Philadelphia Division of Vital Records

I went to get a replacement birth certificate based on the hours on the website saying the office closes at 4 PM I arrive at 12: 04 PM to be told the office is only open 830 to 1145 daily. There was a paper sign taped to the door

Terrible. They're only open until 12 and so they don't offer same day service as noted on website. Wasted my day, and told me to come back on Friday when I have work. They're rude and unhelpful. The security guy kept yelling in the time we had left in there. Like we were inmates or something. There's elderly people in there, have some respect and decency. When I asked to talk to someone else, they gave me a number to call. Unhelpful. Being that this is a government job, these people are here to help us. Ridiculous. Do better. Be better.

Absolutely terrible, i came back tofay to puck up my daughter's Bc and apparently they closed early at 10? Open for 1 hour. I just wasted more time gas and money. I was told at the 800nukber that there's always a supervisor on site but security guard Andrew said there was not.

These are the employees our tax dollars are paying for?

What do we live in 1998 where it takes me two weeks and multiple document submission - after you take my money of course - to get this. What a trash system. Glad I have literally never lived in this backwards state.

These are the rudest and nastiest clerks that you can ever encounter. They are mean and disrespectful for absolutely no reason.

It was fine they take there time to help you an make sure call the paper work your need help with they will do it.

We ordered a birth certificate over 2 months ago. Didn’t receive it and were told to ask the post office if they had it. Of course they didn’t have it. Hopefully when we call again we won’t be charged again for another one.

Thank u Jennifer she had me in and out. I went to get a birth certificate and I’ll pick it up today I was only there for 5 mins

They avoid answering the phone. This is one of the worst customer service lines you will ever experience

The short Hispanic lady, I think her name was Jen, was so sweet when I went in. She was very pleasant and knowledgeable about her job!

Every employee does there job accordingly, respectful and as diligently as deemed appropriate

They close at 12pm
Be there early they open at 9am
Clerk was very friendly and nice was in and out in 1 hour, always remember to take a number!

Don't think you are going to show up at 11: 45 to pick up a birth certificate that you already ordered. The security guard won't let you into the building even though they are supposed to close at 12pm. I already waited two hours in Tuesday to request the certificate, and now I have to take another day off from work because they locked the door early. Extremely unprofessional, and someone needs to hold them accountable.

My child is 3 months old and I STILL don’t have a birth certificate for him. No one answers the phone and the office is never open with a human being inside. I’m not able to travel on planes with him until I can prove he is ours…I would give this a zero if I could. Someone needs to contact me back so I can have a documented child…words I never thought I’d say being an American.

I've been on hold for 2 hours plus. Call everyday never get anyone. They misspelled my kids last name. I have to go through all this for a mistake they made. This is unacceptable.

Said online they were open until 4 pm, got there and there was a little sign taped up saying they were only open until noon, locked the door in my face at 11: 50 am. I desperately needed a copy of my kids' birth certificates this week and had walked 45 minutes to get there (bc my car was stolen, haha, this city sucks). No amount of begging for help made a difference. So much for public "service. "

The people who work here are miserable, rude, unhelpful, unkind, poor listeners, and apparently don't even understand their own requirements and procedures (or don't care enough to represent them accurately). If you can avoid dealing with this office in person, do so. If you must go, bring patience (and perhaps a stiff drink). Good luck.

Not sure why any time you encounter anything associated with the Gov't, that nine times out of ten you deal with negative attiudes and dismissive behavior. Is that a part of the job description? We were greeted by security professionally and respectfully, I thought the rest of the visit would go smooth -NOT!
Be sure to have $20.00 Money order. (birth certificate cost). Take a Number. Bring your own black pen to fill out paper work. Some of their pens don't work. They do birth and death certificates for STATE OF PENNYSYVANIA ONLY. Be prepared to wait. Try to remain calm and patient-This might be your testing day. And if you can't have a good day- don't go messing someone else's as they may try to mess up yours. You have been warned! (Thanks Tabitha B.)

When I went in I got #022, they were on #006, it took about 20 - 25 minutes, took my filled out form, with a 20 dollar money order, filled out to "vital records ", to the window, and I was done in a minute or two.
Sent my brother in to pick it up, with a death certificate he was picking up, unfortunately the pickup windows line circled the room and it took about a half hour for him to come back out.

Disgusting! The people in there make me feel so ashamed to be remotely associated with them in color, region, and gender.

There is one man there and he seems to be the only one who has a clue. The ladies there are unprofessional and horribly disorganized. I have to go there quarterly for my line of work and I am always met with a detestable experience. Today, I was blatantly lied to about my forms needing corrections that was never required in the 12 months that I've been delivering paperwork to them. I work with a very vulnerable demographic and they are the ones who suffer from this.

The saddest part is watching stereotypes parade behind glass like a minstrel trope.

Whatever is happening to them in their personal lives that is causing this behavior I truly hope improves.

Second review. After dropping off additional paperwork in Harrisburg, I am now being told that they are still working on birth certificates from last October. It is now April 8th. They've had my paperwork since January!
This is egregious!