RootsChat.Com
Census Lookups General Lookups => Census and Resource Discussion => Topic started by: crowsfeet on Saturday 12 April 14 03:11 BST (UK)
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Hi,
New look is difficult to say the least.
Had trouble downloading images, for a couple of days, then noticed down at bottom right of screen in small print & dark blue colour the download button.
Very hard for sight impaired people to see. (that's me.)
Selection is difficult now, less info entered is better, as otherwise a limited selection to search through.
Crowsfeet
Continued from:
The new Findmypast (Part 1) (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=681106.0)
The new Findmypast (Part 2) (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=682699.0)
The new Findmypast (Part 3) (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=679363.0)
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Hmm! Just tried that but all I get is a black screen, with heading: England & Wales births 1937-2006 (centre top of screen) - and below that it says: View full page transcription (which, of course takes me back to the transcription page!)
There are two tiny boxes top right and top left - one takes me back to transcription, the other goes back to the Results page.
I am getting numerous "pop-ups" too - offering coupons to use at findmypast - which I don't need or want. And right now there is a sort of banner running above this letter form - offering me 0.9% Financing on a Toyota! (Don't need or want that, either!)
This is a sad situation - I have depended on and recommended this site for years.
I also "hovered" my cursor over "downloaddownload" in your letter and got an immediate pop-up offering me $593 By Legally Hacking "The System" and telling me to enter my Email for INSTANT Access
- I backed away from that quickly!! Do you think I am infected or are our connections to the websites in a mess? I am almost afraid to go on line!
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This looks like one of the reasons they have changed the site - from their newsletter
The findmypast team is pleased to announce the launch of our 100 in 100 campaign. Over the next 100 days we will be releasing new records every week comprising of millions of new names and showcasing some of our recently added collections. You can now explore more of your family’s history than ever before.
Their search form layout/design for these new records is not even consistent. I was looking down the list of PALS regiments, and having seen a few searches where the form is - last name - first name, suddenly there is a change to first name - last name.
Lisa
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I hate it when it isn't consistent - I often find on sites like Freebmd that I can't find anything, then realise I've put the names in the wrong way round.
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Sounds like you need to give your computer a scan with Malwarebytes Jan Jones.
https://www.malwarebytes.org/
Cheers, PP
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Good afternoon all,
Well . . . hasn't the list of complaints grown - now on part four . . I contacted FindMyPast and cancelled my subscription which had been renewed automatically about five days before my cancellation request. That was about two or three weeks ago - they have totally ignored me, which adds insult to injury I suppose.
Kincaid
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Good afternoon all,
Well . . . hasn't the list of complaints grown - now on part four . . I contacted FindMyPast and cancelled my subscription which had been renewed automatically about five days before my cancellation request. That was about two or three weeks ago - they have totally ignored me, which adds insult to injury I suppose.
Kincaid
It may be because under their conditions you are not entitled to your money back if you cancelled after the renewal date.
. You must opt out of the continuous membership before the expiry date if you do not want your subscription to automatically renew, and we cannot provide refunds for a continuous membership subscription which has been renewed in this way
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Hi Groom, thanks for the reply - I read the small print and there was something about being able to cancel within seven days, but you are probably right - I have written the money off anyway (and they could have replied to my contact either way).
I am now trying to master Ancestry though I will sorely miss some of the features of FindMyPast as well as the intuitive feel and use of the old format.
Kincaid
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I think the seven days only applies if you haven't looked at any records. I agree though, an email explaining this would have been polite.
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Yes, I remember reading the bit about not looking at any records . . which is a catch 22 situation, because how are you going to know they have substantially changed everything (and to such an extent it constitutes a change of what you paid for previously) if you don't try to use it . . .
I have blown my fuse . . made my rant . . . breathed fire . . . . now sanguine and resting calmly on the far shore . . ha ha
Knicaid
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Something I'm finding very annoying (one of many things) is the lack of county in the census search results. This is proving very time consuming, and I'm finding that I have to google some of the places to find out which county they are in to save looking at records unnecessarily.
I certainly wouldn't want to be using pay as you go credits since the changes.
I sent an email via contact us saying that the county needs to be included on results - as it was before. I did receive a reply but I would think it standard/automatic as there was no mention of the issue I referred to at all and it could have been sent in response to pretty much anything that wasn't a question of how to do something.
I used to be really impressed with how quickly and (generally) how easily one could find individuals/families on a census, and I used to really like how the address search worked. :(
Lisa
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You and me both, Lisa . . . . . I had to go back to FindMyPast yesterday as I was not getting anywhere easy with Ancestry and spent ten minutes looking for the 'County' button . . . they certainly could do with a County filter. Have nit had the nerve to try an address search yet.
Kincaid
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Another fiddley thing is (I think I am right) - you can only see the individual you have found - there doesn't seem to be a transcription showing family members, unless you look at the actual census form. Usually ok but a couple of times the form has been so faint as to be unreadable.
I am going back through the census trying to find if three married men with the same surname meet up as brothers in the same family. I know Ancestry have a full transcription so will have to go back to them this time.
Kincaid
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Another fiddley thing is (I think I am right) - you can only see the individual you have found - there doesn't seem to be a transcription showing family members, unless you look at the actual census form.
Surely there is a transcription for each family member? Go the the bottom of the page where it lists all members in the household, you then have the option to look at the image or transcription for each person.
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The 1891 census keeps on coming and going from their index.
A couple of minutes ago it wasn't there.
I refreshed the page and it re-appeared. It's been doing that for nearly 24 hours now ::)
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Good afternoon, Groom - thanks for that - will try again.
Kincaid
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Oh Dear . . . Groom was correct - I feel quite stupid - did not scroll down far enough. brain fatigue I am afraid.
Kincaid
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Don't worry Kincaid, it is quite easy to miss - not as clear as it was on the old site. ;D ;D
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I contacted them about the new census transcription; if I want to print the whole family it's two pages. Their response:
We agree that the old view of household transcriptions made a lovely one page print out.
As you know, we are now printing out the entire transcription, plus details of the family, which can go across several pages.
We are listening to customer feedback and our technical team are looking at ways of improving this print experience with the enhanced data. We do not know however how long this will take.
We are confident that we will find a better way so please bear with us.
Kind Regards,
I'm halfway through compiling a family history file for my son-in-law......so I can stop now, print several sheets instead of just 1 per family or wait.........but for how long? ::)
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Hmm! Just tried that but all I get is a black screen, with heading: England & Wales births 1937-2006 (centre top of screen) - and below that it says: View full page transcription (which, of course takes me back to the transcription page!)
There are two tiny boxes top right and top left - one takes me back to transcription, the other goes back to the Results page.
FindMyPast have posted about this. This is a "temporary" problem with a work around of only using Google Chrome to access their site. I received this advice from them when I complained about their dreadful upgrade. They completely ignored my comment regarding the lack of design and testing that had been undertaken - how anyone can launch a web site that only works fully with a single browser is beyond me. I'd love to know how long temporary is !!
Like others I have cancelled my auto subscription and am not inclined to install yet another browser when I already have two.
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- not as clear as it was on the old site. ;D ;D
this could be a new slogan for them ;) :)
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I contacted them about the new census transcription; if I want to print the whole family it's two pages. Their response:
We agree that the old view of household transcriptions made a lovely one page print out.
As you know, we are now printing out the entire transcription, plus details of the family, which can go across several pages.
We are listening to customer feedback and our technical team are looking at ways of improving this print experience with the enhanced data. We do not know however how long this will take.
We are confident that we will find a better way so please bear with us.
Kind Regards,
I'm halfway through compiling a family history file for my son-in-law......so I can stop now, print several sheets instead of just 1 per family or wait.........but for how long? ::)
Funny, I got that same response! It makes me think they don't know what the old transcription/printable version looked like.
They seem unable and unwilling to acknowledge that they've muddled all the names up now, so the household isn't even in the 'correct' (as in on the census) order.
It seems to be alphabetical, the disruption to the household is most noticeable if you get a household with servants or people with different surnames - all over the place then, time consuming to copy it out into the correct order. >:(
Lisa
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- not as clear as it was on the old site. ;D ;D
this could be a new slogan for them ;) :)
Slogan for the new site? How about Lostmypast :)
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Is the address list for the 1911 census still there?
I couldn't find it today :(
Lisa
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Is the address list for the 1911 census still there?
I couldn't find it today :(
Lisa
I wondered if it was just me, but no if you want to do an address search like the other census returns?
Keyboard86
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Is the address list for the 1911 census still there?
I couldn't find it today :(
Lisa
I wondered if it was just me, but no if you want to do an address search like the other census returns?
Keyboard86
thanks, no, I was hoping to get the enumerator's list that was available (along with a cover as 'free' pages) by clicking something at the top of the old display of the 1911 census entry.
Something else I haven't noticed (on any of the census pages) is 'report a transcription error'.
Has that gone too?
I used to report transcription errors in the past and now with hindsight would imagine that it was probably a bit of a pointless exercise once this 'new' site was being rolled out.
Lisa
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I've been away for 8 days and was hoping things would have changed for the better by the time I got back - no such luck, so I'm using Ancestry now instead. I also got an e-mail for a sub to British Newspapers at £9.95 (I think - I deleted it ??? ) per month, rather than the original £30+/month. I think that is a better bet if you want to search for ancestors.
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Something else I haven't noticed (on any of the census pages) is 'report a transcription error'.
Has that gone too?
I used to report transcription errors in the past and now with hindsight would imagine that it was probably a bit of a pointless exercise once this 'new' site was being rolled out.
Lisa
[/quote]
You can still report transcription errors, on the Transcription view, scroll down the page and the option is on the bottom left hand side.
Jebber
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Something else I haven't noticed (on any of the census pages) is 'report a transcription error'.
Has that gone too?
I used to report transcription errors in the past and now with hindsight would imagine that it was probably a bit of a pointless exercise once this 'new' site was being rolled out.
Lisa
You can still report transcription errors, on the Transcription view, scroll down the page and the option is on the bottom left hand side.
Jebber
[/quote]
Thanks Jebber,
that must be trickier to do, now that the original census image doesn't open in a separate window.
Lisa
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Hi all,
Just had an interesting email from another genealogy site (not Ancestry, don't know whether I'm allowed to mention which), beginning with the words,
"Are the recent changes to some family history sites getting you frustrated?" Oh yes!
and offering a years Diamond subscription with £50 off. Very tempting!
Looks like the bad news about FindMyPast is spreading, and will be good news for other genealogy sites.
Yorkslass
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Yorkslass
I know which site you mean, and I have a sub to that, but for normal stuff, census etc. it's not particularly good. Sometimes you can find someone more easily than FindMyPast (in its old state) and Ancestry, but I checked today for someone I had already found on Ancestry and nothing came up. However, if you do find someone it will show the name, place of birth, relationship to head of household, (if in a census) occupation if an adult etc. so quite a lot of info before having to open the census itself.
For what it's worth, I'd stick with Ancestry if you have a sub for that. If you do subscribe as far as I can see renewal is automatic so you have to remember to cancel a sub at least 4 weeks before it's due. I've got a note on my laptop calendar to cancel my sub, so with that and FindMyPast, I'll be left just with Ancestry.
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I just received a similar email from that other genealogy site.
Mick
Hi all,
Just had an interesting email from another genealogy site (not Ancestry, don't know whether I'm allowed to mention which), beginning with the words,
"Are the recent changes to some family history sites getting you frustrated?" Oh yes!
and offering a years Diamond subscription with £50 off. Very tempting!
Looks like the bad news about FindMyPast is spreading, and will be good news for other genealogy sites.
Yorkslass
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Wonder how they got your email addresses though?
If it is the one I'm thinking of, I have a subscription to that as well, and although good I agree with Lizzie and don't think it compares with the main two.
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I likely have a login for the site "TheGenealogist", I have for most genealogy sites, so that explains why they would have my email addresss. I have never subscribed to it and I can't recall just what that site has. When I can take the time I'll have a look at what they have to offer.
Modified
HOW TO OPT OUT
You have received this email because you are a subscriber to www.TheGenealogist.co.uk. If you no longer wish to receive these emails please unsubscribe here:
Mick
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The burial records for Warstone Lane Cemetery and Key Hill are now just Birmingham Warwickshire burials and the Cemeteries are not mentioned, just the number in grave and the reference number. I'm sure the name of the Cemetery was given before?
I have asked and they don't seem to know!!!
rayard.
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I think this is what is termed in IT speak as "progress". It's not progress at all. I find myself thumping things in utter frustration.
Some companies should stick to the adage "If it aint broken, don't fix it".
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Thank you to Princess Poppy - I have been checking and getting rid of numerous Pop-Ups. Most disappear but a few return after a few days. I am slowly rechecking every site I enter to see where they are coming from. (Grandchildren and their wide-spread contacts can cause such problems - bless their little hearts!)
Still problems with findmypast - the census records transcriptions are awful! I am going to other sites, too, and hoping this may settle down in time!
JJ
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Well I think its a really off putting website. I've whinged and moaned but decided that as I have a couple of months still to go on my subs I'd better try and get to grips. I first of all saved all my likely datasets to bookmarks.
I seemed to be having some degree of success but then there are stupid little things like when searching BMDS and Parish records. There are links at the top in teeny tiny print that I really didn't notice at first cos everything else is a bit font! So one day I was searching the new Shropshire parish records and I could select everything in the dataset, BMDs wills and probate, then when I returned later I could only access one set at a time. After a frustrating half an hour I realised I had to click on the teeny tiny link at the top and click All Collection to get everything. Also if you select all items there is no option for keywords but if you select one at a time there is!
Likewise seach Census land and surveys there is no box for place of birth but if you search each one individually there is.
Another thing that really irritates me that on their feeback forum at least, they are using the American date format - why for goodness sake, its a British company!
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I love the comment on britishgenes blogspot
"If a software hacker had got into the Findmypast website with the goal of sabotage, they could not have been more disruptive than the actions of the IT personnel who have been let lose [sic] in
supposed improvement."
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Hi Parmesan!
Re: Date formats.
Since I research and correspond with both American and UK Tree-makers (as well as those in several other countries) I have made it a point to use the following format, which is clear to all:
e.g. 01 Jan 1899 or 25 Dec 2012
I think the U.S. formats have taken precedence due to the enormous amount of transcription done by the U.S. based LDS (Mormon) Church. For which we should all be grateful!
Jan
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Hi
Well if dates are written 25 Dec 2012 in most, if not all genealogy forms, then it is obvious that it would translates to 25/12/12, otherwise everybody would be in a right mess.
It matters not who does the transcriptions, if they are doing them for a British Company presumably there are certain rules to be adhered to, spellings for one, you wouldn't expect to see 'color' for example, if you in Britain and using a British website. The date format should be dd/mm/yy
So there! ;D
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I am astounded at the complete hash FindMyPast have made of their site.
It was a truly user friendly site in the past.
Search facility was so easy to use and the filtering down was great.
Printout of census was the BEST. The main reason I had subs was for this as I do not like the Ancestry one.
Cancelled by automatic renewel 2 weeks ago, so as of 3 days ago I no longer have FindMyPast subs and you know what, I do not miss it.
Wonders - do the people who create these wonderful improvements actually use the site for research ;)
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I think if subscribers are having to completely relearn how to use a website its not a good strategy. Some are trying, I am trying but there are so many bloomers its untrue and they are reliant and the current angry mob to tell them about the issues.
There's something wrong somewhere ???
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I am astounded at the complete hash FindMyPast have made of their site.
It was a truly user friendly site in the past.
Cancelled by automatic renewel 2 weeks ago, so as of 3 days ago I no longer have FindMyPast subs and you know what, I do not miss it.
I have cancelled autorenew but they also gave me two months free so I'll see how it goes. My tree is done to all intents and purposes - as far as I want to go at least. It'll just be new records I hear of that will spark my interest. FindMyPast have just added Shropshire so glad to get those in under my current sub ;D
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For some unfathomable reason I can only search newspapers by adding the filters first, and only then can I add the search terms. Then to add insult they also seem to have removed some of the newspaper titles anyway - the Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough is no longer there but is still on the full BNA site.
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Daily Gazette For Middlesbrough is the first one that is indexed under D
http://search.new.findmypast.co.uk/search/british-newspapers?newspaper=daily%20gazette%20for%20middlesbrough
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So it is :-[
But.....if I filter by date & county first (which I now have to do), THEN add the search term it didn't come up as an option even though I know there are articles for the individual I'm looking for.
But if I filter by newspaper before adding the search term then it comes up. Crazy!
Might try a different browser to see if that gets rid of the problem.
It shouldn't be this hard though, should it? It certainly wasn't before they "improved" it!
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Might try a different browser to see if that gets rid of the problem.
It shouldn't be this hard though, should it? It certainly wasn't before they "improved" it!
I am using Chrome. I agree it shouldn't be so hard, I just hope they get a move on and sort out the inconsistencies in their searches etc. I have bookmarked a lot of the collections now but I would rather I hadn't had to.
Rosie
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>:(Hello all had a look on Saturday at the new FindMyPast
found it hard to navigate boy am I glad as I only use this as a pay per view site and I only have 8 credits left I will stick to the site I subscribe too.
I used to find it easy to use but not now.
johnallot
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it really SHOULDN'T be this hard. That's the problem imho, too many ways to search. There should be one with all the options you need on the one search page.
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We are not alone in our problems!
http://www.reviewcentre.com/Online-Genealogy/FindMyPast-co-uk-www-findmypast-co-uk--reviews_1451222
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Pity the review centre doesn't show the star ratings in a graph - the overnight drop from 5* to 1* would be something to behold!
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Further discussion, without censorship can be found at the Facebook page Can't Find My Past
If you're so inclined. If you visit, please like the page - if you do ;D
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Further discussion, without censorship can be found at the Facebook page Can't Find My Past
If you're so inclined. If you visit, please like the page - if you do ;D
Further discussion??? You have to be kidding, Can't Find My Past is just a whinge-fest with barely a helpful constructive comment.
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its a place for people who are discontented so what do you expect, plaudits?
Call them what you will, people are very genuinely upset and not only in the UK. They may not articulate themselves to your liking but at least you are left in no doubt as to their feelings, which are as pertinent as yours.
So its not your style to 'whinge' about poorly produced/tested products that you've paid hard earned cash for. Feel free to ignore, do.
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A very good point, Parmesan - and well put . . . . . I certainly feel the need to vent my wrath . .
Kincaid
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I'm sure this was mentioned somewhere in one of these threads but I can't find it.
In the old days, if you found a page on the 1911 census, you could look at the enumerator's book as well, which gave a list of the houses and heads of household in the street. Can you still do that, if so how?
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you could look at the enumerator's book as well, which gave a list of the houses and heads of household in the street. Can you still do that, if so how?
FindMyPast have confirmed that this function is not available at present, but it will be restored.
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Was not sure why people were complaining about the changes, now today I found that I had been changed over. Took me ages to find the home page and how to put in a search, and then trying to navigate around was so slow and fiddly. I gave up and went to my other site. I do not think I will be renewing my subscription.
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Thanks Bookbox, saves time searching for something that isn't there at the moment.
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Was not sure why people were complaining about the changes, now today I found that I had been changed over. Took me ages to find the home page and how to put in a search, and then trying to navigate around was so slow and fiddly. I gave up and went to my other site. I do not think I will be renewing my subscription.
Don't give up yet. I've started to find my way around it and am not finding it as bad as I feared. I have found quite a few things that I couldn't find before.
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Thank you groom, having paid my money I do not want to waste it so will struggle on.
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Hi
As Groom said, don't give up yet, it is different and there are/were a number of bugs in it but many seem to have been fixed whilst some are more stubborn to solve. On the few occasions I have seen where people have asked on various forums "How do I" someone has answered with details (yes, you might get a reply that it is not currently available but not often).
Andy
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I too am starting to find things. Some easily others not so easily. There is still a whole lot more to be sorted and you cannot download newspaper records still, a function available when I paid my subs.
I may say this is a whole frustrating month after the launch and we're not there yet. So sorry, I'm still not happy with FindMyPast. I'm dismayed too that they have deleted from the 'feedback' forum the most popular thread of over 2000 posts. Granted a lot of the posts were complaining but that is what feedback is about, the good and the bad. There was also a lot of useful work arounds on there that now, poof! have gone.
They've handled the whole thing incredibly badly imo. Its a shame, a once fantastic site with so many fantastic records has had its reputation go down for so many. I have no doubt that they will get everything working as it should but its the time its taking, many hours of research have been lost.
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I'm dismayed too that they have deleted from the 'feedback' forum the most popular thread of over 2000 posts. Granted a lot of the posts were complaining but that is what feedback is about, the good and the bad. There was also a lot of useful work arounds on there that now, poof! have gone.
I spent some time yesterday searching for that thread on the feedback forum before I realized it had been deleted >:(
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I think the problem is that people were complaining again and again about the same things. There were, and probably still are, lots of bugs to fix, but there are also a lot of new records and ways of finding them.
The most helpful posts on here, and other forums, are those from people who, rather than just moaning about the new site, have accepted that FindMyPast isn't going to go back to the old format and have thought, "Yes, it is different but how can we get round the problems." They have then posted useful tips which have helped others. It is a shame that FindMyPast weren't able to sort out the complaints from the tips on the feedback.
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Is the search by address on the census supposed to be coming back how it was?
Any email I send asking is either ignored or I get a standard reply which doesn't address the issue.
The census household printout may now fit on one page - so they think they have fixed the issue - but it's still absolute nonsense with the household ordered by alphabetical order rather than being an accurate transcription of the census.
I was also looking through parish records only to find that those results were organised by alphabetical order of the name, now I know that I was able to click date and have the results shown in date order, but surely it makes sense to do date order as the default, ie the way one would look through a parish register. The site's slow enough on parish records as it is.
I'm still finding it all slower than the old FindMyPast.
Lisa
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I agree repetitive posts are unhelpful, but you have to allow people to have their say, by deleting that thread they've just caused more irriration. Not for me necessarily, like you I am trying to find my way round, but I hear the frustration of others and I understand it. Wouldn't it be nice for FindMyPast if everyone just went 'oh well maybe next week ...' That's not how it works unfortunately for them.
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I think the problem is that people were complaining again and again about the same things. There were, and probably still are, lots of bugs to fix, but there are also a lot of new records and ways of finding them.
The most helpful posts on here, and other forums, are those from people who, rather than just moaning about the new site, have accepted that FindMyPast isn't going to go back to the old format and have thought, "Yes, it is different but how can we get round the problems." They have then posted useful tips which have helped others. It is a shame that FindMyPast weren't able to sort out the complaints from the tips on the feedback.
How do you get around a problem like: They have invented a new district?
From 1837 until March 1848 BMD's for Oldham were in the Ashton & C. In 1848 two new areas were introduced: Ashton under Lyne and Oldham - Problem now is that all BMD's prior to 1848 are Ashton under Lyne. So the thousands of people hatched, matched and dispatched in Oldham are transcribed wrongly.
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Wouldn't it be nice for FindMyPast if everyone just went 'oh well maybe next week ...' That's not how it works unfortunately for them.
It would be nice if FindMyPast offered all their current subscribers an extra 2 months on their subscription to make up for all this hassle. The thing that irritates me is that I am in the middle of a sub and can't even suspend it until they have sorted things out. :'(
Rosie
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It would be nice if FindMyPast offered all their current subscribers an extra 2 months on their subscription to make up for all this hassle. The thing that irritates me is that I am in the middle of a sub and can't even suspend it until they have sorted things out. :'(
Rosie
Exactly.
It seems that some people have had an extension added but not everyone, yet surely anyone with a subscription is subject to the same problems,
Lisa
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Although I'm still narked about the address listings, I've forgiven them (nearly) everything since their inclusion of the Shropshire records.
Sorry folks.
Gadget
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I asked for an extension and finally got an extra 2 months.
They still haven't said when it will be possible to delete all the unwanted records, (I can't find the one I wanted to keep!) or when it will be possible to print newspapers. Also burial records for Warstone Lane Cemetery and Key Hill seem to have been changed as now they are just classed as Warwickshire burials with the number in the grave and burial reference, instead of which graveyard? I am sure that before they changed the graveyard was stated, can anyone clarify please in case I'm mistaken?
Don't forget to untick the box to cancel the automatic renewal!
rayard.
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I was as annoyed as anyone about some of the problems with the new FindMyPast, but by going back to basics and treating it as a new site, forgetting all the old searches etc, I have managed to find quite a lot of new information.
I'm sure there are going to be teething troubles for a while yet but I would think they must have got the message by now that many people are not happy ;D
Mike.
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I have to agree with Mike, if you ignore the way you researched previously on the site and work out how they've set the site up, it is possible to search successfully as I've been doing so for several weeks. It's not really any different to the situation with ancestry new search, and in fact there are quite a lot of similarities in the way to approach it.
I'll just be happier if they would hurry up and upload the remainder of the Hertfordshire parish registers as it's over 14 months since the original batch and still no sign of them. ::) And for that matter put the Lincolnshire registers back.
I suspect they will eventually sort out all the issues, hopefully putting back the parish name in the parish transcript results list, but I agree I think they have definitely go the message they have many unhappy customers. Have to admit some of the new features are useful, such as being able to just put a parish name rather than having to include a name as well. Makes it more like ancestry search and combats problems with serious misspellings in either the original or the transcript/index entry. Hate to say it but I actually prefer the new Census address search results list, as I used to get frustrated having to view many, many entries where no house number was included until I found the one I was looking for. :-\ Now I just look down the name list but I appreciate that hasn't suited everyone. It would be useful if they provided the option to display in either format as that would make everyone happy.
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They still haven't said when it will be possible to delete all the unwanted records,
I have just done mine ;D ;D ;D
ADDED I have completely cleared the 100's of records in 'my records' and saved to my computer the ones I had marked. I feel ready to start afresh 8)
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Did you have to do them all "manually" one by one?
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If looks like you can do 20 at a time which is one page, so if like me you have 80 pages of records it is going to take some time to go through them all !
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Just discovered you can set it to delete 80 at a time, so I'm working through mine.
200 pages to go. ::)
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Just discovered you can set it to delete 80 at a time, so I'm working through mine.
200 pages to go. ::)
I did mine 80 at a time though I did deselect anything I had previously 'highlighted' to look at when I finished. I have now made sure all I want is on my computer and 'My records' will be cleared regularly.
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I might be behind the times as I haven't been on FindMyPast much recently but the census transcripts appear to have been adjusted to put the household in order. They are still like those on Ancestry & that is one of the reasons I preferred FindMyPast.
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Hi all, working round it gradually but it's those blessed filters with all their misspellings for ie birth town/place of birth, which? How do you just put Liverpool in?!
Keyboard86
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I might be behind the times as I haven't been on FindMyPast much recently but the census transcripts appear to have been adjusted to put the household in order. They are still like those on Ancestry & that is one of the reasons I preferred FindMyPast.
There's an update on the site to say that this has just been implemented. ;)
Hi all, working round it gradually but it's those blessed filters with all their misspellings for ie birth town/place of birth, which? How do you just put Liverpool in?!
Keyboard86
I'd put it in the optional keyword box personally, as with ancestry new search. Granted you'll get results for people born there and/or who live there, but more likely to get the result you want. ;D
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That's all my records gone - took hours to do. All I need to do now is remember to delete them every week or so. There were a lot there that I had no recollection of looking at.
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Hi all, working round it gradually but it's those blessed filters with all their misspellings for ie birth town/place of birth, which? How do you just put Liverpool in?!
Keyboard86
Thanks for reply, but can you point me in the direction of where the "Optional Keyword box" is?
Keyboard86
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Hi
Just read this - which may be of interest to others
http://genealogy.about.com/b/2014/04/29/findmypast-customers-continue-to-respond.htm
CD
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So things are still not getting any better. Oh well, I won't be renewing my sub - although it doesn't run out until October and I suspect there are 1000s more like me. At least they can't stop people making comments on other sites, such as this one.
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Hi all, working round it gradually but it's those blessed filters with all their misspellings for ie birth town/place of birth, which? How do you just put Liverpool in?!
Keyboard86
Thanks for reply, but can you point me in the direction of where the "Optional Keyword box" is?
Keyboard86
When you select Census, Land & Surveys, there's a section above the title that says "All Collections", if you click the drop down arrow it gives you the option for Census, if you select that you get the optional keyword box.
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There's a new blog entry on FindMyPast from their CEO today. Amongst other things it states:
"unfortunately during this process we met some challenges and some mistakes were made. This resulted in a less than perfect experience, especially for our expert users. I sincerely apologise if we let you down."
Better late than never.
All we need now is for the site to work properly again.
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I'm probably misremembering this, as I haven't used them for a while, but didn't Montgomeryshire parish records used to have images?
Chesters.
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I'm probably misremembering this, as I haven't used them for a while, but didn't Montgomeryshire parish records used to have images?
Chesters.
I don't know but it doesn't appear to be part of their Wales collection :-\
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0z4l/
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Montgomery is still there under "Powys"which is the new county name and the images too.....
Anne
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Montgomery is still there under "Powys"which is the new county name and the images too.....
Anne
Oh yeah, Cheers.
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Montgomery is still there under "Powys"which is the new county name and the images too.....
Anne
Powys also includes the records for Brecon and Radnor. The other counties are as the old historical ones - http://www.findmypast.co.uk/articles/world-records/search-all-uk-records/special-collections/the-wales-collection
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It takes a bit adjusting to say the least, but so far I have found most of what I want. Just wish that the printing or saving of newspapers could come back. :-((
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Has anyone had the problem when searching on a census that the pages 'get stuck' and it just repeatedly loads the same page?
on the 1871 census, I was searching with a first name only and dob +/- 5 years (I'm looking for someone I believe to be mis-transcribed)
it brought up 1,779 results and I was going through the pages, by clicking the next number (at the bottom of the results page), this worked ok, until I got to page 76 of the results (surnames beginning with T), after this, all I got was this same page reloading.
I reported the problem.
Lisa
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I've had to leave off the family history research for a little while ... but I come back to find that they've COMPLETELY ruined the Find My Past site.
I'm finding it impossible to formulate my search terms with their new set-up; and impossible to xtract the information i want from the new way of presenting the results. Everythi is taking FAR longer than it used to.
Why do they do this???
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They do explain on their website why they have altered things.
However if you don't want to read that they have also done a video that was emailed to people and has been uploaded onto youtube.
Have a look at the link, hopefully you will find it informative
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOEi_nLLkRw
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I've tried looking at the explanation ... and it never loads! Just locks up my computer.
But whatever way they explain it doesn't alter the bottom line: I chose FindMyPast over Ancestry because I found the FindMyPast way of presenting results helpful and the Ancestry way unhelpful. And they've abandoned the helpful presentation and adopted the unhelpful presentation instead.
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All you have to do is find all the complaints on line (although they keep deleting them on their Facebook page) and you'll find you are not alone with your frustration. ::)
Also these topics on here.
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=681106.0 (Part 1)
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=682699.0 (Part 2)
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=679363.msg5281098#msg5281098 (Part 3)
Lizzie
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I'm finding it impossible to formulate my search terms with their new set-up; and impossible to xtract the information i want from the new way of presenting the results. Everythi is taking FAR longer than it used to.
Why do they do this???
They say they did it so that they could accommodate more records - fair enough, but that should not have involved mangling the search facilities and presentation so badly.
I have a month of sub to go and won't renew - I'll go to their public library version if I'm desperate. Many people left pleas for a return of the old user interface on their 'feedback forum' on a thread that ran to over 2000 posts - but they have now all been deleted. It's a massive shame and I think they will come to regret it when subscribers go elsewhere.
:) Barbara
Topics merged.
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Some people are starting to ask for, and get, pro rata refunds.
I don't see much improvement since launch tbh. What is that list of birthplaces all about? Ridiculous.
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Annelies latest blog online. Apparently they have a 'big job' to do. I'd say all the 'whinging' has been very justified.
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As has been mentioned before, I think that using the new FindMyPast is just like using any new subscription site. I've had to take a long hard think about how things need to be done now step by step and forget about the old FindMyPast which has gone forever.
I'm slowly getting to grips with things and getting results: birth, marriage and death searches, parish register look-up, census stuff.
Please don't write off FindMyPast, I know it's a huge shock to the system, bear with it and you will get the reuslts you are looking for.
I've stopped using the feedback forum and gone back to emailing them via the contact us link at the bottom of their site.
I'm getting replies to all my emails generally within 2 days but never more then 3. I've been reassured that the things I'm asking for will be reinstated at some point, some of them already have.
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Hi Dawnsh, have you figured out the relevance of birth town and birth place? 1911 just what do you put in other than a name/yob, with at least some certainty of a result?
Keyboard86
PS Liverpool a nightmare pob!
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I'm leaving it alone and using Ancestry for the time being until known issues are sorted and someone masters it all and comes on here with a tutorial ;D
I have felt let down as I recently held an exhibition for which I was hoping to have supporting information from FindMyPast newspapers only to find that the articles I found weren't legible when printed ::)
Carol
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As has been mentioned before, I think that using the new FindMyPast is just like using any new subscription site. I've had to take a long hard think about how things need to be done now step by step and forget about the old FindMyPast which has gone forever.
I'm slowly getting to grips with things and getting results: birth, marriage and death searches, parish register look-up, census stuff.
Please don't write off FindMyPast, I know it's a huge shock to the system, bear with it and you will get the reuslts you are looking for.
I've stopped using the feedback forum and gone back to emailing them via the contact us link at the bottom of their site.
I'm getting replies to all my emails generally within 2 days but never more then 3. I've been reassured that the things I'm asking for will be reinstated at some point, some of them already have.
Do you think 6/7 weeks is a reasonable timescale to 'get used to' something you had paid for and were using quite happily previously? And you're not proficient yet. I bet when you first joined FindMyPast it took you about 6/7 minutes to get great results?
The fact is we were fed corporate bull s about a 'simpler to use Findmypast', its proved anything but simple. Schoolboy errors are being flagged daily still and now they say 'its a big job'. No sht Sherlock! Who were the imbeciles who so called 'tested' the new site? The whole experience has been horrendous and its not over yet.
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Hi Dawnsh, have you figured out the relevance of birth town and birth place? 1911 just what do you put in other than a name/yob, with at least some certainty of a result?
Keyboard86
PS Liverpool a nightmare pob!
There are 2 ways of searching the census (I know, a bit of a faff)
http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-united-kingdom-records-in-census-land-and-surveys/and_census
http://search.new.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/1911-census-for-england-and-wales
if I just put Henry Sherry in both, no variants, no year or place of birth, I get the same 20 results.
I found the the 2nd search (world) is quite sensitive and if you put in something like a place of birth that doesn't match completely, you get no results. One Henry in the results was quite specific with his place of birth
Where Born 1 KING ST CITY OF LONDON
Narrowing down by year or county does work for Henry Sherry. In either of the searches if you put in London as a keyword in the 1st search and London as the county in the 2nd search you get the same 6 results.
Who have you been trying to find?
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Hi again no one in particular, as tree fairly straightforward post/pre 1911, just cannot work out why 1911 is so different in both layout and results, but my main bugbear is birth place birth town and the stupid spelling variations they give you when you finally get a response to search their filter system it is nonsensical and over elaborate in my opinion, ie Liverpool is Liverpool, if no result try Lancashire, worked before, trial and error now!
Keyboard86
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Just like to say thank you for this thread (and the others)
Hardly used findmypast much over the last couple of months (other commitments) so I am a little late in finding out how bad it is. Tonight not being able to find the Lincolnshire parish records and also print out from the newspaper archives prompted me to search further to see if I was doing something wrong and the reason for finding this thread (and many others).
As a result of this thread it has saved me money, as my renewal is due in the next couple of weeks and thought I had to log on to renew, how wrong I was and have now unchecked the automatic renewal option. Will keep an eye on the various threads and wait for improvements before trying Findmypast again.
Cheers
Kev.
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Here are a few useful facts I have found about the new FindMyPast.
If you are trying to find records, DO NOT CLICK on the obvious places. If you are trying to find someone in the 1881 census, for example, you MUST NOT use "CENSUS LAND AND SURVEYS" as you would have previously. That only leads to a search form where it is impossible to narrow your search enough to locate anybody. You can't even pick a particular census. Likewise, all the GRO entries are mixed in with parish records if you use the "obvious" route, and you can't separate them.
What you need to do is head for the alphabetic list of datasets and use their tailored search form for the set you want to look at.
"Name variants" now seems to include all names beginning with the same letter. If you search for "DUNN" and tick that box hoping for "DUN" and "DUNNE", you will have to wade past "D'ARCY", "D'ARTAGNAN" and the like before you reach them. Use wildcards instead.
Address searching works for censuses before 1911, ONLY IF YOU USE THE TAILORED SEARCH FORMS. The 1911 has an "Address" box, but you are wasting your time if you put anything in it.
The viewer for newspapers is broken and can not do half the things we paid for.
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Will keep an eye on the various threads and wait for improvements before trying Findmypast again.
Cheers
Kev.
Sorry, Kev, I don't agree with you there. You need to "play" around with it. For instance all the Lincolnshire records are still there and are easy to find. As Andrew said, just go to the A-Z drop down menu and start typing in Lincolnshire, they all appear. I didn't like it at first, but now that I' m finding my way around it, I'm finding some records that weren't there before.
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As has been mentioned before, I think that using the new FindMyPast is just like using any new subscription site. I've had to take a long hard think about how things need to be done now step by step and forget about the old FindMyPast which has gone forever.
I've had a few tries of approaching it like that, having read from one or two people that they'd been able to find stuff that they couldn't before, and to be honest it is still proving a nightmare.
I had search results which stuck on page 76 (which I wrote about on here), the same page kept reloading, so in effect it wasn't giving results beyond surnames beginning with T - I reported this and apparently it has been passed to the 'tech dept'.
I always use the form for the records I want to find (not the one form for everything), but find that on the census forms entering a county is ignored, the drop down menus for birthplaces etc are impossible to fathom out.
If I enter anything more than a name and dob it is a problem.
(I've also found that names that were there before, now come up as a blank followed by the surname.)
If as a new subscriber I tried the site on a trial, and for example found that the search ignored any county or town I entered, then I wouldn't be subscribing afterwards. I would expect it to be better.
Lisa
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apparently there's an email from FindMyPast doing the rounds offering a months' sub for a £1
"This weekend only, get a one month Britain subscription for just £1.
Get 1 month for £1
Your discount will be applied automatically, but should you have any trouble, simply type the code MAYOFFER into the promotional code box at the bottom of the payment page and click 'apply'.
Don't miss out - this offer expires at midnight on Sunday, 11 May 2014. Get unlimited access to our UK records and start the journey into your family's past."
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Like Dawn, I'm now finding most of the records that I search for - using various different routes. I'm still not happy about the lack of the Address Lists for each place in the censuses though.
Gadget
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apparently there's an email from FindMyPast doing the rounds offering a months' sub for a £1
"This weekend only, get a one month Britain subscription for just £1.
Get 1 month for £1
Your discount will be applied automatically, but should you have any trouble, simply type the code MAYOFFER into the promotional code box at the bottom of the payment page and click 'apply'.
Don't miss out - this offer expires at midnight on Sunday, 11 May 2014. Get unlimited access to our UK records and start the journey into your family's past."
Do you think they're panicking at the number of regular subscribers leaving them?
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It would be nice if you could add it on to your existing subscription ::)
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apparently there's an email from FindMyPast doing the rounds offering a months' sub for a £1
"This weekend only, get a one month Britain subscription for just £1.
Get 1 month for £1
Your discount will be applied automatically, but should you have any trouble, simply type the code MAYOFFER into the promotional code box at the bottom of the payment page and click 'apply'.
Don't miss out - this offer expires at midnight on Sunday, 11 May 2014. Get unlimited access to our UK records and start the journey into your family's past."
Do you think they're panicking at the number of regular subscribers leaving them?
the offer shows a disregard (again) for their existing subscribers who have already paid in full . . .
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Re Lincolnshire parish records
I have tried typing Lincolnshire into the A to Z, but unless I'm doing something wrong I still cannot see the parish records, I can find all sorts of other records for Lincolnshire (marriage index, bonds & allegations, apprentice records etc.) but no parish records with the images of the registers that I have used before. Where are they?
Another annoyance (again I could well be doing something wrong) for the newspapers section, when applying filters, the original search term dissapears each time a new filter is applied. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Kev.
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Another annoyance (again I could well be doing something wrong) for the newspapers section, when applying filters, the original search term dissapears each time a new filter is applied. Any suggestions?
Glad its not just me that happens to... well not that Im glad its happening to you, but you know what I mean ! I complained & they ignored me......
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According to the site, The Lincolnshire records are currently off-line as they are being worked on
http://www.findmypast.co.uk/articles/world-records/search-all-uk-records/special-collections/the-lincolnshire-collection
Here's what is online
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Re Lincolnshire parish records
I have tried typing Lincolnshire into the A to Z, but unless I'm doing something wrong I still cannot see the parish records, I can find all sorts of other records for Lincolnshire (marriage index, bonds & allegations, apprentice records etc.) but no parish records with the images of the registers that I have used before. Where are they?
Another annoyance (again I could well be doing something wrong) for the newspapers section, when applying filters, the original search term dissapears each time a new filter is applied. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Kev.
When you do a newspaper search....I use all the filters without putting in the search field and then you get plenty of results tailored what you are looking for...i.e...Place...Decade...search field...result....Either a name...or subject in the search field...if you use both...it often results in a zero match.
Carol
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Thanks for that Carol, will give it a go, although don't have long left until my subscription expires. Can't see me renewing just yet, unless of course the Lincs parish records reappear.
Kev.
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What a lot people seem to forget is that with the old platform it was all so intuitive. No scurrying off to forums where folk say, I did it this way, have you tried that, its works for me, that doesnt work for me. Its a bloomin travesty. AND, and yours subs are running out whilst you're wading through the treacle to find the Promised Land. Ive no doubt you'll find it ... In about six months time. Plus features you bought and paid for, downloading newspapers, still isnt available. I can't even search for someone in Liverpool or Dublin but I can search for someone in A\? England.
Lincolnshire parish records? There's a guy on FB been after them for weeks, he's been told, soon, shortly, any day, keep your eyes peeled but he's still drumming his fingers.
Sure you can find records but not in the simple, concise, accurate way you did before. I dont trust the results I'm getting, that's a problem.
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They provide a number of different ways of searching for their records. The all encompassing filter system (yuk), the search all records method where you can select specific forms (BMDs and parish records here are still jumbled up under many headings and in some cases the search form doesn't appear) and the A to Z of record sets (for some reason not shown on the home search page). Using any of these three methods you should be able to get the same concise results, but you don't. FMPs answer is to direct you to the filter system where you will hopefully be able to find a suitable filter, which often gives you zero results or hundreds of results.
And how infuriating is it when a search comes up with "Your search returned 1 results" (I have also had other number of results) but nothing is listed. You are left wondering whether there are vital records for your research hidden away that you can't access. It also gives you no confidence that any search has bought up all expected results.
Simon
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Using any of these three methods you should be able to get the same concise results, but you don't.
Simon
I made this point directly to Annelies vdBelt and Paul Yates, they agreed but nowt's been done about it.
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Partly good news, appears the newspaper glitch were the search term is lost every time a filter is applied has been fixed - well was working for me a few minutes ago.
Still cannot print out easily though.
Kev.
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I wouldn't get too excited. That glitch comes and goes.
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Response on Facebook to where the missing Hertfordshire parish registers claims they've uploaded all they received but are aware that some are missing and will make contact with the Records Office to find out. Trouble is I'm not convinced they uploaded any of the remaining records after the initial upload in February. There seem to be as many gaps now as there were then. ::) ::) ::) Interesting they're passing the blame on the Records Office as I'm surprised if it wasn't FindMyPast who digitised them, not the RO.
So far I've managed to work out the best way of using the new site and to date had found what I'd been looking for and/or expected. Just wish I lived closer to Hertford. :-\
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I know Pirton isn't there, in that case I'm assuming it's because the village/parish have put the records online themselves.
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Partly good news, appears the newspaper glitch were the search term is lost every time a filter is applied has been fixed - well was working for me a few minutes ago.
Still cannot print out easily though.
Kev.
I don't add anything in either of the search fields until I have applied the filters for Place and decade...the results are more precise...but still not downloadable...using the snipping tool will get you small articles okay that can be read...but anything like a large column can't be read.
Carol
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I'm chuffed re this
Among other record sets, this week our 100in100 campaign launched all surviving British Army service and pension records from World War 1. These crucial records are a key resource for anyone with ancestors who served in the war, and our new indexing means that 600,000 new names have been revealed for the first time. You can find out more about these exciting records here.
My grandfather's uncle lost an arm in wwI, and his name hasn't appeared in the personnel records (apart from medal roll) until today. I now know all about it!
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I know Pirton isn't there, in that case I'm assuming it's because the village/parish have put the records online themselves.
There are massive gaps in Rickmansworth and Watford St Mary in the 1800s which is what I find rather frustrating but I know Kings Langley is missing completely and there are also gaps in the early 1800s in Redbourn too. I don't think this is the extent of the gaps either but would have to go back over what I was looking for last year to be certain. :-\
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I'm chuffed re this
Among other record sets, this week our 100in100 campaign launched all surviving British Army service and pension records from World War 1. These crucial records are a key resource for anyone with ancestors who served in the war, and our new indexing means that 600,000 new names have been revealed for the first time. You can find out more about these exciting records here.
My grandfather's uncle lost an arm in wwI, and his name hasn't appeared in the personnel records (apart from medal roll) until today. I now know all about it!
They're better quality scans than those on ancestry too. I had a copy of my grandfather's pension records that somebody printed off for me at the National Archives which was quite feint. The copy on ancestry isn't that good either but I looked at it on FindMyPast last night and it's much better. I don't think they can be scans of the microfilms. ;D
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I know Pirton isn't there, in that case I'm assuming it's because the village/parish have put the records online themselves.
There are massive gaps in Rickmansworth and Watford St Mary in the 1800s which is what I find rather frustrating but I know Kings Langley is missing completely and there are also gaps in the early 1800s in Redbourn too. I don't think this is the extent of the gaps either but would have to go back over what I was looking for last year to be certain. :-\
In my own research I have also found huge gaps in the Ricky & Watford BMD's from about 1820 to roughly 1850 & yet they are included on the Family Search indexes & always have been. Saying that I have found more recent records have been added including my fathers baptism record. :-\
Has any one else noticed that they have records for Rickmansworth East Hyde indexed although there is no such place, there is a West Hyde that is part of Ricky. It would appear that the East Hyde ones are actually for a part of Bedfordshire which is totally the other side of Herts & in no way any where near to being in the Rickmansworth district. ::)
Maddie
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They're better quality scans than those on ancestry too. I had a copy of my grandfather's pension records that somebody printed off for me at the National Archives which was quite feint. The copy on ancestry isn't that good either but I looked at it on FindMyPast last night and it's much better. I don't think they can be scans of the microfilms. ;D
Somebody else made this comment but I find Ancestry's much cleaner.
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The electoral registers are something else that is pointless to use now.
It seems you have to know the answer - ie where they live - to be able to find anyone.
On the search you can no longer put in the name of anyone else in the house - I remember being able to put the spouse's first name, maybe as a keyword, but it narrowed down the search results considerably.
If you do find someone and look, the 'result transcript' tells you 'length of occupancy', but not which years, so that is pretty useless for finding where someone lives now.
I find better results just googling and looking at 192 for free.
I have no idea if this is on their 'to do' list.
On another note the search results on bmds etc being in alphabetical order by name is so annoying and time wasting. Surely the default should be date order as if you were reading the register in question.
I know you can reset the order, but it would be better if it were done 'properly' in the first place.
Lisa
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The GRO bmd indexes are in alphabetical name order, the only thing FindMyPast doesn't do is put them in order quarter by quarter but their results have never been displayed showing the quarters.
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Newspaper downloading is functioning again
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Not on mine it's not...the download button is back but when I download the page..it's blank ???
Carol
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On the search you can no longer put in the name of anyone else in the house - I remember being able to put the spouse's first name, maybe as a keyword, but it narrowed down the search results considerably.
The years of occupancy shows on the results page, you just have to remember it when viewing the entry. :-\ OK, not as good as previously but it is there.
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On the search you can no longer put in the name of anyone else in the house - I remember being able to put the spouse's first name, maybe as a keyword, but it narrowed down the search results considerably.
The years of occupancy shows on the results page, you just have to remember it when viewing the entry. :-\ OK, not as good as previously but it is there.
I don't see any dates on the results page - the headings are as follows
first name - last name -town - county -country -collection from - where (this repeats town, county, country)
Then if I view the transcription
name, address, occupancy years - 2
etc
but it doesn't tell me which 2 years that is out of 2002-2013.
It sounds like the results page you see is different.
I'm not seeing any dates on the list of results. :-\
Lisa
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On the search you can no longer put in the name of anyone else in the house - I remember being able to put the spouse's first name, maybe as a keyword, but it narrowed down the search results considerably.
Lisa
You can, IF you choose the right route to search. There are severa.
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The GRO bmd indexes are in alphabetical name order, the only thing FindMyPast doesn't do is put them in order quarter by quarter but their results have never been displayed showing the quarters.
I'm talking about the order in which the search results are appearing - if the name is the same in each result, the results do come up in chronological date order (as far as I can see and until a middle name initial appears).
However if a search is done using a last name and a mother's maiden name, but no first name - ie to find out children born - this results in the first names being different each time and those names are appearing in alphabetical order.
Even if I specify a date - eg 1959 +/- 10 years - the results by default appear according to alphabetical order of the first names.
I have to change the relevance to birth year to get the results in date order.
I think if you read through the GRO bmd indexes, you will find they are also compiled in date order - year, then quarter and then within those time frames in alphabetical order by surname (first).
Lisa
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On the search you can no longer put in the name of anyone else in the house - I remember being able to put the spouse's first name, maybe as a keyword, but it narrowed down the search results considerably.
Lisa
You can, IF you choose the right route to search. There are severa.
I'm referring specifically to the UK electoral registers 2002-2013 which I was looking at via the specific search form accessed via the A-Z record sets - that just has boxes for first name, last name, town, county, country.
If you know of a way to make the search on the electoral register take into account another person's name, I'd be pleased to hear how to do it, thank you.
That is most useful when you know eg the husband and wife's name, so you are looking for a 'pair' as it were.
thanks :)
Lisa
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Answering the posts on how to select other persons in the electoral rolls and how to see when the person occupied the dwelling.
On the Search Records drop down list, select Census, Land & Surveys.
Enter your search items, including other household member, if neccessary, and click on Browse Record Collection.
Select Electoral Rolls, then do search.
The headings on the results page should be: Last Name, First Name, Born, Died, Event, Record Set, Location. In the column headed "Event" it should show the dates that the person was living at the address.
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Then if I view the transcription
name, address, occupancy years - 2
etc
but it doesn't tell me which 2 years that is out of 2002-2013.
It sounds like the results page you see is different.
I'm not seeing any dates on the list of results. :-\
Lisa
I doubt it's any different, I think the problem is with the occupancy year on the individual page being inaccurate and probably the correct date range is on the results page. I say this because the date ranges on the results page vary a lot, suggesting they are more likely accurate but I can see the problem, hadn't really thought about it. :-\
In light of the introduction of the edited register anyway after 2002, it's never a full proof way of finding someone's address as it depends if and when the opted out of their details being shown. I know I opted out as soon as it was introduced for privacy and security reasons but I know of family members who didn't opt out for a couple of years. Then there is the fact that anyone with a postal vote in 2002 didn't show up on the full register anyway.
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Answering the posts on how to select other persons in the electoral rolls and how to see when the person occupied the dwelling.
On the Search Records drop down list, select Census, Land & Surveys.
Enter your search items, including other household member, if neccessary, and click on Browse Record Collection.
Select Electoral Rolls, then do search.
The headings on the results page should be: Last Name, First Name, Born, Died, Event, Record Set, Location. In the column headed "Event" it should show the dates that the person was living at the address.
Thank you very much!
So this is a case where the results are 'better' using a broader search form.
I had been going to the specific search forms when looking for something, but that obviously isn't always true now.
When I contacted FindMyPast re. this, explaining the situation, I had one of their standard emails in reply which doesn't answer anything, it would have been better had they advised me on how to do this.
thanks again :)
Lisa
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Then if I view the transcription
name, address, occupancy years - 2
etc
but it doesn't tell me which 2 years that is out of 2002-2013.
It sounds like the results page you see is different.
I'm not seeing any dates on the list of results. :-\
Lisa
I doubt it's any different, I think the problem is with the occupancy year on the individual page being inaccurate and probably the correct date range is on the results page. I say this because the date ranges on the results page vary a lot, suggesting they are more likely accurate but I can see the problem, hadn't really thought about it. :-\
Thanks, 'the bounder's' reply has shown me how to get the result page with the dates, which must be the one you were referring to.
Yes, I appreciate the point you are making about how complete/incomplete these records are (irrespective of the search method).
Lisa
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I have just renewed my subs and am delighted with what I see.
My objective is to find a rare surname 'TUTCHIN' in London as far back as possible and there are 10 from 1590 to 1752.
This gives me an opportunity to research later time periods.
I note also that by expanding the location the name appears in other Southern England areas like Dorset and Devon which makes sense as they were mariners.
Very satisfied so far.
Joe
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Has anyone successfully downloaded a newspaper yet?
Carol
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I have just tried to download newspaper and succeeded first time - full page copy. Having downloaded I have now saved it as a PDF, no problems so far :)
Rosie
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Thanks Rosie...Not sure what is happening but I can't download census returns from Ancestry either ???
Carol
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Sorry but Anc census is downloading for me as well. I am using Chrome on Windows 8.1 so that may be something to do with it :-\
Rosie
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I found a cartoon of my gg-grandfather yesterday in a 1907 paper and downloaded it, no problems for me now by the looks of things. (my gg-gf is the president)
As a lot of the problems I had are resolved or are in the queue to be resolved, I've put auto-renew back onto my sub.
I think we all have to realise that there are now different ways of searching and achieving results and getting better results. Searching for me seems to get easier and quicker once you get the hand of things and going to the right screen in the firt place.
But of course some displays will not be to our liking.
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Sorry but Anc census is downloading for me as well. I am using Chrome on Windows 8.1 so that may be something to do with it :-\
Rosie
I guess something must be wrong with my settings then because downloading images from both FindMyPast and Ancestry are giving me a blank page ???
Carol
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Just installed Google Chrome and I can download census returns and Newpspapers...albeit in a different way which took some sorting out....I don't like it though as everything is smaller on my screen :-\
Carol
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I refuse to download Chrome thought. I don't see why we should have to choose use Chrome, just because FindMyPast have messed up their site. I don't like Chrome and prefer to stick with Mozilla.
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I'm using mozilla
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I use Mozilla but I've given up on FindMyPast for the moment. I've tried this afternoon to search for various people and it took ages. Just putting in a name gave a list as long as your arm. It was only when I found the people on Ancestry and could put in extra info such as place of birth, and town at the time of the census that they came up near the top of the list. Such a waste of time.
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I have just tried to download newspaper and succeeded first time - full page copy. Having downloaded I have now saved it as a PDF, no problems so far :)
Rosie
Mine save as pdf by default, and yes Carol, I have downloaded successfully.
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seems brightsolid are going to get elected first in most used websites the way the technical issues are mounting up..........some very interesting reading about all the hiccups on the site....... maybe there should be a buyer beware statement window.......
uuuummmm
:-[
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Have they done something strange to the census refs on the output transcripts - Page no now comes before Folio no. and the 1841 seems not to have the book no :-\
I was just checking up on some of my ancestors, as I've found a new lead and humph - and I was just starting to feel happy with the site again !
Gadget
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I've been very critical (in private) about the changes, but all is forgiven today when I found the WW1 record - 20 pages of it - of my wife's grandfather. This definitely wasn't on another well-known site
Steve
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Is anyone else having more trouble with the census search? On the search where you I can actually search using birthplace, I can no longer seem to just put in a birth county. When searching for people born in villages, the place that is entered on each census/the spelling will change from census to census, so I tend to just search by birth county.
There is the field called "Birth Place". But, for example, if I just put in "Jones" and birth place as "Cheshire", I get 0 results.
The 1851 census still has a field for birth county, but the others don't seem to.
Chesters :-\
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It's still a shambles, and trying to find someone using birth place is farcical. All well and good entering county only if searching for an unusual name, but if searching for say John Smith without place of birth, is just too time consuming. I do wonder whether FindMyPast will ever be fixed, so many bugs.
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It's still a shambles, and trying to find someone using birth place is farcical. All well and good entering county only if searching for an unusual name, but if searching for say John Smith without place of birth, is just too time consuming. I do wonder whether FindMyPast will ever be fixed, so many bugs.
Totally agree, I now have to "second guess" where I think a family may be, still would like to know what exactly is the difference in birth town, birth place and just exactly what do you do to find a John Smith in 1911.
The blessed filter system drives me mad, Liverpool ie who ever put Everton on a census return!
Getting round it by coupling with the other site, so rant over, but so so disappointed with such a great site!
Keyboard86
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Apologies that I haven't got time to read the other 19 pages, but can't imagine they are going to say much different to what I need to get off my chest!!
I've just re-subscribed to findmypast after a break from family history because it used to be the most quality site hands down - I can't believe somebody approved the new search layout - it's practically unusable.
As I've seen mentioned, searching by location is impossible. What if I know somebody's birthplace and where they're living - apparently I can now only enter one?
Please tell me if I'm wrong as I'd love to learn I am - but I can't manage to search 1911 census by address at all?
Do you know how recent these changes are? When Ancestry launched their own new search they at least had old search available as an option :(
I have emailed findmypast with my dissatisfaction in the hope that hundreds of others also have and they might do something about it but in the meantime thankfully I only got a 3 month subscription and I know where I will be going when it runs out! :(
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;D Welcome to the totally dissatisfied club, as a choice, enter where you think they are ie registration district?!
Keyboard86
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Beware, some folk dont like complainers but there are plenty who do, me included. Changes took place mid to late March and there has been no major improvement since. Refunds are given if you persist or subscriotiin extensions. You can get help on their Facebook page from other users, FindMyPast only have stock answers. More complaints there too, so if that would irtitate I'd give it a miss but some posters are quite knowledgeable. Goid luck!
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We have the right to complain! FindMyPast took our money from us and have given us complete frustration and the inability to use their site with any successful outcomes. Well, as a pensioner, I can ill afford the money I wasted on my 6months subscription which was a total loss and which has caused me to (temporarily I hope) completely lose interest in a hobby that I have enjoyed for well over 20 years. Thanks FindMyPast! NOT!
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Hi tanginitoo, I am sorry you have, since 'new search' was introduced, a wasted subscription. If you'd like to send me a PM, I may be able to help you regain some money.
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Thank you so much for offering to get my money back. To be honest, I am 'over it all' right now! I actually don't want my money back.......all I want is to go back to the pre 'new search' days and find all the things that I used to be able to find! My subscription runs out in July, so, having been without the facility since March, it really isn't worth worrying about now, but again, thank you so much for offering!
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It's still a shambles, and trying to find someone using birth place is farcical. All well and good entering county only if searching for an unusual name, but if searching for say John Smith without place of birth, is just too time consuming. I do wonder whether FindMyPast will ever be fixed, so many bugs.
Totally agree.
It's 2 months now and although there have been a few 'cosmetic' tweaks, basically it is still a nightmare. It used to be so easy and so good and so quick to find anyone.
I really miss the address search.
On the bmd search the 'from' and 'to' box for the date was perfect - none of this +/- years - and the old way delivered the results in date order too.
I find I now have to think and work out which form is best to use, having found that the search form for a specific set of records is not necessarily the one which will give the results needed.
I do go back and try to find things, but it's still awful.
I'm very grateful to this forum that it can be discussed and advice given,
Lisa
Moderator Comment:
Topic locked as it's getting big, and continued:
The new Findmypast (Part 5) (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=689997.0)