RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: relatedtoturnips on Thursday 16 February 17 08:44 GMT (UK)
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Just in case anyone has missed it, Ancestry UK are offering access to all the records this weekend.
Cheers.
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Another weekend of freeloaders slowing things down for subscribers!
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Thanks... doesn't seem long since the last one.... or was that FindMyPast? They're so frequent I can't remember ;D
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Thanks for posting! Been waiting for an Ancestry freebie for awhile. Must put my freeloader sunnies on 8)
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For once I will be able to take advantage as not away or looking after the Grandkids!
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Another weekend of freeloaders slowing things down for subscribers!
Yes :)
If it were affordable for all, people'd not mind paying .... until then, us freeloaders will leap in and drag down the server speed.
Ultimately, the company measure whether it attracts enough new paying subscribers to make it worth their while. They don't do it as a charitable gift to us peasants. So, in short, these free weekends enable the company to remain in business and grow the records collection.
You really should thank us freeloaders you know :)
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I don't mind the free weekends to be honest, I pay the Ancestry sub but use the Find My Past freebies when available as I can't afford both.
Horses for courses and all that ;)
Frank.
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Another weekend of freeloaders slowing things down for subscribers!
Once again I question why I bother to subscribe to these sites. I didn't mind when it was just the occasional free weekend, but now, between the two main sites it seems to be at least once a month. Judging by comments on here and elsewhere, I'm sure that a lot of people, who perhaps would have subscribed, now just sit and wait for free weekend. In fact some people ask when the next one is as if it it their right to expect one.
I know that makes me sound as if I begrudge people getting it for free, and perhaps I do. It's about time that Ancestry and FindMyPast rewarded their loyal customers.
I'm afraid that StanleysChesterton's post has made me even more cross. Genealogy is an expensive hobby, I know that and luckily I am in the position to be able to afford it and that is one reason why I like to help people on here. Perhaps I should stop doing that and just let them wait for free weekends as it appears we are our own worse enemies by supporting the subscription sites. It doesn't sound to me as if many people who take advantage of the freebies actually go on to subscribe, they just wait for the next one!
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What is frustrating is the amount of small trees started that connect to your family tree and you think great someone else is following that branch. Except they never follow up on what they have started and it is a dead end of a possible lead.
Regards panda
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It might just be me, but I can't seem to find the "Free access". Is it just for people in UK? When I try the UK site, I don't see the option. A link anyone?
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Another weekend of freeloaders slowing things down for subscribers!
In fact some people ask when the next one is as if it it their right to expect one.
I seem to remember that when these commercial organisations acquired permission to sell access to our Public Records (i.e. already owned & paid for by us the public over the centuries through taxation) one of the conditions as part of their contract was to make them available free of charge to the public on a number of days each year.
On a pedantic note, I fail to see how this can be called 'freeloading'.
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I too have a subscription for Ancestry. Only get records for U.K. and Ireland as the worldwide access would obviously cost more per month and I cannot justify the extra expense being retired and on a limited income.
I am noting all the overseas records that I need to check and one of these days I will upgrade for a month and check them out.
Wouldn't it be great if Ancestry would give its loyal customers a free weekend's access to ALL records.
Just proves that you get nothing for loyalty these days.
Dorrie
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Another weekend of freeloaders slowing things down for subscribers!
Sorry about that. :)
But it's the only way I can access the records, OH already thinks I'm daft and with the current exchange rate, well, let's just say a sub is not on the horizon for me. ::) ;D ;D
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It might just be me, but I can't seem to find the "Free access". Is it just for people in UK? When I try the UK site, I don't see the option. A link anyone?
Yes I cant see any information on the website yet. I think it will turn up nearer the weekend. I always get notified by email of the free access, and then it turns up later on the site.
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Another weekend of freeloaders slowing things down for subscribers!
Freeloading is a thing of beauty. If its good enough for NASA to swing around the planets, its good enough for me 8)
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It also gives a chance for the 'freeloaders' to give something back & help others with their queries ;D
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And the 'freeloaders' can always pop down to their local library and get 'free' access anyway.
I suspect the business model is attracting novices by the free trial which gets them to sign up for a year for continued access to their records (as many newbies won't think to download the information and keep it offline). Once customers are signed up and paying by DD it becomes easy money...
Just like gym memberships, where a free trial is followed up with the hard sell. I'm sure paid-up gym members are aggrieved when a 'freeloader' is using the equipment they want to use, but will hopefully see that this marketing technique is what keeps the service available to them at an affordable (if still quite high) cost.
And as others point out, the free weekends mean you don't need subscriptions to both main sites (largely duplicated) in order to occasionally access records only available on one. Everybody is a winner :)
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And the 'freeloaders' can always pop down to their local library and get 'free' access anyway.
But it is so much easier to do it at home ;D ;D
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I do agree with groom though that these companies don't care about their existing subscribers. I have UK access on both FindMyPast & Ancestry and have no need of a world subscription. They should be extending these subscriptions by the number of days given as free access to others. Occasionally they have suggested that they have given world subs as a bonus but what good is that if you don't need them.
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Wouldn't it be great if Ancestry would give its loyal customers a free weekend's access to ALL records.
Just proves that you get nothing for loyalty these days.
I would be quite happy if they extended my subscription by the number of free days that they have given away during the year - I'd probably get an extra 3 weeks!
I can shop around and change my insurance each year as loyalty with one company means you don't get a good deal - harder to do that with genealogy sites. ;D
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But you still have a choice of two Groom :)
Only snag is if you keep your tree online on one of the sites... that is their hook to keep people paying up rather than exercising consumer choice. Convenience costs.
But I completely agree that paid-up members should get additional days in lieu.
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I am a subscriber to UK records. What they should do is rather than give us subscribers the amount of day on the end that they have given for freeloaders, is give us subscribers free access to world records at the same time, as we all have rellies that went abroad, or even direct rellies that went abroad or came to our home countries.
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I am a subscriber to UK records. What they should do is rather than give us subscribers the amount of day on the end that they have given for freeloaders, is give us subscribers free access to world records at the same time, as we all have rellies that went abroad, or even direct rellies that went abroad or came to our home countries.
Reply #18,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
rosie99
RootsChat Marquessate
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Re: Free Ancestry UK Access this weekend
« Reply #18 on: Today at 13:08 »
[ Quote]
I do agree with groom though that these companies don't care about their existing subscribers. I have UK access on both FindMyPast & Ancestry and have no need of a world subscription. They should be extending these subscriptions by the number of days given as free access to others. Occasionally they have suggested that they have given world subs as a bonus but what good is that if you don't need them.
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I am a subscriber to UK records. What they should do is rather than give us subscribers the amount of day on the end that they have given for freeloaders, is give us subscribers free access to world records at the same time, as we all have rellies that went abroad, or even direct rellies that went abroad or came to our home countries.
Reply #18,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
rosie99
RootsChat Marquessate
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Re: Free Ancestry UK Access this weekend
« Reply #18 on: Today at 13:08 »
[ Quote]
I do agree with groom though that these companies don't care about their existing subscribers. I have UK access on both FindMyPast & Ancestry and have no need of a world subscription. They should be extending these subscriptions by the number of days given as free access to others. Occasionally they have suggested that they have given world subs as a bonus but what good is that if you don't need them.
What has that go to do with my post. I come here to chat, not to be ridiculed and "called out" for things.
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Nothing to do with me Coombs ;D ;D
However we don't all want world access though I may be in the minority. If they added the extra days to our subscriptions surely we could also set up another account with them just to take advantage of any 'world' offers if we wanted. :-\
Rosie
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Nothing to do with me Coombs ;D ;D
However we don't all want world access though I may be in the minority. If they added the extra days to our subscriptions surely we could also set up another account with them just to take advantage of any 'world' offers if we wanted. :-\
Rosie
Its OK I understand, it was YT I was speaking to.
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The great thing about free Ancestry weekends like this is that it gives people a chance to see what Ancestry has to offer before committing to a full subscription.
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But you still have a choice of two Groom :)
Only snag is if you keep your tree online on one of the sites... that is their hook to keep people paying up rather than exercising consumer choice. Convenience costs.
But I completely agree that paid-up members should get additional days in lieu.
My subscription to Ancestry lapsed a few years ago - but I still have 10 trees on there!
You don't need a sub, to keep, and update, a tree! ;D
And, yes! I will be a freeloader this weekend!
But then I usually "freeload" at my local library, where Ancestry Library Edition helps me a lot.
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I was just showing that not everyone wanted worldwide access, not having a go at anyone. Maybe I should have taken the time to explain in more depth.
Why ask for something you have not needed or do not need, or even request more time, a reduction in price for long term users might be a better option.
It is a marketing ploy and it must seem to be working for them to keep doing it.
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The great thing about free Ancestry weekends like this is that it gives people a chance to see what Ancestry has to offer before committing to a full subscription.
I thought that was what the free 14 day trial was for?
Unlike Ancestry, FindMyPast did extend last years subscription to compensate for the free days they offered to non-subscribers.
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The great thing about free Ancestry weekends like this is that it gives people a chance to see what Ancestry has to offer before committing to a full subscription.
FindMyPast did extend last years subscription to compensate for the free days they offered to non-subscribers.
But only if they had the world subscription :-\
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The great thing about free Ancestry weekends like this is that it gives people a chance to see what Ancestry has to offer before committing to a full subscription.
I'd agree with that Trystan if they were offered the free weekend once and then after that it was only open and available to those who hadn't used it before. As it is, these free weekends are open to anyone and a lot of people, who have no intention of taking out a subscription, wait for them and use them.
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I'll hold my hands up and admit it - I'm a "freeloader". I don't expect to have these free weekends, but when they come round, of course I'll make use of them. Usually I pop down to the library to access Ancestry and Findmypast, but I'll access it at home this weekend.... wouldn't you all do the same? I've subscribed in the past, can't afford to right now. It's an expensive hobby so I try to do as much as possible for free.
I'm not someone who wants something for nothing. I transcribe parish records and offer to do look-ups at local cemetries.
Surely Ancestry and Findmypast are shooting themselves in the foot by offering so many free weekends? Yes, the point is to attract new subscribers. But the majority of their subscribers are going to be existing ones who renew every year (as we all know, this is a hobby you can't quit!) So maybe they should stop chasing potential new customers and respect their exiting ones...
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I'll hold my hands up and admit it - I'm a "freeloader". I don't expect to have these free weekends, but when they come round, of course I'll make use of them. Usually I pop down to the library to access Ancestry and Findmypast, but I'll access it at home this weekend.... wouldn't you all do the same? I've subscribed in the past, can't afford to right now. It's an expensive hobby so I try to do as much as possible for free.
I'm not someone who wants something for nothing. I transcribe parish records and offer to do look-ups at local cemetries.
Surely Ancestry and Findmypast are shooting themselves in the foot by offering so many free weekends? Yes, the point is to attract new subscribers. But the majority of their subscribers are going to be existing ones who renew every year (as we all know, this is a hobby you can't quit!) So maybe they should stop chasing potential new customers and respect their exiting ones...
Agreed. I will be a happy freeloader this weekend.
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I'm a relatively new member and have made few posts but in the short time I've been using the board, I have been struck by the willingness to share information and help others - so I'm left a little dumbfounded by some of the posts on here regarding 'freeloaders'
I have paid for an Ancestry subscription previously but let it lapse as almost all of my ancestors are Scottish with a few Irish thrown in. There are relatively few Scottish records when compared to the number of English records. I'd virtually exhausted my search whilst my subscription was still valid - but I wouldn't then, or now, wish to deny anyone the opportunity to have a 'free' search if they had neither the time nor the money to spend on pursuing their family tree as a full-time hobby
I've spent a great deal more on certificates from Scotland's People than I would have spent on an Ancestry subscription which would give me access to so much more with no additional costs
Ancestry subscribers also have to remember that they have access at all times whilst some people have to wait to access the records - and the 'free' weekends are not as frequent or as great in number as has been suggested
Alex
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This is a difficult topic for discussion really as we all want to be able to use both FindMyPast and Ancestry.
I'm lucky enough to be able to afford both, but I did phone them up and say I was retired and on a fixed income and had been a member for many years, they gave me a 25% reduction straight away which I was more than happy with.
Last year I took advantage of FindMyPast cheap deal visa the US and just paid £46 for Worldwide sub. Ancestry are a bit more hard nosed and don't automatically give any loyalty discount but if you don't try and ask then you pay full price.
I don't, personally, begrudge the free w/e but do feel that regular paid up members should have some perks. Perhaps the option of extra days added or a free worldwide look up that way it would satisfy the majority of people.
Genealogy is a way of life and we all enjoy helping others out when we can as it gives you a certain buzz knowing you've been able to solve someone's brick wall or whatever.
We are a community and we mustn't get too upset that sone of us maybe more fortunate than others and begrudge a bit of free time.
I've just been doing FutureLearns genealogy course and the advice and help given on there has been wonderful and it just shows how generous we all are with our knowledge to help others out.
So having said all this I hope you enjoy the free w/e!
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I'd agree with that Trystan if they were offered the free weekend once and then after that it was only open and available to those who hadn't used it before. As it is, these free weekends are open to anyone and a lot of people, who have no intention of taking out a subscription, wait for them and use them.
That was the model FindMyPast used when they first started offering free access periods; I assume that they changed because they found it was counter productive.
Another restriction that is tried is to limit the free access offered, for example various record sets (original images rather than transcripts) are excluded from the free access content. To see the original image the individual has to pay a one off fee or subscribe.
Another poster suggested free access was part of their contract, not so, the internet providers pay hard cash to licence the various records. He/she may be confused by the digitising contracts that do have a condition that the GRO receives a copy which provides users free access at the archive.
FindmyPast recompenses subscribers by extending their subscription with additional days.
Subscribers also benefit in a way they possibly do not realise. The free access periods allow the techies to monitor how the site responds to additional loading. This allows equipment to be upgraded if necessary or additional servers added to allow better load sharing
I would ask the people who object to free access for others. Are your opportunities for research so limited that you cannot avoid using that particular provider on the few days a year they offer free access to others?
Perhaps you could visit graveyards or archives to check records that have not been digitised on those days.
Finally I would note that there is one other reason for providing free access.
All the large record providers are actively talking to archives who hold records, if they can provide figures that show the archives they have x number of visitors to their site they are more likely to convince the archive to sign a deal with them rather than another company.
The more deals that are signed the more records are available online.
You the subscriber benefits in the end.
Cheers
Guy
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FindmyPast recompenses subscribers by extending their subscription with additional days.
As has actually already been posted on this thread, they only extend Worldwide subscriptions, not Britain subs. But that is more than Ancestry do.
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I've been trying since midnight last night, but everything I want to look at generates an error message anyway. "Our apologies, we seem to be having some problems loading this page."
I've wanted some Censuses (1841-1871) and UK shipping list and some other random bits/bobs. Can't get to anything after the search results are displayed.
So "free" .... for me, so far, it's just a "free access to a bucket of disappointment"
:)
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Hello StanleysChesterton
I 'think' the offer starts tomorrow - Saturday - and lasts until Monday at 23.59
Hopefully, you'll be able to access the records you'd like after midnight tonight
Alex
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Hello StanleysChesterton
I 'think' the offer starts tomorrow - Saturday - and lasts until Monday at 23.59
Hopefully, you'll be able to access the records you'd like after midnight tonight
Alex
Ah, I struggle to find the start times/dates for these things - and end up finding the information on other sites - and I found it saying 17-20, and today is 17th :)
I've always found they "hide" the information about free weekends. For years I always missed them as I only found out the week after, so now I'm trying to not miss them .... and still struggling to hit them right.
Bummer. Having read it was 17th I'd cleared my decks in anticipation.
Oh well... I can at least, now, leave the house today!
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It starts 2pm Eastern Time, 17 Feb 2017
Which I make 7pm today in the UK
supposed to end 11.59pm ET, 20 Feb
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I haven't seen the times and dates you mention, Jonw65 - perhaps it depends on your current or previous subscription type - UK or worldwide??
My suggestion was taken from the bottom of the recent Ancestry email:
*Access to the records in the featured collections will start on 18 February and will be free until 20 February, 2017 at 23:59 BST. After the free access period ends, you will only be able to view the records in the featured collections using an Ancestry.co.uk paid membership. To see a full list of the records in the featured collections please click here.
BST is currently GMT in the UK
Alex
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The "peasants" are just as capable as building Ancestry's resource as someone with a current sub.
I have no doubt that every time I correct a mistranscription or link someone who hasn't been linked before to the correct family that what I have in my private trees will influence shaky leaf hints for others. So unbeknownst to the paying members these "freeloaders" are contributing.
I don't currently have a sub and if I took one out now I don't think I'd be finding much that would build my tree. Not until some new record sets are uploaded. It took a few free weekends until I took the plunge.
On the other hand FindMyPast has uploaded numerous records of use to me in the past 8 days - English Catholic records and Norfolk Bishops Transcripts.
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It starts 2pm Eastern Time, 17 Feb 2017
Which I make 7pm today in the UK
supposed to end 11.59pm ET, 20 Feb
You see, I struggle with that ... Eastern Time isn't something that one instinctively understands/knows :)
What's wrong with using good old British GMT :)
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Because Ancestry is an American concern!
Corporate Headquarters are in Lehi, Utah.
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*Access to the records in the featured collections will start on 18 February and will be free until 20 February, 2017 at 23:59 BST. After the free access period ends, you will only be able to view the records in the featured collections using an Ancestry.co.uk paid membership. To see a full list of the records in the featured collections please click here
They may be giving free access to British records on all their websites. So if there's nothing doing at 7pm on ancestry.co.uk you could try logging into their .com site
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On the other hand FindMyPast has uploaded numerous records of use to me in the past 8 days - English Catholic records and Norfolk Bishops Transcripts.
The Norfolk Bishops Transcripts have been on Ancestry indexed for some time. They are all from Familysearch. They have both had Familysearch's Norfolk Parish Registers indexed for some time too.
However, I agree that if there isn't anything of much use to your research, there isn't much point subscribing. I previously had a subscription to The Genealogist for several years when they had exclusive access to the England & Wales Non-Conformist registers (apart from the pay per view site that was run by them anyway). When that exclusivity period ended and both Ancestry and Findmypast acquired copies, there wasn't much point continuing with the subscription because there was little else on there of interest that wasn't available elsewhere.
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I guess they don't publish an exact start time for free access to make sure the system doesn't get trampled in the rush.
I've also noticed that although the end time is usually 23:59, the records are often still freely accessible for some time the following morning.
I use the time between finding out that a free weekend is coming, and the actual start of free access, to work out exactly what information I need to look for. So on that note I have some work to do now ;D
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FindMyPast Fridays are a waste of time to me most times as the records are either already available on other sites or they release records totally irrelevant to the areas I am researching. Sorry, getting off my soap box now. I guess I have pretty much exhausted all the Anc and FindMyPast and FamilySearch databases online now. I am probably eagerly awaiting the Suffolk records to come online. I think more records coming online has made me less willing to do things to old fashioned way which I did for years.
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I am probably eagerly awaiting the Suffolk records to come online
So am I, no sign of any yet though is there?
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Same for me coombs and groom. I spent hours in the SRO looking for parish records with very little return for the time invested. Just knowing that the records will be online 'soon' has made me reluctant to go back when there is so much else I can be doing in the meantime.
On the other hand, the Ipswich office being moved to a new site which probably won't have any parking (and lets not mention the flood risk :-X ) is an incentive to go before it is too late.
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Well it's not long past 2pm eastern time, and (as I predicted!) ancestry's UK records are now free
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Well it's not long past 2pm eastern time, and (as I predicted!) ancestry's UK records are now free
They may be on the US site but Ancestry UK Facebook have told a poster that they won't be available to view for free on the UK site until tomorrow and they've also not posted anything officially on their UK Facebook page about it yet as far as I can see.
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Same for me coombs and groom. I spent hours in the SRO looking for parish records with very little return for the time invested. Just knowing that the records will be online 'soon' has made me reluctant to go back when there is so much else I can be doing in the meantime.
On the other hand, the Ipswich office being moved to a new site which probably won't have any parking (and lets not mention the flood risk :-X ) is an incentive to go before it is too late.
Well the last time I could find any mention about the parish records digitisation project in the Council minutes was from last May just before the cabinet member responsible resigned the job. I understand that the role covering Archives is now the responsibility of the County Council Cabinet Member for Finance (along with everything else that entails) and so far nothing else has appeared in the council minutes on the subject as far as I can see. I'm starting to wonder if they are concentrating everything on the new Ipswich Record Office and little on the digitisation project so I wouldn't hold your breath to see anything any time soon (which is rather disappointing as I too am waiting for them to go online). :-X I'd be quite happy to be proved wrong.
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Well it's not long past 2pm eastern time, and (as I predicted!) ancestry's UK records are now free
They may be on the US site but Ancestry UK Facebook have told a poster that they won't be available to view for free on the UK site until tomorrow and they've also not posted anything officially on their UK Facebook page about it yet as far as I can see.
Just checked UK site and the records are available now.
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I've not used Ancestry (at home) for a while - when I click on "Save" when viewing an image, and then click on "Save Image" I get a new browser tab open which loads the image again but gives the ability to "save image as" from the right-click menu.
I'm sure clicking on "Save Image" from the viewer used to simply download the image without having extra tabs opening.
Is this a new feature of Ancestry, or have I got a setting wrong? I'm using the latest version of Firefox.
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So we all share the same eagerness smudwhisk, Nick and groom. When FindMyPast Fridays release "exciting" (oxymoron) new records they are already available on other sites or they are a fraction of what is out there. Today when I saw Norfolk BT's on FindMyPast Fridays I thought deja vu as they are on FamilySearch. If I did not have a UK sub to Anc I would be using these free weekends like a shot. I only tend to use FindMyPast now when they have a free weekend as I feel I have exhausted all their records so far.
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I too am annoyed by FindMyPast Fridays. When they released the Leicestershire parish records recently, they didn't make a big a announcement on the home page, it was mentioned in FindMyPast Fridays along with lots of other tiny obscure record sets that had been added that week. Surely adding a WHOLE COUNTY deserves more of a fanfare? I keep reading it every week in case I miss another county appearing.... talking of which, I'm eagerly anticipating the Suffolk records too. :)
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I've not used Ancestry (at home) for a while - when I click on "Save" when viewing an image, and then click on "Save Image" I get a new browser tab open which loads the image again but gives the ability to "save image as" from the right-click menu.
I'm sure clicking on "Save Image" from the viewer used to simply download the image without having extra tabs opening.
Is this a new feature of Ancestry, or have I got a setting wrong? I'm using the latest version of Firefox.
I use latest version of Firefox as well and don't get tabs opening. I just click on the image and it opens in the same tab. I use the tools on the side of the image to download or the "Save" button that appears on the top right of the page where the image opens. Gives 3 options, Shoebox, Tree or Computer.
I always download to my pc because I can't access the images saved to my tree outside of the Freebies. From there I save them to files on my Google Drive.
Takes me the whole free access to sift through all the hints to keep the useful ones ::) ::)
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Takes me the whole free access to sift through all the hints to keep the useful ones ::) ::)
Ignore the hints! Sometimes they can throw up something interesting, but you end up spending so long discarding the wrong ones.... I use the card catalogue to find the record sets I want, then search them one by one.
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Takes me the whole free access to sift through all the hints to keep the useful ones ::) ::)
Ignore the hints! Sometimes they can throw up something interesting, but you end up spending so long discarding the wrong ones.... I use the card catalogue to find the record sets I want, then search them one by one.
I have mine set up to ignore the Ancestry member hints so it only brings up the online records I may have missed (Comes under Site Preferences)
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I have mine set up to ignore the Ancestry member hints so it only brings up the online records I may have missed (Comes under Site Preferences)
Thanks Rosie, that's a helpful tip :)
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I only look at the records as well and ignore the Member hints. ;D
See you're never to old to learn, going to change the settings now. ;D ;D
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I use latest version of Firefox as well and don't get tabs opening. I just click on the image and it opens in the same tab. I use the tools on the side of the image to download or the "Save" button that appears on the top right of the page where the image opens. Gives 3 options, Shoebox, Tree or Computer.
I always download to my pc because I can't access the images saved to my tree outside of the Freebies. From there I save them to files on my Google Drive.
Takes me the whole free access to sift through all the hints to keep the useful ones ::) ::)
I only get two options, as per the screengrab. Clicking 'save' opens a new tab with the image, as does selecting 'download' from the toolbox on the right-hand side.
I always save everything I see... you never know when online access to a resource is going to vanish.
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Strange I'm using Latest version Firefox on Windows 10 Pro and when I click on the image it gives me that same save button but I get the options of Shoebox, pc, or tree. When you open the image do you get what looks like little tools on the right hand side where you can zoom in and out. If you click on the little spanners it should also give you an option to download. Those little spanners you can see under the option box should also work
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Yes, they are the same three options I get when I'm at the library. The only obvious difference is I don't have Windows 10... but that hopefully shouldn't make a difference to how the site works, at least not in terms of menu options.
The toolbox on the right does give the download option, but does the same new tab thing as the save button.
I can survive with it working as-is, its just a bit of a pain to wait for the new tab to open and then right-click saveas.
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There have been issues with Ancestry saving in the past and PC screen resolution. Where the resolution is very low to make everything much larger the save works like that. If you increase screen resolution it should work properly but everything on the screen is smaller but there are other ways to adjust this rather than reducing screen resolution. However problem is where the PC is old and the maximum screen resolution is still too low which is the problem my mother has on her laptop. :-\
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That is really odd, as the images load in the same tab without opening a new one. It has always worked like that for me even on the previous version of Windows that was on the pc. ??? ???
My pc is not the newest on the block and I still have a large old type screen, not the new slimmer versions.
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By doing the "save as" can you label them as you download the images. Because the way I have to do it it goes straight to the download folder and I have to relabel them from there.
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3SD if you are using Firefox, you need to change a setting so you get a prompt to rename and can change folder location before saving. I can't off hand remember where that is in Firefox though, somewhere in the options.
As to the Ancestry saving problem, the laptop my mother is using is over 10 years old which is the problem. I gather for most people the problem can be fixed by simply increasing their screen resolution a bit.
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I will have to ask Resident Nerd when he gets home from work to sort the setting on Firefox for me. It's his job he has to know. ;D ;D
My pc isn't a spring chicken either but I do have a large screen, about 37cms of screen width.
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Thankyou smudwhisk, problem solved. My screen resolution was 1024x786. Increasing it to 1200x960 has left the menu items the same (i.e. 'Save Image' rather than 'Save to my computer') but the behaviour is different - no new tabs, instead the image just downloads. I now have to change a whole load of other settings so I don't go blind trying to read the screen!
3sillydogs, your problem is easy :) Go to 'Tools' and 'Options' from the menu at the top, or 'Options' if you have the menu bar hidden. the first page 'General' has a section called 'Downloads' about half-way down. Select the 'Always ask me where to save files' option.
This should always then prompt you with the 'Save To' window - the folder location should default to the one you previously used, so you only need to change the filename.
Or alternatively reduce your screen resolution down to 1024x768 and it will work fine ::)
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3SD - if you go to Tools on the top bar and then Options - General, you ill be able to change the destination of downloads to Desktop or whatever:
(Just seen that Nick has explained but here's a snip)
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Another weekend of freeloaders slowing things down for subscribers!
Once again I question why I bother to subscribe to these sites. I didn't mind when it was just the occasional free weekend, but now, between the two main sites it seems to be at least once a month. Judging by comments on here and elsewhere, I'm sure that a lot of people, who perhaps would have subscribed, now just sit and wait for free weekend. In fact some people ask when the next one is as if it it their right to expect one.
I know that makes me sound as if I begrudge people getting it for free, and perhaps I do. It's about time that Ancestry and FindMyPast rewarded their loyal customers.
I'm afraid that StanleysChesterton's post has made me even more cross. Genealogy is an expensive hobby, I know that and luckily I am in the position to be able to afford it and that is one reason why I like to help people on here. Perhaps I should stop doing that and just let them wait for free weekends as it appears we are our own worse enemies by supporting the subscription sites. It doesn't sound to me as if many people who take advantage of the freebies actually go on to subscribe, they just wait for the next one!
Genealogy need NOT be an expensive hobby. What makes it so is pay sites like @ncestry gouging people and hoarding publicly available information. And yes I know the argument that they pay loads of money and they perform a valuable service and all that, but it doesn't change the fact that everything they do would be done eventually at free sights like FreeBMD FreeCEN and RC. I'd rather support volunteers and other Genealogists who are helping people in the hobby. Folks here at RC have helped me immensely and I'd like to think that's the way it should be.
I am glad you can afford to spend large amounts of money on this. I and many others cannot. But we still deserve the same access to our ancestors as you do.
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Thanks Gadget and Nick, I'll give it a go, but if all else fails, I'll ask son, take the eyes cast upwards at his old mother who can't learn new things ::) ;D ;D
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Genealogy can get expensive and while it may seem unfair to those that pay their subs these free weekends are often the only way some of us get access to overseas records.
Here in South Africa we had one pay site for genealogists and when it closed down it seems that @ncestry acquired the database, which with the current exchange rate makes it very expensive to buy a sub to a pay site. Never mind ordering certificates etc.
That is why forums like RC are invaluable to us and those free sites that volunteers put great effort into getting more records online.
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When I was employed, I had subscriptions to Ancestry and FindMyPast.
Now that I am unemployed, and the subscriptions are more than I get paid per week, I simply can't afford it!
So, I walk to my local library, and use Ancestry Library Edition for free.
I can get up to 2 hours internet time per day, all for free.
I see no difference between that and a free weekend?
In the meantime, I reciprocate by offering lookups of Manx records, if people ask.
And downloads of images of PRs, or photographs of graves, bridges, castles, etc! (All of which I have done in the last 12 months!).
Or offering my 40+ years of experience here on RC, in answering queries.
Do I feel guilty? Not a bit!! :D
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I don't think any of us with subscriptions are saying that you should not get free access weekends, what we are complaining about is that we are not offered extra days on our subscriptions to compensate. ::) ;D
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I don't think any of us with subscriptions are saying that you should not get free access weekends, what we are complaining about is that we are not offered extra days on our subscriptions to compensate. ::) ;D
Sums it up nicely Rosie. ;)
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I don't think any of us with subscriptions are saying that you should not get free access weekends, what we are complaining about is that we are not offered extra days on our subscriptions to compensate. ::) ;D
Exactly Rosie - it's another case of companies not caring about their loyal customers, just wanting to attract new ones.
The only thing that does niggle is when people complain that on the free weekends they can't see certain records or download things!
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Fed up with that little circle going round and round today - must be due to the volume of people on the site today ::)
Sandra
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Fed up with that little circle going round and round today - must be due to the volume of people on the site today ::)
Sandra
I thought it would be a good day to update my trees but as you say that little circle keeps turning. :)
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Groom, if your niggle about people complaining about downloads was aimed in my direction :) then the issue wasn't that I couldn't download, just that the site wasn't behaving in the normal way when I downloaded something.
The answer from smudwhisk correctly identified the screen resolution setting as the issue (who'd have guessed that!) and is likely to be applicable to paid-up members of the site just as much as to me.
If anyone else has the problem, paying member or not, the answer is now in Rootschat for all to see. :)
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As an Ancestry subscriber I don't mind in the least that it is available to others for free some weekends.
However, what I would like is that those with a Britain sub are offered a free Worldwide weekend occasionally!
Pheno
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Genealogy need NOT be an expensive hobby. What makes it so is pay sites like @ncestry gouging people and hoarding publicly available information. And yes I know the argument that they pay loads of money and they perform a valuable service and all that, but it doesn't change the fact that everything they do would be done eventually at free sights like FreeBMD FreeCEN and RC. I'd rather support volunteers and other Genealogists who are helping people in the hobby. Folks here at RC have helped me immensely and I'd like to think that's the way it should be.
I am glad you can afford to spend large amounts of money on this. I and many others cannot. But we still deserve the same access to our ancestors as you do.
Genealogy has never been cheaper and that is in part due to the online companies competing to provide access to digitised copies of original records.
I lived in a small village in Scotland in the 1950s, to view a census page I had to travel 430 miles, search a thick, heavy, unindexed census “book” for the relevant folio, then transcribe the information by hand before moving on to the next entry.
Similar journeys would have to be made to churches and archives up and down the country to see the original records, comparatively few records were even transcribed until the 1970s when family history societies began to become popular.
Yes you may have to wait ten minutes to access a record that would normally appear on your screen in seconds but that cannot be compared to waiting six months or a year to arrange a trip to the archives to view the record and the price is nothing compared to the time and expense a visit to a distant archive used to cost.
As for “everything they do would be done eventually at free sights”, sorry but I am afraid that is a dream, it took the resources of the LDS to microfilm parish registers and census something they were doing for about 50 years before the internet and even they shied away from transcribing census records for many years.
That is not to detract from the likes of Freebmd it is simply facing facts.
If it was not for these internet companies many if not most of today’s genealogists would not be researching their family history because it was simply too difficult and too expensive.
Cheers
Guy
PS where records were transcribed they tended to be available in print runs of 100 to 150 copies and therefore unobtainable to most.
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Yes you may have to wait ten minutes to access a record that would normally appear on your screen in seconds but that cannot be compared to waiting six months or a year to arrange a trip to the archives to view the record and the price is nothing compared to the time and expense a visit to a distant archive used to cost.
I only started researching in the "internet age", and I'm well aware how lucky I am to have to much information at my fingertips. I inherited my grandfather's research, including all his notes and letters exchanged with relatives, so I can see how slow his progress was. Not to mention the handful of wrong certificates he ordered. And he spent a long weekend in Bath trying to research his family name and didn't find anything - thanks to Ancestry's Somerset records I've been able to find a couple more generations of his family, without having to pay for the train or hotel.
Genealogy need NOT be an expensive hobby. What makes it so is pay sites like @ncestry gouging people and hoarding publicly available information.
Are they "hoarding" it? As far as I can see, they've made it more available than it was before, and yes you have to pay quite a lot if you want a subscription, but they haven't taken anything away - if you want to see parish records for example you can still go to record offices to see the originals.
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I gladly pay for online resources, but choose not to use the sites on the free weekends and let those that what to use them do so without causing added slowness to the site when I can view them anytime.
Regards panda
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Groom, if your niggle about people complaining about downloads was aimed in my direction :) then the issue wasn't that I couldn't download, just that the site wasn't behaving in the normal way when I downloaded something.
No Nick, it wasn't aimed at anyone in particular. I was thinking more of people who have complained during free weekends that they can't see and download records such as the Military records, or on FindMyPast the 1939 register.
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Thanks groom, just checking to make sure I'd not offended you :)
I've also discovered this afternoon that other people's public trees are not available on Ancestry without paying... not sure how much of a loss that is though. I was a bit intrigued to see that Herbert John Bell born in Hickling, Nfk in 1882 died somewhere in Suffolk, but how that works is something I'll just have to sit here and think about ;D
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I've also discovered this afternoon that other people's public trees are not available on Ancestry without paying... not sure how much of a loss that is though. I was a bit intrigued to see that Herbert John Bell born in Hickling, Nfk in 1882 died somewhere in Suffolk, but how that works is something I'll just have to sit here and think about ;D
Not much of a loss if the tree I stumbled on the other day is anything to go by. A couple had 15 children according to the owner of the tree, all born within 10 years. Not only that, every alternate child was born in America, so they ended up with, for example, a child born October 1862 in Lancashire and the next one in February 1863 in Philadelphia. Definitely a case of just accepting hints and not checking if they made sense.
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To fit all that in over just 10 years is very impressive... unless there were several sets of twins involved!
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I don't think any of us with subscriptions are saying that you should not get free access weekends, what we are complaining about is that we are not offered extra days on our subscriptions to compensate. ::) ;D
Rosie,
I'll be honest, I thought those extra days were added to 'full subs'...
People who pay annually as I used to (worldwide) when I afforded it, should be getting those free days added.
You need to all send emails to complain before anything can be done.
For many years from when I 1st subscribed for WW which I wanted/needed I was paying a wee fortune & after many yrs (after I had to cancel my continuous sub), I discovered by chance when going to reinstate (when I could afford it again), the price was so much cheaper ???
I emailed them to ask why my sub had been so expensive over several yrs......I'd registered under .com & not .co.uk & they told me my bank was to blame (exchange rate blabla)!!!
I told them it was strange that over all those yrs that no-one had picked up on the fact that my address was a UK address & why they didn't get in touch to tell me I'd been overpriced etc.?
I sent a list of all my payment amounts over the yrs & asked for a FREE yr sub which I got as it hadn't been my fault & I'm sure when I 1st subscribed there was no .uk available but it was so long ago I can't be sure.
If you don't ask, you don't get i.e. get your complaints in as it's only right they see to their fee paying customers too regardless of how long you've been a subscriber.
Annie
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Rosie,
I'll be honest, I thought those extra days were added to 'full subs'...
People who pay annually as I used to (worldwide) when I afforded it, should be getting those free days added.
You need to all send emails to complain before anything can be done.
Hi Annie
As I mentioned earlier extra days on FindMyPast are only added to a world sub not a UK one. In my opinion a subscription be it World /UK /USA etc is still an annual subscription. I was not asking for my UK sub to be extended as anything other than UK.
I have written to complain about the free days and their attitude was 'tough' you get 1939 register and have access at all times not just when the free weekends are on.
At least with FindMyPast you get a discount on renewal without having to beg for it.
Rosie
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I was a paid member a few years ago, for 1 year, got completely lost with it all, so I left it off, then having this free weekend thought I would see about starting my searches again, but I am still in a muddle with it, but thanks to Christine, she has found some info for me re: General Peel ship, which I am very greatful for. What I need is someone/club I can be with to show me how its done. It seems so easy, just work backwards but hey-ho , my hat gets taken of to all you knowledgable people out there.
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I think you've already found the right place here maisey :) But you might also want to see if there is local club or society if you also want to meet people and get face-to-face help.
It is easy, so long as you take things step by step and don't make assumptions without looking for the evidence to support them.
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I have written to complain about the free days and their attitude was 'tough' you get 1939 register and have access at all times not just when the free weekends are on.
That's a very strange attitude when you think about it isn't it? Of course we get access at all times - that's what we pay for. They would soon be in trouble if everyone stopped paying and waited for free weekends.
It's like everything though, loyalty doesn't mean anything to the big companies. How often have you seen a good deal on things like Sky or on insurance, only for it to say in small print "New customers only." ? A friend who worked for an insurance company told me to shop around every year as once they had you as a customer they didn't decrease your payments, just increased them hoping you couldn't be bothered to go elsewhere. Last time I renewed my car insurance I rang the old one to tell them I wasn't renewing. I quoted the new deal and the man on the phone actually said, "Don't blame you not going with us, I'd do the same" ;D
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But the trick then Groom is to tell the old insurance company you've had a quote for a lot less than you have actually got from the new one, then ask them if they can match it. The answer is usually initially no, but you can end up with a price which is equal to or lower than the new quote. Play them at their own game ;D
A certain large mutual building society has just announced the second interest rate cut in a year on its 'loyalty' savings account, it will soon only be 0.75% if you have 15 years of membership. There are many places you can get 1% or more without needing to have shown any loyalty. That shows the value even a mutual organisation places on its customers.
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But the trick then Groom is to tell the old insurance company you've had a quote for a lot less than you have actually got from the new one, then ask them if they can match it. The answer is usually initially no, but you can end up with a price which is equal to or lower than the new quote. Play them at their own game ;D
That's what I was trying to do, but he said there was no way they could match it and he didn't blame me for leaving! Both were reputable companies so it wasn't as if I was changing from a well known one to an unknown one. In the end I felt if they didn't want my custom that was up to them. It doesn't stop them sending through emails etc asking me to go back. :D
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Just had a similar experience - saved £142 by changing car insurance company ::)
Sandra
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They should be extending these subscriptions by the number of days given as free access to others. Occasionally they have suggested that they have given world subs as a bonus but what good is that if you don't need them.
They (findmypast) say
"Britain Subscribers will be able to access all World Subscriber Records (except for Excluded Records) during the Free Weekend."
So you are getting a free weekend yourself. Whether you want it or not. I don't need a free findmypast weekend, I can get hours of it everyday at my local libraries.
The point is that the free weekend is in findmypast's terms and conditions
"We may, from time to time, offer a weekend period of free access to Records on the Site (Free Weekend)."
In other words, if you don't like the free weekends you shouldn't complain, you shouldn't sign up with findmypast!
John
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Hi jonw65
I do realise that if they are offering a free world weekend that I am getting the benefit even though I do not need it but sometimes the offer is just UK. :) I am however paying for a UK sub for the period that offer is running and it would not hurt them to extend it by the number of days after all as a subscriber all they are offering me on those occasions is the extra info from World where others are getting the whole lot free.
I only contacted them as I adopted the attitude if you don't ask you don't get ;D I have done very well with their offers in the past and will have no hesitation in renewing my subscription when it comes due. Ancestry however is a different matter. ::)
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We are haggling quite strongly with ancestry to get a 25% discount on worldwide - it gets harder each time. If you don't ask you don't get..............
Extra days added would be the only thing beneficial.................
Sandra