Ancestry pay per view

[suttontrust]

Some time ago I was told very sniffily (not on Rootshat, of course) that I could do my own look ups on Ancestry because they had the censuses, I think 1891 and 1871, on pay per view.  Now I'm not an Ancestry fan, both on principle and because I had a bad experience with a week's free trial, but last night out of curiosity I went there looking for James W. Barratt.  The results were badly organised.  If you wanted more information on any of them you were directed straight onto the "sign up for free trial" page.  And where there was an image to buy, there wasn't enough information to tell you if it was likely to be the right person - or how much it would cost, come to that.   It was too much to expect that Ancestry would put the censuses online on a pay per view basis, like the 1901.  Or am I missing something?

[PaulineJ]

I believe that once you have purchased credits then you *may* be allowed to see a bit more of the info in the indexes before you choose whether or not to 'purchase' the census image.

I *think* images work out at 30p/pop. Credits are valid only for 7? days.

Pauline

[suttontrust]

I didn't see any way of purchasing credits.  Thanks for your PM, very useful, Pauline.

[the happy granny]

I have used the Ancestry site for pay per view.........£6 for 20? credits PLUS VAT........valid for 7 days. I then had the chance of taking a 3 month subscription or years subscription at a reduced rate. Watch  that you don't give them permission to take another whack from your credit card though!!!.........I ticked/unticked the box that gave authorisation and they took another years subscription  from me!! I now only use the 7 day membership just in case, as I find my brain gets a mind of it's own when I'm doing searches and I can never be sure what I have bought, or not bought, or who I'm supposed to be searching for after an hour or two!!
The census are not complete which annoyed me somewhat and neither is the BDM but I think it gives very good value as the credits are not used for everything on site and you do get a good look around.Useful to see if you want to sign up for longer than 7 days.
I found Pallots Marriage index especially useful for what I was looking for too

[Kennington]

I used Ancestry several times as pay per view, then I signed up for 3 month subscription. Well - I must have used it a hundred times or more.
If I see something in a census wich is interesting  (about someone else) I can look at it at no extra cost.
Even though some things are missing, I have more than made up for it in 1871 census readings. It took a while to learn how to use this site though. just putting in someones name brought up thousands of hits, but if you choose, on the left hand side,  BM&D then Civil registration, it lists it much more readable.

I would recommend it ( and they didn't pay me to say that!)
Mary

[Kennington]

Oh and Sutton Trust -
They have 1871,1881,1891 and 1901 censuses to look at.

Mary

[XPhile2868]

Edited message

[indiapaleale]

Wow,
I think the 6 pounds for twenty credits is a bit steep....the way I use Ancestry, I would go broke!!! I probably average 20-30 look ups a day for myself and other people that I help.

I'm happy with my yearly sub....I think it has more than paid for itself.

Also, I don't feel that anyone is being MADE to pay for the information. The information is in the public domain and free...or cheap... to view....in certain places. I just can't get to those places!

Ancestry is a business and have to cover their expenses and make a profit....that is what makes the world go round.

Cheers,
Indi

[suttontrust]

Nobody should mind paying something to access records digitally.  I pay in my Council Tax for the manual storage of local records and the salaries of the people who look after them.  I don't resent paying a fee to access a website - providing the people behind it are not profiteering, and the site is set up in an efficient way.  The trouble with Ancestry is that it's a big American outfit that spotted a market and went about making as much money as possible by buying up records.  They "sponsor" other sites to carry their advertising.  They've only moved into pay-per-view because most people found the subscription ridiculous or unaffordable.  But £6 for 20 credits is still ridiculous compared with our other pay-per-view sites.