told me she would contact vital records and see if another certificate could be sent, she was not sure that a 3rd copy could be, I gave a different address and now Im waiting once more. Oh and I waited 10 minutes before I was ever put thru to talk to anyone.

I had to get a Birth Certificate for my son from another state and it so happened they went through Vitalchek. I needed it quick and decided to try the online ordering. After placing my order on Monday afternoon and paying a high overnight shipping cost, I started looking at Vitalcheck on the net and saw hundreds and hundreds of bad comments. I got worried and just knew that I would never get the certificates. Then Wednesday afternoon, 2 days later, I got a call from the Vitalcheck cpu system letting my know that my certificates were going to be delived today and gave me the tracking number. Just as promised, UPS showed up shortly after. I am not sure if I am lucky, or maybe the company has solved some of their problems, but I cant say a bad thing about them. They did what they promised and did it quicker than promised.

I have had very good service from Vitalchek with one major exception. Italian dual citizenship requires the long form or book copy of a birth certificate. I chose "Dual Citizenship - Italy" for a Maryland and a Michigan birth certificate. Both came back with abstracts, not the correct form. It was nearly $75 and a lot of time wasted. I am hoping for some kind of refund from them.

Don

I had excellent service from Vitakchek.
After reading reviews I was a little scared but i needed to get my birth certificate right away. Requests made through the state or county had a time frame of around 20-30 days. Driving across the country to retrieve it was not an option.
I placed the order and faxed in the requested documentation. An hour later, I received an e-mail confirming that my request and documents have been received. The next day, I received a tracking number for next day delivery. As promised, UPS delivered it the very next morning. So the entire process took about 3 days.
I am very pleased with the services from Vitalchek. I am not sure why so many people have had problems...perhaps they are not following instructions thoroughly?

G

i agree with everything i have read . this doesn't make any sense for people to take your money and not do what they are supposed to . i am on hold with them now for 30 minutes and i am not hanging up this is a bunch of "bull" i didn't even get an order number . i think this company need to be closed nor do they do what they say but charge your card and force you to wait ...i am pissed if i knew i was going to go through this i would have just went to California and got it myself

I ORDERED A BIRTH CERTIFICATE FROM VITAL RECORDS AND THEY TOOK MY CREDIT CARD INFORMATION AND THEN DIDNT ASK ME ANY INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE I WAS BORN, MY PARENTS NAME OR ANYTHING. AND NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THEY WILL NOT REFUND MY MONEY... WHAT IS THIS, ISNT THIS AGAINST THE LAW?

Well, it's March 19, 2010 now & things have not changed. Vital-chek still SUCKS!
Misery loves company, so I feel so bad for all you guys as I DO feel your pain, but now know I am not alone. I've been trying for over a month, to the tune of over $80.00 tp get my husbands birth certificate! Will now try the phone #'s I found here, if they're still valid. GRRR! I, too, will contact my local Better Business Bureau (Oregon). No contact #'s & 3 days for a reply to an E-mail query is BS, especially in this day & highly computerized, DSL, age!

they suck

I read all of these reviews but decided to take a chance anyway since I needed certified copies of my son's birth certificate ASAP. Vital check delivered exactly as they promised. Within a week I had a UPS tracking number and the certificates arrived 3 days later. Absolutely no complaints about their service.

We regularly get information from our customers for this county that people use this service and sometimes even after spending a lot of money, get the WRONG document.
I must suggest that you go through your county Clerk of Court office, State Vital Records Department or Town Clerk's office to obtain the records that are necessary.
This is an add on cost that is not necessary. Contact your local government agency and bypass this group, who simply comes to us. Not always with the correct information and not always on a timely basis.

Here is a message that one of our managers got from a customer who used VitalChek recently. This is the kind of thing we see often.

"I got a call from a different customer that used Vitalchek and she said they charged her $40.00 for a copy of her divorce papers. When she got the copy, it was not even a copy of her divorce, but rather someone with a similar name. So she was out that $40.00, plus she still needed to send us $10.00 for her divorce papers."

i order my grandson birth certificate on april 5 2010. and it states pennsylvaia received the request on april 7. lets see if i get it 10 business days later. so i write give you all a up date on april 20, 2010. sometime you have to go on faith.

I requested my Birth certificate from these con artist and they have yet to deliver my birth certificate. they dont even have a contact number on their website after searching the web i finally got the number for their parent company and have been on hold for 45 minutes these people need to be repremanded immediately I DO NOT recommend this company to anybody at allll i am highly upset these people are expert con ARTIST and i mean that in the highest sense of the word!

My husband needed his birth certificate quicly, so I placed an order online, within 5 minutes I had the confirmation number, this was on May 4, 2010, today, 2 days after I placed the order, I recieved a call stating that the certificate would be delivered today via ups. I did get it and everthing was correct! Perhaps those having problems are not filling the forms out correctly, or mispelling something! I have had no problems with vitalchek and would go through them again! Especially when we recieved the certificate much sooner than expected, we would never have got it in 2 days had we gone through the state!

I'm livid, I've ordered my kids' birth certificates and faxed them my ss number and photo copy of my drivers license... the company keeps emailing me, saying they never received my fax. This is sooooo frustrating. Thanks so much for whoever posted their direct phone number... it's a 30 minute wait to talk to anyone but hopefully i will.

WHAT A SCAM...

Very slow.Not whats advertised. And even endorsed by Dept of Health with their link on their website. They take your money today but you won't get a certificate till the Dept of Health gets it, which takes 2-3 weeks. They'll also send a UPS tracking #. But UPS won't show it even in the system. It can take upto a month to use these "middle men". Stay away from them and read the other complaints from customers and BBB. Just go to the Health Dept and do it for about 60% less fees. THe Health Dept will have it before Vital CHek.

Me and my fiance are going to our honeymoon out of the country, I have a passport but he doesnt, I ordered his birth certificate a monbth ago- and still nothing. Everytime I call (and wait on hold for an hour) I hear the same thing, its on its way! ANd the automated service has said "it will be processed in the next buisness day" the "next" buisness day has been 30 days! Im soooo pissed. This company needs to be stopped!

I am going to lose my job because I was promised my birth certificate 4 days ago...so I can get my drivers license...out 60 bucks, no cert, called all the numbers, no help, no money, no cert, soon-no job...I am sooooooo screwed...can't stop crying...just got a good job...

I had a completely different experience with VitalCheck! I ordered my birth certificate (for my passport) Monday afternoon (8/16), I selected express shipping, and my birth certificate arrived Thursday (8/19) afternooon. I'm in NYC- not sure if that makes a difference or not, but the service isn't bad for 38 bucks!

No aplogies here towards VitalChek, I ordered a death certificate while researching for my Grt- grandfather who had no head stone for his grave. After finding out the VA would put a Civil War Headstone for free, I ordered the headstone. But VitalChek didn't come through. Lost $15 out of it but thats not important, I just hope the VA will accept the Funeral Home's interment records as proof of birth and death date. Thanks for nothing VitalChek.