Contacting people on GenesReunited?

[downside]

Hi migky

On the subject of census information.

In theory you do not have to pay to get it back.  If you go to your local county records office you may view your regional census free of charge.  You may also find that local volunteers have compiled a Surname card index to help you locate individuals by surname.

What you have pay for on commercial sites is the ability to search by surname or address throughout the whole UK.  In order for you to be able to do that hundreds of people have to sit down and wade throught the entire census which is millions of records and type in the details to create a searchable index.  All the inputters want paying naturally.  How are the companies supposed to recover their costs?  By charging people to use their indexes.

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[FeeJay]

GR is a very commercial site and it's there purely to make money. When I first used it I followed their link to the 1901 census. I bought one lot of credits and found they went nowhere.

Ancestry may appear expensive but I have been able to search endless records. I've even looked through censuses of entire towns searching for relatives when I only had sketchy details of names.

I think that GR is like many commercial sites - you don't know what you're going to get until they get your money. It's as much a gamble as putting your money on a horse!!

FeeJay

[downside]

Hi fiftyfive

Have you noticed there is always an advertisement saying "What's on ITV" ?

I expect the fact that GR is owned by ITV might have something to with it.

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[Mr. MIGKY]

I think you are right feejay, money thats what rules.like most things in this world ,all like to take and not do much for it  . don't want to know when thing go wrong . think when my membership is due  for renewing i dont think i will .

[downside]

At the Family Record Centre in London you can now view the census 1841-1891 as a searchable database free of charge.

The only problem is the 1901 census which is owned by GR which is both expensive to use and highly inaccurate.

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[kerryb]

That sounds a bit serious Kerry 

Have you considered joining G.A. (Genealogists Anonymous) 

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Join - I'm a founder member!!!!!!!

Kerry

[FeeJay]

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I would love to visit the Family Record Centre. Trouble is - I don't live anywhere near London and the train fare would be more than my subscription to ancestry! (I know it's not as good but it lasts longer.)

FeeJay

PS This GA - where do I sign up???