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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Ringrose on Friday 27 April 18 16:14 BST (UK)

Title: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: Ringrose on Friday 27 April 18 16:14 BST (UK)
Just now started looking for a birth record.....fine the English ones came up.Then using same name I looked for a marriage.....no English records....all American.Is there something wrong with the site
I give up
Ringrose
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: ggrocott on Friday 27 April 18 17:04 BST (UK)
The site has been having major issues since Easter!  An awful lot of people are complaining on facebook and elsewhere.
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: coombs on Friday 27 April 18 17:17 BST (UK)
I have not yet had American results when looking for English ones but I have experienced search results being incorrect, keep getting "relevance" instead of "categories" even when I have selected Categories. The site is also a bit sluggish.
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: Jomot on Friday 27 April 18 18:20 BST (UK)
keep getting "relevance" instead of "categories"

I don't have an option to select 'relevance' - just Records or Categories, and the Records are usually anything but relevant  :-X
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: coombs on Saturday 28 April 18 13:35 BST (UK)
keep getting "relevance" instead of "categories"

I don't have an option to select 'relevance' - just Records or Categories, and the Records are usually anything but relevant  :-X

Sorry that is what I meant. I get Records instead of categories. Yes the records are the total opposite of relevant.

It is like when I try and google Irish migration to the UK before the famine of the 1840s, all the results seem to hark back to that famine.
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: medpat on Saturday 28 April 18 14:48 BST (UK)
I was on there earlier and it was hiccuping, not downloading what I'd try to download, taking a long time to find things and repeated unable to find and try later  ::) I gave up
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: Rena on Saturday 28 April 18 14:58 BST (UK)
The site has been having major issues since Easter!  An awful lot of people are complaining on facebook and elsewhere.

Aha !   thanks for posting that nugget.  I've forgotten my password and haven't been able to reset it due to Ancestry sending me the incorrect email and I couldn't find an appropriate page on their website to solve the problem.

ADDENDUM: have just tried again and received appropriate email - am now able to access my account after a gap of three days.
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: macwil on Saturday 28 April 18 15:20 BST (UK)
I have also had poor results in searches, often 'no results' being returned until I have backed all the criteria off by up to three steps. if I then narrow the criteria the results are curtailed and in some cases I can narrow them down to my original settings and the results I was looking for are usually there.

However in some cases I have taken to going direct to the categories and locating the one I want and then browsing that, but I'm not sure that all the categories are appearing, I seem to find more if I do a second search of the catelogue. The 'Return to search results' button hasn't worked for me for weeks, I have to use the browser 'back button' or Alt + ←.
It's crazy and frustrating.
My cut-rate subscription expires towards the end of May and I'll be charged the full rate if I continue.
Extremely unlikely at the moment!!
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: Milliepede on Saturday 28 April 18 15:27 BST (UK)
I keep having to change it back to UK from All Collections, it does seem to have a penchant for US records for some reason. 
UK please am not American. 
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: macwil on Saturday 28 April 18 15:45 BST (UK)
I have also had poor results in searches, often 'no results' being returned until I have backed all the criteria off by up to three steps. if I then narrow the criteria the results are curtailed and in some cases I can narrow them down to my original settings and the results I was looking for are usually there.

However in some cases I have taken to going direct to the categories and locating the one I want and then browsing that, but I'm not sure that all the categories are appearing, I seem to find more if I do a second search of the catelogue. The 'Return to search results' button hasn't worked for me for weeks, I have to use the browser 'back button' or Alt + ←.
It's crazy and frustrating.
My cut-rate subscription expires towards the end of May and I'll be charged the full rate if I continue.
Extremely unlikely at the moment!!

Forgot to mention that after logging in the default search is 'BMD and Parish Records' not 'All Categories' which is what used to happen. And is the one I usually want/need. clicking on 'All Categories under the search criteria doesn't bring up the whole list to get that I have to click on 'Search' in the tool bar.

As I said it is frustrating and at times extremely annoying. They are not doing themselves any favours at the moment.
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Saturday 28 April 18 15:51 BST (UK)
Is it "Ancestry" DNA results that are credited with trapping some American ex-policeman who seems to have had a penchant for murder and other crimes? There was something about it all on a radio news, but I was only half-listening...
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: davidft on Saturday 28 April 18 15:57 BST (UK)
Is it "Ancestry" DNA results that are credited with trapping some American ex-policeman who seems to have had a penchant for murder and other crimes? There was something about it all on a radio news, but I was only half-listening...

No it was Gedmatch. There is more here including links

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=792445.9

It was not Gedmatch's fault
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Saturday 28 April 18 16:02 BST (UK)
Ah, interesting to know. Thank you, davidft.
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: andrewalston on Saturday 28 April 18 16:20 BST (UK)
Ancestry are overloaded at present, with lots of errors reported.

Their recommended search method doesn't help. They suggest starting with "Every Record We Have", than applying filter after filter to narrow down the results. All these transactions take time for us, and a large amount of resource on the servers.

The "old-fashioned" search method, where you decide what dataset is likely to contain what you are looking for, and you just search that, IS still available. The "Card Catalogue" on the Search menu is the place to start.

Many years ago I used "Customise your homepage" on the front page to add links to the relevant Census datasets. That way I can go straight to the relevant search page.

Note that the search forms for individual datasets are more closely allied to the contents than is the "Every Record" form. You are likely to be able to fill in better search terms and get results quicker.
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: Jay9 on Saturday 28 April 18 16:37 BST (UK)
I have noticed for the last few days search results are rather strange, also I have noticed on Public Family tree results my name shows up in full for a tree that has my parents, as their child, I thought they were not supposed to show names of the living, when I enter the tree my name does not show, but it does in the index results. I tried a few other searches in the Public Trees and have noticed quite a few names of the living are showing up as the child of the deceased parents. My sisters full name shows up ( she is alive) on a tree that has her deceased husband. I have checked again today and I still seeing the same details.

Jan

Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: andrewalston on Saturday 28 April 18 16:44 BST (UK)
..on Public Family tree results my name shows up in full for a tree that has my parents, as their child..
If you have been specifically given rights by the tree owner, you SHOULD be able to see the living people. In this case you should also see the tree listed under the Trees menu.
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: Jay9 on Saturday 28 April 18 17:43 BST (UK)
No I have no rights on that tree. My name is showing up in search results  as the child of the deceased couple, this never use to happen, if I go to into the tree my name does not show which is how it should be. I thought that no names of the living should show up in search results for family trees on Ancestry.

Jan
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: sdbadger on Saturday 28 April 18 19:07 BST (UK)
You're absolutely correct, Jay; living people should not be listed in trees.

I called and complained more than two weeks ago. The agent mirrored my search and completely agreed the site is totally messed up.

I've called two more times for additional problems and asked to speak to a supervisor. After holding more than 20 minutes both times, gave up and hung up.

They need to publicly address what's going on and what they're doing to correct it. And offer extensions for the time the site is down.
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: Finley 1 on Saturday 28 April 18 21:09 BST (UK)
I keep having to change it back to UK from All Collections, it does seem to have a penchant for US records for some reason. 
UK please am not American.

Me too   I am being driven up the wall with the site lately .. it costs a fortune to access all areas, as I feel I NEED to do.. and then   just American results coming up .. not a happy lady.


xin
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: brigidmac on Saturday 28 April 18 22:25 BST (UK)
I find the phone line very helpful + asked specifically how they can help people with visual di.they are going to send me large print paper instructiions for some functiones so i wont have to look at screen too much (eyes get strained with bad light visiom ok )

mentionned the probs people were having ..she said some hiccups while site updating I suggested they put that at top of page instead of advert for free fortnight whichj you cant have if you.ve used one in past

dont know if my suggestion will be taken on board

BUT ..found out that it is possible to reactivat +inherit the tree who has passed away if executor of will makes the request

\good news for all those who complain messages dont get answeted
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: pinefamily on Saturday 28 April 18 22:58 BST (UK)
I can't find some data sets on the card catalogue. When I use the card catalogue I can only see the first page, after that I get the message there are no more entries. I have to google search for the data sets.
I can do the same search twice, and get different results. If I try and narrow the search parameters, I don't get the results I am looking for, yet with a more general search I find the same results.
I can find a tree on Public Trees, yet if I go back another time, I can't find it.
Definitely something wrong with their search algorithms.
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: pinefamily on Wednesday 02 May 18 07:03 BST (UK)
To add to Ancestry's woes, all of a sudden today I notice I am on the US site. I haven't opened a new tab or anything, just started a new search. Very odd.
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: Annette7 on Wednesday 02 May 18 12:24 BST (UK)
To add to Ancestry's woes, all of a sudden today I notice I am on the US site. I haven't opened a new tab or anything, just started a new search. Very odd.

Same for me, pinefamily.   Hadn't noticed until you said.

Annette
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: ggrocott on Wednesday 02 May 18 12:34 BST (UK)
Posted on facebook by another frustrated user.

I am writing this on behalf of the 6700 members of our Facebook group for Ancestry researchers predominantly in the UK.
We are all now totally fed up with the issues of the Ancestry company. Perhaps if we all vote with our wallets you will then sort out your problems. You may think that 6700 is not enough of your customers to worry about, but please bear in mind I am also on an Admin group and as a collective we have over 150,000 members perhaps that my dent your profits slightly more. I am sure Find my Past will love the increased revenue!
DO YOU ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE?
Clearing cache and cookies does not work on iPad, Mac, Desktop etc.,
Continuous 'sorry this is unavailable' try reloading
Random hints and totally unrelated records appearing
Trees not displaying properly.
Trees disappearing
..amongst other issues this has been happening for months.
PLEASE GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!
It would be conducive for you as a business to use the banners available (Instead of continually reminding everyone about DNA, or updated privacy, or cookies enabled) to actually apologise to all your subscribers for the prolonged errors and downtime.
I for one, after ten years plus, have cancelled my subscription, and I am sure that your subscription numbers will decrease as the time rolls on... Many people in forums have all stated the same thing, they will not be renewing.
My personal opinion is that Ancestry seem to be putting all their eggs in one basket by continually 'ramming and spamming' subscribers with DNA and not concentrating on their valued, loyal and mass of research subscribers!
I am certain of a generic response, so unless you can offer any solution, remedy or otherwise, please be under no obligation to respond!
Yours sincerely
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Wednesday 02 May 18 13:22 BST (UK)
...Oh, and "it" keeps deselecting "Family Trees", and instead offers Photos when I search!
Unfortunately, I've just renewed.... drat!
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: IgorStrav on Wednesday 02 May 18 20:40 BST (UK)
Gosh, glad it's not just me....

Unbearably slow and wanting to reload and searches very difficult.

Argh.
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: Finley 1 on Wednesday 02 May 18 21:02 BST (UK)
It is becoming a case of people panicking.. on FB 


I am concerned enough  to have Synced up todate as of this moment.. And  downloaded the main Geds

I feel a bit safer that way. 

Now to put them on a seperate hard drive.. and I will sleep.


xin
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: ggrocott on Wednesday 02 May 18 21:13 BST (UK)
Yes, I have downloaded my GEDComs and wait with interest to see what happens next.

This is the generic response I have just received in response to my email enquiry

I'm Karen, a Directly Ancestry Expert. We are experienced Ancestry users that assist in answering questions.

Try clearing your cache and cookies and logging back in. Here is a page the walks you through this process. https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/Managing-Your-Internet-Cache-and-Cookies-US-1460088562626483-2161

Hope this helps. Let me know if you continue to experience this issue.
Karen

Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: Finley 1 on Wednesday 02 May 18 21:18 BST (UK)
I get sick of being told to clear my cache...   it just messes everything up

 >:(


xin
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: pinefamily on Wednesday 02 May 18 22:18 BST (UK)
Clearing my cache and cookies is not going to stop record sets disappearing from the card catalogue, nor the fact most times I only get 1 page of the catalogue; page 2 tells me there are no more records to view! And it's certainly not going to stop me going back to a record a second time only to not find it, using exactly the same search.
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: brigidmac on Thursday 03 May 18 03:51 BST (UK)
Re answer 23 gg  I told them similar on phone
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: bevj on Saturday 05 May 18 21:13 BST (UK)
Is anyone else having trouble with a banner which appears at the top of every page, advising that

We’ve made updates that may impact your Ancestry experience. Certain features on Ancestry may have reduced functionality or may not be supported when using Internet Explorer 8, 9, or 10. Check out the recommended browsers for more information.

?

I click on the X to get rid of it but it comes straight back.  I have tried everything to get rid of the stupid thing.  (I haven't used Internet Explorer for years).  It covers a good proportion of the visible page and is a real nuisance.   >:(

Bev
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: carlineric on Saturday 05 May 18 21:27 BST (UK)
There are some good posts on Randy Seaver's Gene-Musings blog regarding the problems with Ancestry.
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: pinefamily on Sunday 06 May 18 00:54 BST (UK)
Thanks for the link, Carlineric. So there are some technical issues at Ancestry. Instead of refusing to admit to them, or pretending everything is fine, Ancestry would do far better to acknowledge the problems, and issue an apology. As it is, they look just like any other money-grabbing business.
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: Jomot on Sunday 06 May 18 02:41 BST (UK)
As it is, they look just like any other money-grabbing business.

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck......
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: Annette7 on Thursday 10 May 18 14:27 BST (UK)
I contacted Customer Support via their site and received an acknowledgement of this on 2nd May.   Today I received a reply - quite a lengthy email - in which they admit that there are known issues across their website which have arisen as they are updating the site which is still ongoing at the moment.  There is no resolution timeframe for the issues but they are addressing them.

I was also offered a free month on Ancestry to avail myself of whenever I choose.   Since I only renewed my annual subscription 2 months ago it will be a while!   However, I wasn't after any kind of 'freebie' I just want the site to work as it did before.

For me, the most important thing is for them to have admitted there are issues and that it's not us that are at fault which is the usual response.

So, it's a case of grin and bear it at the moment whilst we wait patiently, or in my case impatiently, for the issues to ultimately be addressed.

Annette
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Thursday 10 May 18 17:12 BST (UK)
Perhaps " they" ought to offer us all a free month - I'd quite like a potter round worldwide, but I've not enough family involved to make upgrading worthwhile......
(Can dream, can't we?)
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: Keith on Thursday 10 May 18 18:31 BST (UK)
At least that bloody annoying cookie banner has finally buggered off!
Title: Re: Ancestry.....what are they up to now
Post by: macwil on Thursday 10 May 18 19:43 BST (UK)
At least that bloody annoying cookie banner has finally buggered off!

Oh no it hasn't!

I've been plagued with that every time I changed searches, along with one for privacy updated terms and one for local storage disabled, fix it click here, except I get a 404 error if I try that.
Yes i've had all three at once but it usually drops to the storage one for a time 'til I open a new tab then go back to start searching again and they reappear.