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.

In January 2011, I ordered from VitalCheck a copy of my husband's birth certificate. The one that I received was incorrect. I email them that the birth certificate was incorrect and would they please send me the corrected certificate. Not hearing anything from them except that my question had been submitted, I then emailed them again on April 27, 2011 and their reply was still the same. Thanks for submitting your question. Use this reference number to follow up. I used the reference number on many occasions to no avail. Now, June 6, 2011 I still have not received the correct birth certificate and no correspondence from VitalChek has been forthcoming. I there anyone out there that can tell my what is happening with this company?

I requested a certified copy of my birth certificate. The first eye opener is that by default they want you to use the "expedited service" for an extra $20.00. Now as anybody would want an email with the status of you prder and the tracking number, all I get is a button to print my verification documents, which makes you think "oh they did not get my fax" so I again send fax still no change in oder status. I go to another fax machine and resend, still no change in status, I eventually found contact info (they hide this among FAQ's that do not answer anything) but all I get is that they received my inquiry, their web site states they monitor this 24/7 it has been days. I was on hold for 2 hours and 50 minutes before some no nothing gets on phone and suggests I call the city hall in the place I was born! And even they first told me they did not receive anything, then after being on hold with them they said Oh Ya we have it you will get it on Friday, I asked does that mean You ship on Friday or I get on Friday I was told just to "wait" to Friday and they hung up! Vital Chek is bad news and to think they are part of the Lexis/Nexus that handles passports! I cant wait for that! I bet Al-Quada gets their passports faster!

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.

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!