I've been using Findmypast for quite a while, and until this month have been reasonably satisfied. At the end of March 2014, they rejigged the site, and it's the best example of 'Hutber's Law' (Improvement equals deterioration), I've seen for some time. I thought it was just me for a couple of weeks, but now found that others are also having problems. What's the point of a census search where you can't search on a particular address?
I'm tied in until September, and they seem reluctant to give refunds to dissatisfied users, so I'll just have to grin and bear it. I will not renew, and would recommend that potential users stayed clear until all issues are resolved.
I don't see this company surviving.
Last edited by Tripps on 27 Apr 2014, 17:16, edited 1 time in total.
Born to be mild Sapere Aude Ego Lego Preferred pronouns - Thou, Thee, Thy, Thine My non-working days are Monday - Sunday
I use ancestry and have done for quite a few years now on and off. I tried genealogist but couldn't get to grips with it at all. A friend of mine uses Find my past and up to now has not commented on the changes. Ancestry does not do an address search, neither does genealogist if my memory serves me right.
I think there is always a problem when a site changes, familysearch is a good example since it's change, I still don't find it as easy, but maybe people coming into it new do.
I really do understand your angst, and cannot understand why they would take that search facility off. Obviously done by someone who knows nothing of genealogy.
I prefer Ancestry, but one of my volunteer colleagues in the library uses Find My Past and she has been very frustrated with it since the changes. Lancashire Libraries swapped from Ancestry to Find my Past not long since and the last I heard they had been denied access since the changes were made.
All UK census records are free this weekend
All of Findmypast’s British census records (1841-1911) are completely free to access from 10:00 (BST) on 30 April until 3 May. Amazing snapshots of the past, census records can help you trace your family tree, generation by generation.
That's good.
I can't work out how much it will cost though. Looks like Ancestry will have a monopoly, though since they did the work perhaps that's OK, for a while. I see they price transcripts -what about just looking?
Born to be mild Sapere Aude Ego Lego Preferred pronouns - Thou, Thee, Thy, Thine My non-working days are Monday - Sunday
I’m not sure Tripps, the way I read this you can look at them for free with your subscription, but if you want a copy you have to pay. Don’t understand what’s to stop you doing a screen shot of it though.
It’s findmypast that did the work, and they have the monopoly for a time…………I think that’s right.
I'm using Ancestry now, and just about to renew. maybe better to switch to Findmypast?
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PS.
Thanks again for the tip off - very timely.
I've cancelled my Ancestry which only had five days to go. I can have a breather, and decide whether to switch to Findmypast. They seem to be the same price for equivalent access, but FMP will have the 1921 Census which is very appealing.
Born to be mild Sapere Aude Ego Lego Preferred pronouns - Thou, Thee, Thy, Thine My non-working days are Monday - Sunday
It looks to me as if we will be able to search the 1921 census and see the resulting list but will have to pay to see the transcript or the individual returns. We will need to be certain that it's the right one! It sounds like a costly business!
Unfortunately as soon as anything becomes popular it becomes a cost centre and market forces apply. I fear that is what we are seeing here.
How big are the Mormons on census records these days? They used to be amongst the best.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net
"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Old age isn't for cissies!
This Remembrance Day, commemorate the family heroes that secured our futures. All Findmypast military records are now free until Monday 15 November at 10:00 GMT*
I'm slowly gathering in information about my house, I will have access to a lot of photos from the last 50 years very soon. I also have unconfirmed reports that a previous occupant was the headmaster at Foulridge School. I haven't signed up to Find My Past yet but will need to once I've exhausted local knowledge.
Big Kev wrote: ↑12 Nov 2021, 18:36
I'm slowly gathering in information about my house, I will have access to a lot of photos from the last 50 years very soon. I also have unconfirmed reports that a previous occupant was the headmaster at Foulridge School. I haven't signed up to Find My Past yet but will need to once I've exhausted local knowledge.
I did have a peep and that info is correct Kev! Keep going, I think it's going to be very interesting,
Big Kev wrote: ↑12 Nov 2021, 18:36
I'm slowly gathering in information about my house, I will have access to a lot of photos from the last 50 years very soon. I also have unconfirmed reports that a previous occupant was the headmaster at Foulridge School. I haven't signed up to Find My Past yet but will need to once I've exhausted local knowledge.
I did have a peep and that info is correct Kev! Keep going, I think it's going to be very interesting,
Ooh! Thank you for that Wendy.
I have Fay Oldland's History of Foulridge so may well have a picture of said headmaster. I'm enjoying this
I've just dipped into the freebie weekend on Findmypast.
In view of the current controversy about compulsory vaccinations, which is coming nicely to the boil, I found this interesting - referring to a Great Uncle.
On the Attestation form dated 9th December 1915 - Q8 asks Are you willing to be vaccinated or revaccinated? He answered "Yes".
I wonder what would have been the consequences of saying "No", and why they didn't ask if he was relaxed with going to the trenches and being shot at by machine guns.
Born to be mild Sapere Aude Ego Lego Preferred pronouns - Thou, Thee, Thy, Thine My non-working days are Monday - Sunday
Looking at the Find My Past website it gives a 14 day free trial, prior to subscribing. I will be looking at signing up on Thursday as I will be off shift for a week.
I have also read that my solicitor could potentially have the original deeds so I have emailed him (I live in hope). I was given all the original documentation for a house I owned down south, if I remember correctly it was the solicitor who passed them on as they didn't have the storage space.