The new FindMyPast (Part 4)

[Parmesan]

I too am starting to find things. Some easily others not so easily. There is still a whole lot more to be sorted and you cannot download newspaper records still, a function available when I paid my subs.

I may say this is a whole frustrating month after the launch and we're not there yet. So sorry, I'm still not happy with FindMyPast. I'm dismayed too that they have deleted from the 'feedback' forum the most popular thread of over 2000 posts. Granted a lot of the posts were complaining but that is what feedback is about, the good and the bad. There was also a lot of useful work arounds on there that now, poof! have gone.

They've handled the whole thing incredibly badly imo. Its a shame, a once fantastic site with so many fantastic records has had its reputation go down for so many.  I have no doubt that they will get everything working as it should but its the time its taking, many hours of research have been lost.

[JenB]

I'm dismayed too that they have deleted from the 'feedback' forum the most popular thread of over 2000 posts. Granted a lot of the posts were complaining but that is what feedback is about, the good and the bad. There was also a lot of useful work arounds on there that now, poof! have gone.

I spent some time yesterday searching for that thread on the feedback forum before I realized it had been deleted 

[groom]

I think the problem is that people were complaining again and again about the same things. There were, and probably still are, lots of bugs to fix, but there are also a lot of new records and ways of finding  them.

The most helpful posts on here, and other forums, are those from people who, rather than just moaning about the new site, have accepted that FindMyPast isn't going to go back to the old format and have thought, "Yes, it is different but how can we get round the problems." They have then posted useful tips which have helped others. It is a shame that FindMyPast weren't able to sort out the complaints from the tips on the feedback.

[lisalisa]

Is the search by address on the census supposed to be coming back how it was?

Any email I send asking is either ignored or I get a standard reply which doesn't address the issue.

The census household printout may now fit on one page - so they think they have fixed the issue - but it's still absolute nonsense with the household ordered by alphabetical order rather than being an accurate transcription of the census.

I was also looking through parish records only to find that those results were organised by alphabetical order of the name, now I know that I was able to click date and have the results shown in date order, but surely it makes sense to do date order as the default, ie the way one would look through a parish register.  The site's slow enough on parish records as it is.

I'm still finding it all slower than the old FindMyPast.

Lisa

[Parmesan]

I agree repetitive posts are unhelpful, but you have to allow people to have their say, by deleting that thread they've just caused more irriration.  Not for me necessarily, like you I am trying to find my way round, but I hear the frustration of others and I understand it. Wouldn't it be nice for FindMyPast if everyone just went 'oh well maybe next week ...' That's not how it works unfortunately for them.

[Huckleberry]

I think the problem is that people were complaining again and again about the same things. There were, and probably still are, lots of bugs to fix, but there are also a lot of new records and ways of finding  them.

The most helpful posts on here, and other forums, are those from people who, rather than just moaning about the new site, have accepted that FindMyPast isn't going to go back to the old format and have thought, "Yes, it is different but how can we get round the problems." They have then posted useful tips which have helped others. It is a shame that FindMyPast weren't able to sort out the complaints from the tips on the feedback.

How do you get around a problem like: They have invented a new district?

From 1837 until March 1848 BMD's for Oldham were in the Ashton & C.  In 1848 two new areas were introduced: Ashton under Lyne and Oldham  - Problem now is that all BMD's prior to 1848 are Ashton under Lyne.  So the thousands of people hatched, matched and dispatched in Oldham are transcribed wrongly.

[rosie99]

Wouldn't it be nice for FindMyPast if everyone just went 'oh well maybe next week ...' That's not how it works unfortunately for them.

It would be nice if FindMyPast offered all their current subscribers an extra 2 months on their subscription to make up for all this hassle.  The thing that irritates me is that I am in the middle of a sub and can't even suspend it until they have sorted things out. 

Rosie

[lisalisa]

It would be nice if FindMyPast offered all their current subscribers an extra 2 months on their subscription to make up for all this hassle.  The thing that irritates me is that I am in the middle of a sub and can't even suspend it until they have sorted things out. 

Rosie

Exactly.
It seems that some people have had an extension added but not everyone, yet surely anyone with a subscription is subject to the same problems,

Lisa

[Gadget]

Although I'm still narked about the address listings, I've forgiven them (nearly) everything since their inclusion of  the Shropshire records.

Sorry folks.

Gadget