1939 - At last! TNA explain why references removed

[Parmesan]

They at least are being up front about the reasons, unlike FindMyPast who have been anything but!

"Findmypast have removed The National Archives catalogue reference from search results in response to concerted efforts by some online groups to share and even build apps and spreadsheets encouraging the manipulation of the embedded file references which allows people to access large amounts of information without paying. The remedial action was taken by Findmypast to prevent this systematic breach of their terms and conditions and fair usage policy and to protect their income.

You can still search using The National Archives’ catalogue reference in the advanced search and the reference is returned when accessing the full transcript and image."

Source:http://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/blog/1939-register-census-census/  (Nell Brown - bottom of the page)

[Ceeoh]

Ah!  I tried looking for the reference numbers on FindMyPast and wondered where they were.  Missed out on that one!

Ceeoh

[Parmesan]

Genealogist Martin James posted on FindMyPast Findmypast page. - Interesting!

[LizzieL]

I knew it was only a matter of time

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=734302.msg5797102#msg5797102

And quite understandable from a business viewpoint

[Parmesan]

I knew it was only a matter of time

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=734302.msg5797102#msg5797102

And quite understandable from a business viewpoint

It's not so much the reasons behind removing the references, it's more the ducking and dodging of full and truthful explanations to their customers that I object to. It shouldn't have been the TNA who had to explain. Although I don't think there was every any doubt about the reasons.

[LizzieL]

I agree, FindMyPast should have explained straight away.

[Guy Etchells]

I agree, FindMyPast should have explained straight away.

I am dismayed that FindMyPast were forced to remove the reference from the preview screen in the first place.
If users had any common decency about them they would have used the reference as a finding aid and then purchased the image. Instead what was happening was users bragging they could get the details from all the open records at an address simply by using the reference number.

It seems I am one of the few to condemn such behaviour, yet at the same time people condemn others who don't thank them for help provided.

Seems to me common decency has become very onesided in this day and age.

Cheers
Guy

[Parmesan]

Surely a genealogist uses all means at their disposal?  It's an investigation so you use all the evidence provided. They provided the evidence, it was used, why so shocked? FindMyPast treat their customers like dullards. Who would have thought the references would be used to ascertain you had the correct family before purchasing the record? 

This common decency thing IS lopsided. They expect folks to pay for records that are very likely to be wrong - names like Smith, Jones, Taylor etc, the list is endless.  If you discover an error on an unrelated family on the page your family is on, they expect you to buy the correct family (on the same page you already have) to report the error. Who in their right mind would do that? You are just trying to be helpful and improve the service but FindMyPast want their pound of flesh. I condemn that behaviour.

[Parmesan]

Seems they have also updated error correction times. Do they EVER think things through?

It  has gone from 36-72 hours to 6wks