RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: Jebber on Friday 04 February 22 16:16 GMT (UK)
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Anyone looked at the Probate Register now it is up and running again? I’m not impressed.
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It is long winded and to have to answer 'Was the person a soldier who died while serving in the British armed forces between 1850 and 1986?' to get past the first page is odd.
I also thought that I had no results when looking for a will I knew was there but it was slow to get the listing even though I had quoted year plus month of death.
I prefer it the old way
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I am not sure if I am doing this right, I don't look for wills very often, but I can't see a way of entering the month of death? I entered "Pay" with year of death, because I knew it was there, but had to go through 12 pages of "Payne" before finding the one I wanted, which was followed by a few more Paynes. I seem to remember it was always a bit random, but there is probably a logic I haven't discerned.
Findmypast took me straight to the right page!
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I've just sent GRO another e-mail. I have been looking to receive a copy of a will made in 1979 and it appears in the list. I've got the full name, year of death, probate registry etc. No will found (about 2 weeks go) so I e-mailed them. I supposedly did not put in his full forenames, and then, of course, the site was subject to maintenance.
I've just tried again - no results available for the surname (and what has being a soldier or not got to do with it?). So I've just reset my e-mail address, password and sent them ANOTHER e-mail asking for help as no results available.
It's a good job that the cost is only £1.50 if they can't locate the item!!
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I had an email 2 weeks ago telling me the will I had ordered was ready to download.
I now find I am unable to access the site to do this; it keeps telling me Account not found.
Is anyone else having this problem?
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I did have to re-register to view the new "results".
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I reregistered and have tried a number of searches and all I get is nothing found. I tried searching for several wills I already have, again nothing no results. The only one that shows up is my husband’s probate.
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It won't let me re-register!
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I think with some surnames you might have to try wildcards. I found my grandfather's entry easily but then tried to find Charles Postle who died in 1920. I already have his will! However searching for the surname Postle in 1920 produced no results. It was only when I searched using Po* that the pages came up.
William
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Still no luck - surname is Archbell, so tried Arch - only results were Archer, so then tried Arc - only results were Archer!!!!
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I just came here to the forum after trying to order a couple of wills which I know exist because I have the register entries which I downloaded from the old website. Now, the new version of the search is returning “0” records. For example, I’m looking for William Hicken, died December at Stratford on Avon 1917, probate 1918. I can now find nothing! Am I doing something wrong?
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Dave - probably not!!!!
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Am I doing something wrong?
No, not your fault, the web site is just junk. They may as well take it offline until they fix this nonsense.
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I think with some surnames you might have to try wildcards. I found my grandfather's entry easily but then tried to find Charles Postle who died in 1920. I already have his will! However searching for the surname Postle in 1920 produced no results. It was only when I searched using Po* that the pages came up.
William
Try Millmoor's method with the wild card.
I couldn't find a relative Wayman who died in 1969 (I already have the will). Putting in Way* as the surname gave me two pages and she's on it.
KG
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Am I doing something wrong?
No, not your fault, the web site is just junk. They may as well take it offline until they fix this nonsense.
I’ve just looked again at the website, and it is now down for “essential maintenance”, so presumably they’ve had word from users that it is kaput, or someone put the site back online before it was ready. Let’s hope it works when it reappears. What was wrong with it before anyway?
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And now it’s back and still broken! I’ll keep away from it til at least next week.
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Found William Hicken by searching in 1918 for Hic*. This produces 4 pages of results. William Hicken is on page 3. I think one problem is that when a wildcard search produces multiple pages they are neither in alphabetical order or number order!
William
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As so often happens when they tamper with something that works well, we end up with an inferior website. ::)
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Has the link changed as I am still getting the "down for maintenance" warning?
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I'm just getting this message:
There is a problem
HTTP/1.1 404 returned for "https://hmcts.irm31-insight-a-uk.com/nuxeo/api/v1/automation/AC_ExternalUserAccess_FindUser".
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Found William Hicken by searching in 1918 for Hic*. This produces 4 pages of results. William Hicken is on page 3. I think one problem is that when a wildcard search produces multiple pages they are neither in alphabetical order or number order!
William
Thanks. How ludicrous! So one can search with a wildcard, but not with the precisely correct parameters. I think a complaint is in order. Talk about “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Dave :)
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Found William Hicken by searching in 1918 for Hic*. This produces 4 pages of results. William Hicken is on page 3. I think one problem is that when a wildcard search produces multiple pages they are neither in alphabetical order or number order!
There's no need to use a trailing wildcard (*) as they're actually applying one to every search request anyway; it can be seen in the page requests. Something's a bit odd though, using just Hic returns 4 pages and your William is now on page 4.
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It is odd, Cuffie ! I have just done the search again - using Hic* has it on page 3 while using Hic has it on page 4.
It does say Beta at the top of the page " This is a new service - your feedback will help us to improve it". :)
William
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Another problem seems to be that a folio number is required, and I can’t see a folio number recorded against the entry for William Hicken or for another will I want (Thomas Chesshire of Hockley Heath, 1889). (I thought folio numbers were written at the side of the register entry?) An empty folio number box on the order form means the form doesn’t work.
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Currently "down for essential maintenance."
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Another problem seems to be that a folio number is required, and I can’t see a folio number recorded against the entry for William Hicken or for another will I want
A quote posted by me last year!
"Handwritten numbers (folio numbers) shown against some index entries refer to the Registered Bound Volumes where the copy of the will is stored. They are used for locating wills proved in London between 1858 and 1930"
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I am having the same problem with the probate register, i ordered a will nearly 3 weeks ago, i had an email to say it was ready to view clinked the link to view, but couldn't view as it was down for maintenance, and that the site would be back up 3rd Feb at 3pm, went on site still couldn't tried again this morning, came up again with site down to due to maintanence.
when the site is properly back up and running will i have to re order the will, as you only have 30 days to view and save, or does the 30 days start from when it is downloaded, which obviously I haven't been able to do yet.
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The time starts when they make it available to you. That would have been when they sent you the email, but with these service interruptions you should have expectations of the period beginning when they stabilise their mess.
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Am I doing something wrong? I am trying to order the will of Thomas Chesshire of 1889, and filling the order in as per screen shots below. I can’t see a folio number. Do I need to look elsewhere for it, or is there not one?
Dave ???
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Am I doing something wrong?
Dave ???
I wish I knew!. I can't get the site to return ANY records, even of wills I have previously purchased. Just "0 document pages returned".
I can't reach the "Advanced Search" either - there is no link visible, even if I "Log in".
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FindMyPast has Thomas Chesshire on an Index to death duties and it gives a folio 4381
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Give me strength ::) ::)
Finally able to get into the site - much good it does. Decided to test it using details I am already fully aware of as I am the executor. Death April 2021. Go through all the rigmarole - far more detail asked for than before when you consider it previously worked on surname & year of death only
Get to the end and get beta This is a new service – your feedback will help us to improve it.
Back
So - decided to login - didn't recognise me. Re-registered and changed password which it accepted but couldn't get any further.
Logged out and back in again - accepted email & pw but then asked me to change password!!
At which point I made some very unladylike comments >:( >:(
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FindMyPast has Thomas Chesshire on an Index to death duties and it gives a folio 4381
Many thanks. I’ll try again. I’ve also sent back feedback as they request, and asked them to reinstate the website as it was before they started messing about with it!
Dave :)
ps I didn’t realise that this index could be searched like that. I was drawing a blank on FindMyPast just under his name and d.o.d., so a very useful tip ;)
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Am I doing something wrong? I am trying to order the will of Thomas Chesshire of 1889, and filling the order in as per screen shots below. I can’t see a folio number. Do I need to look elsewhere for it, or is there not one?
Did you see my Reply #25
There is no folio number to give them.
Folio numbers are only needed for wills proved at the Principal Probate Registry in London between 1858 and 1930.
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Am I doing something wrong? I am trying to order the will of Thomas Chesshire of 1889, and filling the order in as per screen shots below. I can’t see a folio number. Do I need to look elsewhere for it, or is there not one?
Did you see my Reply #25
There is no folio number to give them.
Folio numbers are only needed for wills proved at the Principal Probate Registry in London between 1858 and 1930.
I think I understand your reply #25 but you appear to misunderstand what I am saying. The order form simply will not work if the box for “folio number” is left blank EVEN when there is no folio number written next to the entry. (In other words, the website now seems to be set up to expect a folio number to be entered in the box even when such a number does not exist.) It shows up in red as in my screenshot in my post made earlier this afternoon, #28. Just another issue, presumably, with the utterly useless beta version of the website they seem to be messing around with currently.
Dave :)
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Hi Dave
OK, I get it now!
Sorry about the problem. If it stops people ordering, they must surely fix it soon :-\
Let's hope so!
John
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Hi Dave
OK, I get it now!
Sorry about the problem. If it stops people ordering, they must surely fix it soon :-\
Let's hope so!
John
Hi John, that’s fine. Let’s hope they do fix it soon, but I’m not holding my breath. The company that appears to have the contract from HMCTS looks like some huge U.S. based multinational. Why they’ve decided to mess with what appeared to work previously, I have no idea.
Dave ;)
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On the Folio number problem, I simply typed in "Nil" (minus the "" marks) and it accepted my order.
I have to agree that they seem to have made a mess of things with this new system.
By the way, I also had to re-register and thus create a new password. It then asked me to change my password again. I ignored that and simply clicked on the words "Find a Will" and it took me to the search facility.
Good luck with your research.
Simon
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On the Folio number problem, I simply typed in "Nil" (minus the "" marks) and it accepted my order.
I have to agree that they seem to have made a mess of things with this new system.
By the way, I also had to re-register and thus create a new password. It then asked me to change my password again. I ignored that and simply clicked on the words "Find a Will" and it took me to the search facility.
Good luck with your research.
Simon
Thanks for the tip. Time for bed now, but I’ll give it a try tomorrow.
Dave :)
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Is anyone having trouble access orders on the GOV.UK order weeks ago and still cant access it my orders,
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On the Folio number problem, I simply typed in "Nil" (minus the "" marks) and it accepted my order.
All you need do is click in the Folio field and press the space-bar. It will then move to the next page of the ordering process.
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Bizarrely I've just received one of those 'order confirmation' emails - for an order placed three months ago to the day.
This situation is generating the full range of emotions - from anger, to incredulity, to laughing out loud (although hasn't yet reached _pity_ for the people behind the scenes grappling with the capricious beast they seem to have created).
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If you do order, check that the basket contents agrees with your data entry. My experience is that it subtracts one day from the death and probate dates -- always -- and so you currently have to request dates one day later than what's on the digital microfilm (if you can find it).
Also of course use a single space for absent Folio Number.
It's the worst public web site I have ever seen in my life, absolutely incredible.
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I ordered a will , and just found it in My Orders, there is also a Grant which I can download, but I can`t down load the Will.
There is a contact icon but this just takes me to AVG search engine.
Where do I contact the GOV site to find out what`s going on. I have had no email from them and the receipt was from a noreply address.
Can anyone help
Thanks
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I ordered a will , and just found it in My Orders, there is also a Grant which I can download, but I can`t down load the Will.
I have had exactly this experience half a dozen times. It’s a technical hitch, relating to the way they upload the documents. Try their Customer Services address ...
cservices@ironmountain.co.uk
Experience shows that you have to be very persistent to get anything but an auto-reply, but eventually they do provide one. They will then either fix the download link so that you can access the will, or they will email it to you.
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Thanks I`ll try that, but even clicking the link for the email address doesn`t take me to email.
It takes me to a search engine which asks
Did you mean: cservices@ironmountain.com.uk
Clicking on this gets me to the same search page. ???
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I ordered a will , and just found it in My Orders, there is also a Grant which I can download, but I can`t down load the Will.
There is a contact icon but this just takes me to AVG search engine.
Where do I contact the GOV site to find out what`s going on. I have had no email from them and the receipt was from a noreply address.
Can anyone help
Thanks
If you ordered on the probatesearch site then there will be a link (like a blue envelope) to click at the right hand side of the order on the orders page. When you hover over that it says "Contact Us if you would like help with this order.
Have you tried that?
Cheers
guy
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Try opening a new email and then copy/paste the address into the box?
I have had successful results (eventually) with both these addresses ...
cservices@ironmountain.co.uk
customerresolutions@ironmountain.co.uk
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I ordered a will , and just found it in My Orders, there is also a Grant which I can download, but I can`t down load the Will.
There is a contact icon but this just takes me to AVG search engine.
Where do I contact the GOV site to find out what`s going on. I have had no email from them and the receipt was from a noreply address.
Can anyone help
Thanks
If you ordered on the probatesearch site then there will be a link (like a blue envelope) to click at the right hand side of the order on the orders page. When you hover over that it says "Contact Us if you would like help with this order.
Have you tried that?
Cheers
guy
Yes, that was the problem, it takes me to a search engine.
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Try opening a new email and then copy/paste the address into the box?
I have had successful results (eventually) with both these addresses ...
cservices@ironmountain.co.uk
customerresolutions@ironmountain.co.uk
I managed to suss that out and had a response from the first address,only to acknowledge my email 🙄
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Try opening a new email and then copy/paste the address into the box?
I have had successful results (eventually) with both these addresses ...
cservices@ironmountain.co.uk
customerresolutions@ironmountain.co.uk
I managed to suss that out and had a response from the first address,only to acknowledge my email 🙄
Give it time, and don't give up ;D
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I sent an email and this is the reply . As far as I know i don`t have an ID. I have responded telling them this and that I ordered through the Gov probate search.
What a palaver !
cservices@ironmountain.co.uk
Thank you for your email request. To enable us to proceed with your request, can you please provide me with your Iron Mountain Customer ID?
For Records Management (for example boxes and files) then your Customer ID will be a 5 digit alpha numeric number, e.g.: AB123. For Data Management (for example media and tapes) then your Customer ID will be a 4 digit number, e.g.: 1234.
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Yes, asking for a Customer ID is their standard auto-reply.
Just keep emailing them, and eventually you will get a reply from a real person in the Customer Relations section. At that point it is possible to make some progress.
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Thanks, it will be a daily task. 😁
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Sorted by the Gov today, still waiting for a response from the other one.
Unfortunately it gave the name of an executor, who was a son in law .
This was unexpected as I thought his daughter who was named in the will was married to someone else. ::)
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More work needed, then! But I'm glad you've got at least a partial result.