Residents in Swansea are being urged to avoid websites which offer copies of birth, death and marriage certificates at heavily inflated prices.
Copies of important documents including birth certificates can be purchased from Swansea Council from £9, but websites are offering them to the public for as much as £60.
The money making scheme to provide official documents has been highlighted by LACORS, the Local Authority Coordinators of Regulatory Services.
John Hague, Cabinet Member for the Environment in Swansea Council, said, “People should be aware of the costs these businesses charge for these important documents.
“Some websites are charging up to six times as much as the Council charges for the same document.
“There is simply no need for anyone to be paying these prices. I would advise that people seeking to obtain copies of either birth, death or marriage certificates, contact their local council for further help.”
In Swansea, residents can contact Swansea Register Office, Tel. 01792 636188; email: [email protected] or visit www.swansea.gov.uk and go to the Community, People and Living section to download an application form.
