# Is it common for schools to refuse to issue replacement diplomas if the original is lost? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 27, 2019, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-common-for-schools-to-refuse-to-issue-replacement-diplomas-if-the-original-is-lost/833131 "2019-04-27T15:08:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-common-for-schools-to-refuse-to-issue-replacement-diplomas-if-the-original-is-lost/833131/21 "2019-04-29T15:45:46Z")
> [@electronbee](#): > > For me, as one work place I was at required both the transcript and diploma sent to their centralized HR, from the school itself > [@kayaker](#): > > all they needed was a copy of his diploma I’m a bit surprised to hear that there are places that require a copy of a diploma. Transcripts are the standard way of providing evidence that one has earned a particular degree. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-common-for-schools-to-refuse-to-issue-replacement-diplomas-if-the-original-is-lost/833131/22 "2019-04-29T16:32:30Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > > [@rbroome](#): > > > > Hey, cut out the middleman and order your own! > > You don’t need no crummy school to get graduated, just place your order and custom design your own diploma! 🙂 > > Heh. One of my nephews followed that route. He had graduated college with honors, but his diploma was being held hostage while he argued over some fees that they said he owed. He had a very good job offer; all they needed was a copy of his diploma, so he bought one. > > He eventually got his real diploma, and he was trying to figure out a way to switch the forgery for the real thing that didn’t involve the Impossible Mission crew coming through a skylight. After a year at the job he got a better offer and was relieved to have the diploma situation behind him. I have a friend from college who never actually graduated from high school. At the last minute they informed him that he hadn’t met some phys ed requirement and so wasn’t entitled to graduate. Didn’t stop him from getting a bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees, and getting a tenured faculty position. ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-common-for-schools-to-refuse-to-issue-replacement-diplomas-if-the-original-is-lost/833131/23 "2019-04-29T16:44:23Z")
I worked in the office of my (private) high school after I graduated, we occasionally got calls asking for a replacement diploma and the answer was always, we don’t do that. The registrar would provide some other paperwork if they needed proof of graduation, I don’t recall if it was a transcript (with grades) or just a letter or form saying this this person graduated in Month, Year. I recall one person being slightly annoyed by this answer. She was not nearly as rude as the father who said “Let me try this again, I am a donor to this school” when he came by without appointment asking for a tour for some friends. ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-common-for-schools-to-refuse-to-issue-replacement-diplomas-if-the-original-is-lost/833131/24 "2019-05-11T14:34:47Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I’m a bit surprised to hear that there are places that require a copy of a diploma. Transcripts are the standard way of providing evidence that one has earned a particular degree. My degree does not have marks on it, while my transcript does. My marks were pretty good, but it seems using the degree is a good way to hide bad marks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-common-for-schools-to-refuse-to-issue-replacement-diplomas-if-the-original-is-lost/833131.md?page=1)