Queenslanders warned not to use commercial sites to order birth, death and marriage certificates
- Queenslanders are being warned not to use unauthorised third-party services to order certificates from Queensland’s Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
- Using commercial services can result in people paying unnecessary fees and open them up to increased risk of identity theft.
- Applicants can apply quickly and directly online through the Registry’s official website.
Queenslanders are being warned not to use third-party services charging inflated prices for certificates from the State’s Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
The Registry has become aware of at least one commercial website where applicants are paying more than three times the cost for a certificate, with approximately $100 being added in extra fees.
As well as the additional charges, the use of third-party services could pose an increased risk of identity theft due to the personal information provided as part of the application process.
Registrar-General Marcus Leonard said applicants could apply for certificates themselves online through the registry’s website www.qld.gov.au/rbdm/ or by downloading the relevant application forms directly from the site.
“Given the level of personal information required to lodge these applications, I’d urge Queenslanders to lodge applications directly through the Registry.
“Applying directly to the Registry for a certificate costs just $56.20 but this third-party service is charging almost $160 for the same document.
“If people are searching online, they should stop if they see third-party websites come up in their search results, and check they’re clicking on the official Queensland Government website before sharing any personal information or payment details.
“The last thing we want to see is people paying way more than they need to for a service and potentially putting their data at risk.
“If you have been impacted, please get in touch with the Registry.“
Anyone who has applied for a certificate using a third-party site should contact the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages at BDM-Mail@justice.qld.gov.au or call 13 QGOV (13 74 68).