Menu
VitalChek

VitalChek review: poor service! 68

K
Author of the review
12:00 am EDT
Review updated:
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Featured review
This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

On June 8, 2007 I placed an order for an expedited certified copy of a Birth Certificate for travel purposes. My credit card was billed on on June 14, 2007. The certificate service was advertised as being delivered in 7 days - 2 weeks. It has been 30 days. Although I was issued an order confirmation number and directed to track the process of my order I have not been able to do so online. The New Jersey status page link has been unavailable and so has VitalChek's site. I contacted VitalChek via email and was told that my order was processed and I should receive email confirmation soon with a Fedex Tracking number. I have had no such contact and that was 15 days ago. This company now has my money as well as vital statistic information and a copy of my driver's license. At this point I do not believe that they are providing the service they advertise.

Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.

More VitalChek reviews & complaints

VitalChek - paid, but received no certificate 18
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
VitalChek - fraud 15
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
VitalChek - online fraud 6
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
VitalChek - rip off
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
VitalChek - super fast 2
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
VitalChek - good service
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
VitalChek - paid for and ordered birth certificate and never received it. 1
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
68 comments
J
J
Justice Warren
, US
Jun 10, 2023 10:46 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

9/15/2022 placed order for birth certificate, order #[protected] called multiple times and after 125 days they placed a status request, then called each month for update with no progress. It has never received after 8 months

T
T
tyson3429
New Orleans, US
May 15, 2023 4:52 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

My credit card has been charged twice for fees when ordering a long form birth certificate. Order number of the transaction that I want is [protected].

M
M
Mikata Solemy
, US
Apr 09, 2023 6:38 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Charged my card but didn't provide me a service. So basically I'm guessing they think they should get money for simply existing. Absolutely horrible customer service and no resolution.

W
W
WendyRN
, US
Sep 10, 2023 3:14 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I'm dealing with this now! Charged me 11.25 four times! I haven't ordered anything. I tried to, but I'm not my nephews legal guardian, plus I tried to help him. They say, they will cancel my 2 "orders" but not the ones in his name. I was helping him, they are under my email AND my debit card they charged. I didn't place 4 orders. This is weeks later that they took my money after I filled out the info!

D
D
Dollbaby1971
BROOKLYN, US
Jan 28, 2023 7:59 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I applied for a birth certificate for client Craig Dickerson, and it was paid for by company credit card, I'd like to know why this order has been cancelled. This client needs to obtain his birth certificate for housing purposes. Order number: [protected] and pin# 665951 please assist me with this.

Thank you

T
T
trish hamberg
, US
Nov 05, 2022 9:56 am EDT

VitalChek approved my order, but then the state Vital Records didn't accept it. VitalChek will not refund the fee. And I have not received my birth certificate, I will be going to the county office to apply in person, they stole my money.

O
O
Ozma70
Lynchburg, US
Sep 20, 2022 8:00 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Do not use this company - applied for birth certificate - paid for extra for expedited shipping - never received - no refund - SCAM

R
R
roroo
Uniondale, US
Dec 02, 2021 12:29 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I ordered a death certificate Sept.02, 2021. I received letter of approval from vital check with promise date October 28, 2021. Today is December 02, 2021. Several calls to Vital check gave no result for delivery. No answer as to the status of order. DO NOT USE VITAL CHECK if you expect minimal service.

A
A
ace que
, US
Nov 11, 2018 10:20 am EST

I regret ordering a birth certificate from this company. Huge warning to everyone do not use this company.
You will never, and I mean never
Get through. They will leave you waiting for over an hour then hang up. Been trying for days.

W
W
Wm C. Patterson
, US
Aug 28, 2018 11:25 pm EDT

These people suck! They took my money for a certified birth certificate and sent an absolutely useless piece of paper! It's not accepted by any agency for anything! They also make it virtually impossible to complain, they never answer their damn phone either!
2.5 hours at opening any supposedly "still experiencing high call volume"!

J
J
Julie Ritter
, US
Oct 30, 2017 12:41 pm EDT

I ordered from this company about 2 years ago and it was no problem. I received the birth certificate in 30 days. I only used this company because it is listed on the PA.Gov website. I ordered a birth certificate on August 2nd. It took them less than 24 hours to charge my card and it is now Oct. 30th and I have not received my birth certificate. They keep saying PA is backlogged and keep extending the time it will take to receive the birth certificate. I just wrote to PA.GOV and told them to please take this company off there website and choose another company. They are a terrible company to do business with and PA should be ashamed to have them listed on their website. I will definitely not use them again!

S
S
Susans Smith
, US
Mar 11, 2016 11:15 am EST

I ordered and paid $40 for a birth certificate document which I never received. When I checked on the status, my order had been cancelled... No explaination. I have asked for a refund (not holding my breath).

J
J
Jim Smitley
, US
Nov 26, 2015 8:02 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I ordered a copy of my original birth certificate. I had just went to my Health Department and paid 10.00 for a copy, witch is a standard form. I want the original because it has the time of birth. VERY UPSET. SPENT 37.00 FOR NOTHING

R
R
Reviewer87400
,
Oct 14, 2015 9:18 am EDT

provided the same information 3x's...received D/C yesterday and an e-mail from VitalChek saying they received the documentation and would review same in 24 to 48 hours...incompetents...I received the document I ordered...they can go pound dirt.

S
S
SusieQ2002
Atlanta, US
Nov 17, 2011 12:14 am EST

Ordered birth certificate 2 months ago. Used link from Louisiana State Records Site. No birth certificate, no help...but they did charge my credit card right away!

J
J
jewelz1985
West Monroe, US
Oct 05, 2013 7:59 pm EDT

This company sucks. They need to get a better life than to play with peoples money. I am not going to recommend this company to anybody. They need to find a life of their own.

A
A
AnnoninTexas
Irving, US
Mar 20, 2013 7:01 pm EDT

Any web site that collects Credit Card information prior to checking if they can process your order is a ripoff. This practice should be made illegal. They charge your credit card even if they do nothing...all other legitimate business would never think of charging you if they could not help you. How do the dumb masses allow this to continue?

V
V
VitalChek.com
Brentwood, US
Nov 18, 2011 4:48 pm EST

VitalChek Customer,

Please contact me directly at [protected] Ext: 86879 for assistance with your outstanding order.

Thank you,

David Butler
VitalChek Network, Inc.

S
S
Summer P
, US
Jul 14, 2011 3:20 am EDT

I was weary about using VitalChek because of these complaints but, after calling the State office where my daughter was born...I had more help at VitalChek than I did the Commonwealth of Virginia! I ordered my daughter's birth certificate on 7/12/11 at 1pm ET and they told me it would take about 10 days for them to process AND ship the birth certificate. After having a conversation regarding the complaints on this website, and they are aware of all the complaints, I realized that it seems like people are impatient and not understanding that you are receiving overnight or 2nd day shipping AFTER your order has been processed which can take up to 10 business days depending on the state. Therefore, it does NOT mean you will receive your order overnight or on the 2nd business day after placing the order. I did mention to the lady that it would be wise of them to state that information BEFORE anyone starts placing an order and NOT when they are on the shipping screen of checkout. That is where everything can become confusing and misleading. Well, as I mentioned above my order was placed on 7/12/11 at 1pm and I just checked the order status. It will be arriving via UPS tomorrow, 7/14/11.
One thing that really upsets me is that the state themselves are redirecting you because they are LAZY! If I had been in VA I would have just gone and gotten her birth certificate. But, I'm not driving 5 or 6 hours to go get it. The price of the VitalChek was cheaper than the gas. I really think this is a ridiculous practice for any state that uses VitalChek because, VitalChek charges twice, or 3 times in my case, what the state charges "because they can" and i think that is completely ridiculous!
Basically, you pay VitalChek, VitalChek verifies the identity of YOU, sends the information to the state registrar, the STATE then processes AND MAILS it to you. It is NOT VitalChek that mails you anything! So, if you are waiting on something...you might want to check with the state and find out why it hasn't arrived on time. But, keep in mind some states are slower...aka lazier than others.

T
T
TeresitaG
, PR
Jun 28, 2011 2:50 am EDT

I ordered 2 copies of my birth certificate in March and after requesting the tracking number (which they said they didn't have) I still haven't received them. They say that it was delivered by UPS I asked who signed and they said it wasn't necessary to sign to receive the envelope. Still trying to get a straight answer. Any suggestions?

J
J
jervis
estacada, US
Jun 22, 2011 1:50 am EDT

With regard to State of Nevada... It's a rip off no matter how you cut it... Pay exorbitant fees for vital check and get it in 2-3 weeks maybe longer or never or wait 6-8 weeks if you go through the state office... Honestly? 6-8 weeks?...You pull it from the file, make a copy and stamp it...is it that hard? 20 min tops... and you wonder why people have the opinion of state workers they do. Anyway, $20 will get you a copy if you go through the state.

Probably best to plan ahead and avoid vital check.

P
P
Pissed off Cunsumer
Lake worth, US
Jun 03, 2011 1:07 am EDT

Stay away from vital check.
I did not receive the birth certificate and no refund .
Complaint to BBB but Vital Check did not respond to them .
They just want your money .

C
C
cossaboom
Phoenix, US
Apr 04, 2011 2:42 pm EDT

i ordered a death certificate from vitalchek on jan 2nd. here it is april 4th and i have just what i started with, nothing. ive called and spoke with every possible person and all anyone could do was put me on a run around.im not sure if its all vital chek or the vital records places by states bc everytime i called to check the status of my order in the city of where i ordered it from they told me all my paper work had been approved and we just had to wait the days for it to get sent. it wasnt until i had to keep calling and calling and calling that finally unprofessonal "supervisor:" at the ny vital records called, just april 2nd to inform me there are no records on file. 1 i paid and they wont give me a refund 2 she said she mailed a paper stating that, three months later i have no paper stating that and 3 how n the hell do you not have a death record in your system for someone who died in 1989.i mean really i can pull it up under the public records on line.i am furious! they havent heard the last of me!

P
P
POED1
phoenix, US
Mar 31, 2011 9:33 am EDT

Name:

VitalChek Network, a LexisNexis Company

Phone:

[protected]

Fax:

[protected]

Address:

P O Box 1703

Brentwood, TN [protected]

Google Map

Website:

www.vitalchek.com

www.officialtraveldocuments.com

Original Business Start Date:

August 1987

Principal:

Mr. Jeff Piefke, VP/Vital Records Division

Customer Contact:

Mr. David Butler, Operations Manager Customer Service

Entity:

Corporation

Incorporated:

April 1988, TN

Type of Business:

Searchers of Records

BBB Accreditation:

VitalChek Network, a LexisNexis Company is a BBB Accredited business.

Additional DBA Names:

officialtraveldocuments.com
VitalChek Network, A ChoicePoint Company
Vitalchek Network, Inc.

V
V
Victoria MT.
Fairway, US
Jan 30, 2011 12:55 am EST

I used vitalchek in 2007 and received my son's birth certificate within the dates indicated online. I found the service to be very useful. Sorry to hear that so many had a bad experience. It will be interesting to see what will happen since I just used them again Jan 2011 for two different birth certificates from two different states. Will keep you posted.

S
S
steven ball
Downey, US
Jan 17, 2011 8:46 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

worst company ever. order was cancled and i was not informed. now its martin luther king jr holiday and i cant call anyone. i will never do this again. moral of the story is to never loose your birth certificate.

P
P
2pissedoff2care
pdx, US
Dec 28, 2010 11:18 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I too was a VitalChek victim, but caught it in time, after making after making several calls to the OR. DMV, (who I can't believe originally referred me there). I was actually in the middle of the form, and it said regular mail options were available, but there were no links or buttons, and I refuse to pay $19.50 for next or
3-day air with UPS, especially after reading some gobble-de-[censored] explanation about guaranteed safety of mailing sensitive documents..it's an excuse to promote their partners' interest and revenue, at our expense. we deal with the government by regular mail every day, all year, including DMV, State Emplyment Dept, Vets Admin, Soc Sec Admin, etc.. Anyway, i wrote to to their email addrss twice, and the guy on the other end couldn't even write correctly, and clearly refused to directly answer my questions about the validity of the documents and their refund policies. Finally, in mid-order, I cancelled the request, and downloaded a mail form at the Dept of Health for Ill, , which will take 4-6 weeks at best, and comes to a total of $15.00, not $50.00! (I'm just going to follow the exact instructions on the mail form about what document copies to include, and I should be home free...definately, a cheaper, more practical solution; especially for those who don't wan to deal with 3rd party B.S.! (an old adage comes to mind and serves as great advice, so here it is: "when in doubt, always go the source"), in this case, that means dealing directly with the agency you're trying to get the data from. With all these complaints you'd think our govt. agencies would look into it. I'll bet if someone were to go on "Opra" and talk about it, their orders would decrease, and their stock would definately go down! (LOL)
End~

A
A
Alfred E. Spriester
Duluth, US
Nov 06, 2010 12:41 am EDT

A death certificate was ordered on 3 Nov 2010 for Lillian A . Doyle and UPS delivered it but the information is incorrect. The certificate I received is for Lillian D. Doyle not Lillian A. Doyle. What can be done to make the correction?

K
K
klrleigh
West Valley City, US
Aug 30, 2010 8:26 am EDT

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.

H
H
honeyhoney
New York, US
Aug 20, 2010 9:45 am EDT

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!

S
S
spite my face
Lincoln, US
Aug 16, 2010 6:29 pm EDT

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...

L
L
Lola Girl
, US
Aug 10, 2010 9:33 am EDT

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!

J
J
Jimroberts
Hohenwald, US
Jun 18, 2010 3:20 pm EDT

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.

D
D
Dee OKane
15225 southeast 24th Ave, US
May 18, 2010 5:37 pm EDT

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...

A
A
Aligirl
, US
May 06, 2010 10:14 am EDT

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!

Y
Y
Ymart
Waterbury, US
Apr 22, 2010 1:58 pm EDT

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!

A
A
aceming
Bronx, US
Apr 12, 2010 6:31 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

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.

D
D
Director -Official Records
Tampa, US
Mar 23, 2010 11:10 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

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."

D
D
Director -Official Records
Tampa, US
Mar 23, 2010 11:05 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

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.

W
W
Westchester New York
, US
Mar 22, 2010 9:42 am EDT

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.

D
D
DismayedDebba
Lake Oswego, US
Mar 19, 2010 2:17 pm EDT

they suck