RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: antiquesam on Friday 06 July 18 06:47 BST (UK)
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Ancestry sent me an email telling me that free access was available from the the 6th to the 9th of July. I've just tried to look at a few things but keep getting sent to the subscription page. Anyone else having better luck?
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Is that UK records or worldwide? I'll have a look later today and let you know if it works.
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UK and Ireland, including the 1939 Register.
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Look at the small print at the bottom of the Ancestry email.
It was free access 6 June to 9 June 2018!
Tony
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The devil's in the detail. It says "from 6 July to 23.59 on 9 July"
So, the sneaky devils actually mean: "from 11.59 6 July ..." I bet.
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UK and Ireland, including the 1939 Register.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/cs/free-access
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Look at the small print at the bottom of the Ancestry email.
It was free access 6 June to 9 June 2018!
Tony
Not on yesterday's email it wasn't:
Access to the records in the featured collections will start on 6 July and be free until 9 July 2018 at 23:59 BST
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The devil's in the detail. It says "from 6 July to 23.59 on 9 July"
So, the sneaky devils actually mean: "from 11.59 6 July ..." I bet.
That would be very odd; if that is the case then it could also be from 23:59:59 on 6 July.
I would have thought that they actually want people to use it rather than trick them; I suspect that some people will have given up already and won't try again all weekend.
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The devil's in the detail. It says "from 6 July to 23.59 on 9 July"
So, the sneaky devils actually mean: "from 11.59 6 July ..." I bet.
That would be very odd; if that is the case then it could also be from 23:59:59 on 6 July.
I would have thought that they actually want people to use it rather than trick them; I suspect that some people will have given up already and won't try again all weekend.
It is very annoying; maybe they do it to avoid having to work out all the various world time-zones, especially as they are based in the US who have many time zones... so they decided at an early stage to not say the start time, for fear of the backlash as people in different locations moaned :)
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The devil's in the detail. It says "from 6 July to 23.59 on 9 July"
So, the sneaky devils actually mean: "from 11.59 6 July ..." I bet.
That would be very odd; if that is the case then it could also be from 23:59:59 on 6 July.
I would have thought that they actually want people to use it rather than trick them; I suspect that some people will have given up already and won't try again all weekend.
It is very annoying; maybe they do it to avoid having to work out all the various world time-zones, especially as they are based in the US who have many time zones... so they decided at an early stage to not say the start time, for fear of the backlash as people in different locations moaned :)
Possibly. Maybe they could accept that large numbers of the world's population aren't stupid and understand time zones and could therefore work out the start time in their county if they specified the time zone in the start time.
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The devil's in the detail. It says "from 6 July to 23.59 on 9 July"
So, the sneaky devils actually mean: "from 11.59 6 July ..." I bet.
That would be very odd; if that is the case then it could also be from 23:59:59 on 6 July.
I would have thought that they actually want people to use it rather than trick them; I suspect that some people will have given up already and won't try again all weekend.
It is very annoying; maybe they do it to avoid having to work out all the various world time-zones, especially as they are based in the US who have many time zones... so they decided at an early stage to not say the start time, for fear of the backlash as people in different locations moaned :)
Possibly. Maybe they could accept that large numbers of the world's population aren't stupid and understand time zones and could therefore work out the start time in their county if they specified the time zone in the start time.
well they give a definite end time, so which timezone is that in? As its a UK site I assume its UK timezone, but if the idea is to get people to resubscribe, then maybe the email should have either given a start time or have been sent once the free period began. As stated, some will pop on, see its not free and simply left again.
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Have tried about 7am, 8am, 9.10am
Goes Subs page. the e mail saying free from 6 July doesn't state START time. But to me if it starts 23.59pm it may cover 4 days but only use for 3 Days.
2mm
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Have tried about 7am, 8am, 9.10am
Goes Subs page. the e mail saying free from 6 July doesn't state START time. But to me if it starts 23.59pm it may cover 4 days but only use for 3 Days.
2mm
I'm beginning to think that some muppet forgot to switch it on...
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I'm beginning to think that some muppet forgot to switch it on...
Or, to be minuted in a meeting next week:
"So why didn't it get switched on?"
"Julie does that"
"So why didn't Julie do that?"
"Well, it was a Thursday, she only works on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; she used to work on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so this was on her tasks list"
"Couldn't somebody else do it?"
"No, it's Julie's job"
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Ancestry have just answered my query on Facebook. They have a problem which they hope to fix by this afternoon making it a three and a half day offer.
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Ancestry have just answered my query on Facebook. They have a problem which they hope to fix by this afternoon making it a three and a half day offer.
Yes... Julie's not in :)
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Ancestry have just answered my query on Facebook. They have a problem which they hope to fix by this afternoon making it a three and a half day offer.
Yes... Julie's not in :)
We've told Julie to come in on her day off to push the button. We've asked pretty please and ensured her she can get home by 3pm.
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Julie says sorry but she trapped her button finger in the door this morning so won't be able to do the big push this afternoon.............. ;)
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Ancestry have just answered my query on Facebook. They have a problem which they hope to fix by this afternoon making it a three and a half day offer.
They'll probably be a class action case in the US resulting in $10 billion compensation for those affected by the loss of half a day's free access.
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Julie says sorry but she trapped her button finger in the door this morning so won't be able to do the big push this afternoon.............. ;)
"Well, can't somebody else do it? Where's Julie's Manager?"
"Ah, Margaret. She was made redundant last month"
"Well who is doing Margaret's old work?"
"Julie was told to do what she could until somebody officially took over the work.... but she didn't really have time."
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I can't believe that they don't have the facility to make a very quick temporary banner announcement on their homepage explaining the problem, or at least that they know there is one.
Martin
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I can't believe that they don't have the facility to make a very quick temporary banner announcement on their homepage explaining the problem, or at least that they know there is one.
Martin
Julie could do it...
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I can't believe that they don't have the facility to make a very quick temporary banner announcement on their homepage explaining the problem, or at least that they know there is one.
Martin
Julie could do it...
No. Julie could put it up, but banners are designed by Mark - and he's off today.
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Seems to be working now, well done for sending a taxi to Julie's house.
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Before seeing the 12:04 comment I spoke to Ancestry, after 12:04, and yet they told me it would be available by 3pm. So they gave me out of date information. I also mentioned getting a home page announcement, and the support man said he'd already suggested it.
Martin
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Must admit I enjoyed the good humour on this one
Louisa Maud
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Julie forgot to sign in, so the support team weren't updated about developments.
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When did we have LIFT OFF
Have found 2 already
WILL IT LAST OR WILL THE RUBBER BAND BURST ;D ;D
2mm
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They obviously don't want to be nice to me, I'm still barred it would seem.
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Poor me in Australia,
Ancestry isn't offering me anything free at all (apart from the usual 2 weeks "free" trial) - Where the hell is Julie? Is she still in flight - coming over to press the button here? Bet she stopped off on the way, in Dubai for a shopping trip!
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The free offer isn't for all, or even all UK, records?
For instance, I can't get access to Wiltshire Births and Baptisms?
Other record sets are fine. ;D
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One assumes it applies to all those they sent an email to, or did Julie press the wrong key when she was in on Tuesday?
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I never received an email?
And I can access most UK records (but not all).
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I didn't get an e mail either, but perhaps that's because I am a paying member, who will no doubt have problems accessing the site all weekend because it is overloaded by people taking advantage of the free offer. Not that I blame them. I would do the same myself.
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I can't get access to Wiltshire Births and Baptisms?
Other record sets are fine.
It's not in the list of records to be free. Although the other Wiltshire parish record sets are free, including burials from 1813. Odd.
Liverpool electoral registers, London directories, also not in the list. No doubt there are others.
By the way, if you can see the green wheel turning on FindMyPast, you can download (even if no image has yet appeared!)
John
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By the way, if you can see the green wheel turning on FindMyPast, you can download (even if no image has yet appeared!)
John
I seem to have to do that quite a lot recently.
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I seem to have to do that quite a lot recently.
Me too!
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The free offer isn't for all, or even all UK, records?
For instance, I can't get access to Wiltshire Births and Baptisms?
Other record sets are fine. ;D
My email says "For 4 days starting today, we’re really opening up our site, giving you access to all our UK and Irish records, absolutely free." KG, it might be a hiccup, part of the earlier problem.
Martin
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Some records do get missed out from these freebies.
Blue
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Yes, there always seem to be some records not included, possibly by oversight, but usually they are the more recently added ones?
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Yes recent additions such as electoral registers are not included.
Blue
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I've been getting seriously distracted to day by "UK, Poll Books and Electoral Registers, 1538-1893" results.
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=2410
Martin
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Now extended to Tuesday 10 June, 2018 - ends 23:59 BST
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This is the first free weekend I've seen that includes access to public trees and ability to contact private tree owners so heads up to anyone interested
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By the way, if you can see the green wheel turning on FindMyPast, you can download (even if no image has yet appeared!)
I've been doing that since before the 1939 Register appeared. Often the image display will stall for no apparent reason (fast machine, fast link, different browsers), sometime showing a blurred image, sometimes none. The Download uses a different method, and works every time.
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Yes recent additions such as electoral registers are not included.
Blue
Today these records are now viewable :)
Blue
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I still get asked to subscribe when trying to look at:
Wiltshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1916 ??
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KG, it might be unrelated but I was having problems on my tablet where I was being asked to subscribe almost every time I clicked on anything. The problem did not exist on my Windows 10 PC. I contacted ancestry and we eventually worked out that the problem was that I was using a modified version of Google Chrome on Android using an ad blocker. I still get directed to the subscription page sometimes, but if I use the back arrow on my browser and try again it is often OK. It might be worth trying another browser.
Martin
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This made me smile. On Saturday evening after waiting for weeks, my DNA test results arrived. I am now facing the quandary of do I start delving into DNA statistics or do I carry on using the next two days of free access to Ancestry?
Martin
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KG, it might be unrelated but I was having problems on my tablet where I was being asked to subscribe almost every time I clicked on anything. The problem did not exist on my Windows 10 PC. I contacted ancestry and we eventually worked out that the problem was that I was using a modified version of Google Chrome on Android using an ad blocker. I still get directed to the subscription page sometimes, but if I use the back arrow on my browser and try again it is often OK. It might be worth trying another browser.
Martin
That began happening to me late last night so I assumed free access had ended. I use Windows 10 PC.
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Try back paging and re-trying. It is very inconsistent. Or try a different browser and/or disabling any ad blocker. It seems OK today on MY Win 10 PC.
Martin
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I still get directed to the subscription page sometimes, but if I use the back arrow on my browser and try again it is often OK.
Martin
Just to say I am seeing this as well but it isn't a major issue as a quick go back and reload and the page opens.
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After enjoying the extended free weekend on Ancestry, I just knew they would be offering discounts if I signed up. Email received today offering 25% off the 6 month sub, down from £69.99 to £52.49, I have 5 days to decide ::) I don't think I'll bother - I have a handy library with Ancestry access free for 30 mins/day, just have to be bothered to write out a list and get myself there......
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After enjoying the extended free weekend on Ancestry, I just knew they would be offering discounts if I signed up. Email received today offering 25% off the 6 month sub, down from £69.99 to £52.49, I have 5 days to decide ::) I don't think I'll bother - I have a handy library with Ancestry access free for 30 mins/day, just have to be bothered to write out a list and get myself there......
Does the library version allow access to family trees and is it possible to contact a tree owner?
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The Ancestry Library edition does allow access to Public Member Trees but as far as I know, you cannot contact a tree owner.
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I have read here quite recently that there are kind people prepared to put you in touch with a tree owner, if you give basic details here, and follow it up by private message.
Martin
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Thanks, tillypeg and Mark.
One tree owner seems to be a relative of a deceased American cousin of mine whom I never knew. Our mothers used to write to each other. My aunt in America died years before I was born. She was eldest step-sister of a large family. The cousin was born in U.S.A. in 1918. Her younger brother served in WW2. I filched 2 photos of my aunt from the tree since I'd never seen a picture of her before, plus one of Grandma. I don't know the protocol regarding photos. I tried to write a message about one picture but wasn't able to because I was on free access. I put up a tree for that side of my family. If my American cousin's relative receives hints from it and takes time to look at it he should realise it's the same family. I added sources that I didn't find on Ancestry!