National Archives - update

[suttontrust]

I posted a while ago saying that I had ordered a document from the National Archives, and wondered what other people's experiences were.  The feedback was all good, apparently.
Well, it's all gone wrong for me.  Their online ordering system was the first hurdle.  The reference for my doc was HO 42/31/94, but the form rejects that.  I queried it and was told to put in HO 42/31 and then just specify that I wanted folio 94.  I did that, paid (not very much, I concede, but I paid) and waited.  It came yesterday - the wrong document!  I emailed and phoned this morning.  A nice lady said they would get me the right one - then emailed to say that they wouldn't, because I'd actually got what I ordered.  I would have to re-order.  I asked what I was supposed to order, and she has explained that "In the box where you put further relevant information you put the full document reference HO 42/31/94, the folio numbers are 213 -  214, 94 is the piece number".  Fine, but that wasn't what I was told in the first place.  Naturally I've lodged a complaint, but it seems to me to be a failure of a fancy online system backed up by duff advice.  Beware!!

[Daisy Loo]

That's a shame...

I've ordered 3 times online, and haven't had a problem. 

Just for future reference, what were the docs you were ordering?  Just in case that archive is a dodgy one in particular!

[suttontrust]

They're Home Office correspondence from 1794.  Not your usual family history stuff    This is for some research I'm doing.
My annoyance (to put it mildly) is that I followed the instructions I was given, and a "jobsworth" says it's my fault, pay up and wait again.  It will be interesting to see if my complaint gets a response.
I've re-ordered, by the way. 

[Springbok]

I ordered some docs last week for the 1st. time and that was succcessful .Now waiting for pricing for another 23.
I used the online Digital Service which is good.

What I found, was that if you are a novice on that site(Me!!) it is extremely difficult to navigate. kept being sent to irrelevant pages and ended up each time ,starting over.

I even had the ref. from another Rootschatter.

No facility for alternative spelling (Maybe I couldn't find it?)

One page said register and then later on showed a box with my e-mail address but wouldn't accept the Password I had registered.Neither of which did I need to use to order!

I am sure that others who use the site have less trouble than myself , but I found it quite daunting.

Spring

[suttontrust]

I agree.  It's one of those sites which looks good to the creators and works well if everything is straightforward and people do what you want them to do.  When I phoned this morning (I dread to think what that cost!) I was met with a voice recognition system.  I can speak clearly in standard English, but what happens to those who can't?  I suppose it's all about employing as few people as possible.

[Daisy Loo]

Would you fair better if you went yourself?  I ask this, because I am planning a trip there myself...hope the people emploted there are a bit more helpful then!

[Just Kia]

I'm fairly web savvy and computer minded but I can not for the life of me work my way round that site - I've never found anything on there - not even stuff I don't want, let alone stuff that I do LOL

[Springbok]

Oh Good, Kia, that about sums up my standard too. Quite a relief to know it is not just me!

Spring

[Lisa Harding]

I have to say I have the same problem. Nothing on the site makes sense to me and while i know that there is information on there somewhere that can help me (military attestations for a start) i would not know how in the heck to find it.

Surname searches bring up zuillion results none of which give any clue as to whether my ancestor is lurking there or not! Highly frustrating when you know you could get infromation that would help your searching....