VitalChek
reviews and complaints

I was trying to help my girlfriend get a certified copy of her birth certificate in order for her to get a CA ID (long story...). I started 'googling' methods. Saw I could send a check to the birth county, but I didn't like the idea of having to wait for the mail to deliver, using a check, and risk it getting lost. VitalChek was one of the various options that showed up in Google. They appeared to be the cheapest service available. The certificate was $21.00 and Vital Chek charged $7. $28 total? Not bad.

I originally purchased the service in May 2012. After completing my order, I was instructed to download documents. The documents require a notary to verify the signature of the individual filling out the birth certificate application. Normally this is easy. However, I figured we were screwed since she had no picture ID. I was on the verge of moving from my place in LA. I had already given notice to be out by May 31st, but still hadn't found a new place. Because of this, the issue was put on the back burner. I was charged $28 initially. After about 45 days of not completing the order with the verified documents, I was refunded the $21 for the birth certificate cost (Vital Chek kept the $7, but it turned out to not be a problem- continue on).

In June, I started researching again and found that there was a method for a notary to identify a person without using photo ID. It's called a credible witness. Two people with valid ID are required to swear and sign that the person signing is who they say they are. I printed that document off, grabbed a friend, and we found a notary. That was a Saturday. I faxed the documents that same day. On Monday, I received an alert that I was charged $21 on my card that I had used for the original order. Shortly after, I received notice that my item had shipped.

In this email, I realized a huge problem. It was shipping to my previous address. Balls... So I called VitalChek. They gave me the number for the county registrar. I called them, and they said nothing could be done until the document was returned in the mail. I sought out the current tenants of the apartment I used to live in. They never responded. [Don't worry, I did things on those counter tops that already makes me more than even :, ) ]

The next Monday I recreated the order. I was told that I only had to write the new order number on the document I already had notarized. I sent the fax Monday, early afternoon. Tuesday, I received an email notifying of shipment. Thursday, the document arrived in my mailbox.

I live in Los Angeles. The record was sent from El Dorado county (Sacramento area). For $28, I was extremely satisfied. I had to deal with a bunch of ### from mishaps and the situation. But I would use VitalChek again.

I was concerned seeing some of the reviews about how people had awful experiences with VitalChek. From what I've seen the work is basically done by the county registrar. VitalChek is simply handling the transfer of payment and information. I didn't have to send a check in the mail and risk never knowing when or if it was actually delivered. I used a credit card and received the document two days after it shipped. I think the incompetence might come from the registrars office not being equipped technically or with attentive staff to handle dealing with VitalChek orders.

All in all, it was a great experience. There is an option for $20 rush delivery or something. However, when it delivered 2 days after shipping, I am very glad I didn't pay extra. Perhaps if you're in Florida ordering from Washington, then it might come in handy.

On June 6 I ordered a copy of a NY State divorce certificate. Having previously obtained the exact same document through VitalChek previously and having a scanned copy of the actual certificate, I filled in VitalChek's request exactly as it appears on the certificate. I then passed VitalChek's identity authentication and they successfully charged my credit card.

Within hours I received an e-mail from VitalChek stating they did not believe the data I entered for my ex-wife's maiden name to be correct and asked me to call them. Since I am stationed overseas, their toll-free number is not at all toll free for me to call, but still I phoned them. The individual I spoke with just couldn't understand that, yes, my ex-wife's maiden name happened to be the same as my last name.She stated she'd put the order through but if NY State couldn't find a record I would still be charged.

After another day or so I get another e-mail about the same problem. They wanted me to call them again -- at my considerable expense -- and give them my ex-wife's maiden name. I uploaded a copy of the actual divorce certificate I had ordered from them thinking that any of their intellectually challenged employees could see that what I provided matches 100% with the data in NY State files. I again called and yet again they stated they would send the order through to NY State.

They lied. A day or two later they sent another e-mail stating that they needed my ex-wife's correct maiden name. At this point I told them I would not under any circumstances waste money in calling them again. If they could not do their job properly, I would simply have my bank perform a credit card chargeback. Eleven days later they are still asking me for the information they already have.

I guess I could appease them and invent a new maiden name for my ex-wife, but then we all know what would happen: NY State would charge me for a letter stating that the information I provided did not match their records and no divorce certificate could be found.

I have read replies by Mr. David Butler in VitalChek management offering to help posters solve their problems. Calling him is a waste of time. First of all, instead of being at work to supervise the incompetent staff he obviously has, he doesn't work until about 10 or 11 am Central Time. When you call him your call inevitably just goes to voice mail.

The best solution you have when VitalChek negligently and incompetently screws up your order is to call your bank and perform a credit card chargeback. You will get a full refund and VitalChek will eat not only a chargeback fee but also probably get hit with higher merchant account fees. Hopefully THAT will get their attention, but somehow I doubt they are even intelligent enough to understand that.

I might add, I also believe they use the information you provide for their own nefarious purposes like selling it to people who use their LexisNexis services.

Warning-do not give this company your credit card information! This company promised to get my daughters birth certificate expedited. After I paid $84.00 for the service, I received an email stateting that expedited service was not available in the state that I needed the birth certificate. I called immediatly (With in minutes) and cancelled the order. About a week later I noticed that they charge had not been removed from my credit card. I called the office back and spoke to a very rude service rep that said my order had been cancelled but that she couldn't process the refund. Why? Because I couldn't tell her who I spoke with originally. Huh? I asked to speak to her supervisor but what hung up on. When I called back the lady that I answered the phone was just as rude and wouldn't authorize a refund. So here I sit. No refund and no birth certificate. I've taken the matter to my credit card company and i'll let them deal with these unprofessionals. Ii should of looked up the thousands of complaints that this company has against them!

Everyone complains about VitalChek but it's not always true. I needed to get a birth certificat in less thna two weeks for a trip. I contacted VitalChek on Friday and they made me fill out a form after charging me. That had me nervous so I found this site and expected the worst. I did what they said and had it norarizedn and faxed to them Monday. I recevied an email stating that San Diego was working on my Birth Cert on Tuesday and by Wednesday I was looking at it in front of me in New Jersey. So again... 3 Buisiness days from start to finish. I couldn't do this any faster except in person. THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY VACATION since the Passport agency rejected my old birth cert two weeks before leaving. THe rest of you seem to either fall victim to a scam site who said they are VItalchek but just retype your info...or you didn't follow directions.

I do everything that they ask when trying to order docs, and then, days later, get emails saying there is a problem. I then call, wait for 30Z+ minutes, and am disconnected. Try repeatedly to email and call, and no frikking human being helps.

They are a rotten company and waste your time an energy.

No matter what I do, they won't help. I gave up on two orders in the past few weeks, so tried again. One order, supposedly is doing OK, the other order, they ask how I am related.

The FAQ online don't cover the issue. What is the point even dealing with them?

It's funny, I dealt with them a few times last Summer, and everything went fine. Now, they are worse than a govt department in the former Soviet Union.

I would strongly suggest everyone avoid them unless you want to get suicidal. They are THAT bad.

After being directed to vitalchek by the ny dept of vital records, I ordered a few records. Upon checkout, after putting in my credit card number, an error message appeared and was told that my order did not go through and I should try again later. So, I tried again in 5 minutes, placed the same order, put in my cc# and the order went through. Received my conf. # and that was that. The order total was 126.50. Approximately 7 days later, I was so happy to receive my documents in the mail. Then the next day, I received yet another order from vitalchek, the exact same order plus an extra birth cert, for total of 167.50. I was confused and went straight to my online bank account and low and behold, they charged me for both. I have sent 7 emails and called numerous times only to receive no response at all! Nothing! I have bounce 2 checks because they took so much money out that was not approved. I have reported then to my bank, the bbb and many online websites such as this one. Please do not use their service! What type of company doesn't answer their complaints from paying cuatomers? I can understand if it were a mistake and they credited my account, but to not respond at all is just wrong.

I have had a miserable experience with VitalChek. I was somewhat perturbed to discover that a private company has a monopoly on obtaining birth certificates from a government entity, but I needed the document quickly, so I figured I had little choice. I paid $37 to get my Arizona birth certificate, then learned I needed to submit a "verification of identity" form. I attempted to fax a copy of my driver's license to the number provided, only their fax line would not answer. There is no customer service number to call listed on their website -- you must submit an email tech support request. I did this, but got no reply. So, I searched the Internet and found a number to call. An indifferent-sounding representative gave me a second fax number to try. I got the same result -- no answer. Next, I found access to a scanner and scanned my license into a pdf file and uploaded it to VitalChek's site. Next day, I received an email stating that the license was "illegible" (completely false) and that my signature was missing from the form (also completely false). I called customer support again and asked them why they couldn't read a perfectly good pdf file and was told that their tech people needed a larger copy of the license and did not have the capability to enlarge pdf files. I'm wondering why this major company supposedly cannot do what any free pdf reader can, namely enlarge a pdf file up to 6400% if necessary -- sounds completely LAME to me! I have resubmitted the license image again, enlarged to the required 200% and am now waiting to see if my order will actually be processed. I have now wasted over a week on this "express" service -- ha ha! AVOID VITALCHEK LIKE THE PLAGUE IF AT ALL POSSIBLE!

VitalChek is a joke. I submitted two orders for birth certificates and a marriage certificate. Cost over $100. For one birth certificate all they did was send me via the internet their order form and instructed me to fax it to the city the birth took place. The second birth certificate, they ended up instructing me to send my request and identification documentation directly to the State. The identification documentation for their company differed from the State and they would not provided the birth certificate. They took my money though. Unless your request is simple, they are useless! Of course my State website refers you to VitalChek, so you have no choice other then to go through their maze of garbage.

These people are something else I have been attempting to get my birth certificate for over a month, always something happens, I'm guessing they collect personel info and store it .I just got smart and went to the state I was born in public health web site and guess what ? I found out I could get my birth certificate by myself fill out one simple form and a copy of my drivers license, send in the mail, and they didn't even charge me ( prior military service)...Just lick the stamp you will be glad you did and no fustration or lost of time because of someone else..

This is not a complaint...it's praise for VitalChek.com. I ordered 4 documents to complete some family genealogy and I received 3 within a week and the 4th was my fault because I put Macon, Ga. on the application instead of Columbus, Ga. But the Georgia Department of Vital Statistics called me saying they couldn't find the document and then I realized the mistake I had made. They also credited my checking account AND sent me a notification regarding the mistake I had made. Another great source is Archives.com.

I ordered birh cert. two months ago and did not get it they took my money instead no response from company i have called them at least six times they say will check status and get back to me in two days and then never do spoke to vital records and they do not do a thing made complaint with consumer affairs yesterday i guess i will have to wait and see if anyone knows anything else i can do please let me know i feel like an *** all ready maybe a full page ad in newspaper will help.

Pleaes, please, please seek another way to get a birth certificate. This company is awful, they lied to me about where my request was, "your request was shoved into a pile of other junk and we didn't do it". This was after 8 weeks, 2 unanswered emails and 3 hpours on the phone trying to find a direct phone number (which by the way is [protected]) after being on hold with VitalChek for another 45 min. I was directed to a manager named 'Debbie' who spoke down to me, demanded to know who I spoke to earlier and refused to actually address this issue. What a high handed line of crap, I asked to speak with the CEO finally, she refused and informed me that "you might see your certificate in a coupkle of weeks" They promise 18 days on their website.

Vitalchek is supposed to help you get birth, death, and marriage certificates to help people doing geneology research, but after numerous times of faxing them a copy of my drivers license, i keep getting the same e - mail from them asking for it again. There have been many complaints about this company, and i'm sorry i didn't read them before i used them. I guess i'm out the $38 they charge, but i have learned a valuable lesson. Check out companies before you use them.

I placed an order for 3 certified copies of birth certificate.Could not upload Identity Verification Form, received Server Error each time. Could not contact anyone at company through e-mail or phone. Have sent numerous e-mails since problem began, but only response is automated that my question was received. Phone lines swamped with calls from five minutes after office hours;I am always told to call back later.This company is the only way to obtain the copies I need in the time frame I need them, but I am ready to give up.This situation is ridiculous.

While touting that they will fulfill genealogy requests, it isn't until AFTER you've placed the order that they will tell you you need to provide a birth certificate for every single generation to prove your relationship to the individual on the requested record. They will charge you for the privilege of doing so. They will send you numerous emails requesting required documents - in my case 6 - that I uploaded and faxed 4 times. I did speak to someone online who told me my request could not be processed if I did not proved the 5 birth certificates proving relationship. As I could not, my order was cancelled, but I was still charged 11.95. And then I received ANOTHER email requesting more documentation. I'm glad that some people have had success with vitalchek, but I strongly recommend against doing business with them. Especially for genealogy requests, deal directly with the state or town. Save yourself time, money, and aggravation.

Dear vital check/lexis nexis or who ever you are?

Your comp. Is a scam and misleading and i'm reporting your comp. To the better business bureau. Thank you but not thanx for wasting my time and you better don't use my info. For maliciously use or I sue and sue and sue to I win I don't give up that easy i'm mad of your comp... >: - (

Sincerely: a pissoff and not satisfy cost. >: - (

Ordered a birth certificate for my mother. Provided her maiden name of course. The payment was through her credit card, which is under her married name. Unfortunately this company processed her order under her married name so of course there is no birth record for that name. They said the info was entered with her married name which is so untrue. Any excuse to keep your $ and not provide the product. I will be in the process of finding a way to receive a refund. Also don't try calling their customer service #. You will be on hold forever.