Precise Date Of Birth

[atalanta]

The public library staff told me they had e-access to various databases for tracing ancestry, so I went along to try to find the precise date of birth for a colleague who we suspect is approaching a BigBirthday, (but won't say.) I found the person on a database, right year and month, but the actual day is not mentioned. The Registrar for the town of birth wouldn't tell me on the phone. Do I really have to shell out a tenner to get a copy of the birth certificate ?

[Cloverjo]

As the colleague won't tell you, I'd guess he/she doesn't want a fuss made about it.
I don't know which database you used, but there is one that Buenchico posted a link to a while ago which I think includes birthdays. I don't have it now, sorry, but he might post it again if he sees this.

[Cloverjo]

Just found it
http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl

[Prudie]

I'd make sure that you don't think the person concerned would mind. Some people are really secretive about their ages, especially in the workplace. A female colleague went berserk, complained to HR, kicked up a fuss etc when others had sneakily found out when her 50th birthday was going to be.

[gingejbee]

^^^I agree with Prudie...I have never made a fuss about my birthday and would be most indignant if anybody went behind my back and made plans on my behalf.

[woofgang]

I agree. if colleague isn’t saying then don’t do it!

[Cloverjo]

Sorry, Atalanta. My link doesn't give actual dates. I'd just leave it anyway, as Prudie advised.

[Hypognosis]

And this is why people should insist that their bank or other service they do not wish to be compromised STOP using mother's maiden name as a security password.

That's how easy it is to look you up, without your knowledge, or permission.

[atalanta]

Tried the link. Found the person, and the year ( which I knew) but actual date ( day and month which I suspect is April) is not given, and I couldn't see a way of finding the date

[CrapAtCryptics]

He doesnt have it written on his calendar - does he

[gingejbee]

Hypo...of course you don't have to give them your mother's REAL maiden name, do you?

[atalanta]

Don't do what ? I wasn't planning anything.
But if I were only wanting to send a card, where's the harm ? It's not as if this person is denying his/her age; just being shy about the date, probably to try to save us all any expense.

[Hypognosis]

@gingejbee

//Hypo...of course you don't have to give them your mother's REAL maiden name, do you?//

i) I hadn't thought of that.
ii) I'm not one for imaginativeness when put 'on the spot'. Any pause and they'd know you were lying.
iii) I'm forgetful so, when challenged, I'd give them all I could remember (the real name) and I'd be locked out.

@atalanta

//It's not as if this person is denying his/her age; just being shy about the date, probably to try to save us all any expense.//

Shy, possibly an introvert. Nothing more excrutiating for them than a crowd sneaking up on them at their desk, even if it turns out to be a nice surprise.

You asked, politely, when their exact birthday is and they declined to say. Why not leave it at that?

[Hypognosis]

This isn't the jpg meme I went looking for but it's just as good, if not better.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/16/understanding-introverts-_n_5989656.html

[Svejk]

atalanta /// Don't do what ? I wasn't planning anything.
But if I were only wanting to send a card, where's the harm ? ///

You seem to be going to a lot of trouble for someone 'not planning anything'. ( I find it a little creepy, to be honest. Although, that's possibly because I've never worked in an office environment.)

[atalanta]

I didn't ask. I hardly know this person, but I seem to be the "go-to" person who has to come up with ingenious answers. Some of which you lot actually come up with, I have to acknowledge, but I do have many other sources of information. No, this person is not shy or introverted, but is known to be both generous and extremely considerate of other people's budgets.

[Jackdaw33]

Unfortunately in this day the mother's maiden name is likely more than not to be the same as the surname.

[Hypognosis]

@jackdaw33

Maiden name only starts appearing on BMD indexes in (approx) WWI era. Specify matching surname and maiden name and you'll find no shortage of them back then, so it's nothing new. They were just more discreet.

Even parish registers have occasional "father unknown" baptisms. (Bad news if you're paying through the nose for an Ancestry subscription).

[twix123]

Why don't you ask your HR department if they will give you the date, as you can supply them with the month and year?

[Hypognosis]

@twix123

That would be a breach of the Data Protection Act as well as a betrayal of this person's confidentiality.

If your HR dished out your personal information to a voice on the end of the phone line, what is to stop fraudsters from doing the same?