Anyone else getting fed up with Ancestry 'hints'?

[jaybelnz]

I have a bit of a gripe at the moment too!  I recently had to change my Ancestry monthly payment details for my sub, as I had to get a new Visa Debit Card. My payment is made by Direct Debit, and I have a private tree! 

I duly changed the details, but when checking my Bank Statement online for something else, I noticed that the Ancestry debit was showing up as PENDING, and not debited! There's no reason for that, as there are always enough funds to cover my outgoings.

I kept getting notices on my tree, stating that my membership payment was overdue, and then one that said - Do you want to re-subscribe!   Apparently my private tree is no longer private. Everything seems to still be in there though, thank goodness for that.  I've had quite a hassle with them, by messages, email etc. but keep referring me to another Dept., or to ring an 800 number! 

Thank heaven though -  last week when I was out and about, I noticed there is an LDS Family History Centre quite near to where I live, I hadn't been out that way before, since I have only fairly recently moved into the Area. I looked it up on the net to find where they were their opening hours, and I can go Tuesdays, Wednesday's or Thursdays. I'm looking forward to getting some face to face help with sorting it all out!  I have been to a centre before, in another town, in the very early days of my research, (winding through miles of microfilms) and had found that the people there were extremely kind, knowledgeable and helpful.

It'll be so good to get it all straightened up and sorted! 👍👍

[BumbleB]

jaybelnz - not sure why you think LDS can help to sort out your problem with Ancestry.  I didn't think there was any connection, other than Ancestry (and FindMyPast) upload a lot of LDS "transcriptions".   

[Romilly]

Has anyone else noticed that Ancestry never correct wrong entries when you report them? FindMyPast are pretty quick to respond in similar cases, and tell you why they're not changing them if they decide not to.

6 (!) years ago, I wrote to them pointing out that the Entry that they have for my Grandfather William James Wilson on the 1911 Census for Swansea is incorrect. (They have him mixed in with the Norby family).

I've phoned and written to them, and put notes against the Entry, but nothing has changed. Ancestry are keen to take our money, but obviously not bothered about whether their info is correct or not.

And yes, - the 'hints' can be very annoying!

Romilly.

[jaybelnz]

jaybelnz - not sure why you think LDS can help to sort out your problem with Ancestry.  I didn't think there was any connection, other than Ancestry (and FindMyPast) upload a lot of LDS "transcriptions".   

Thanks for your thought BumbleB!  I have had help from them before re Ancestry, when first subscribing so I could set up my tree, and again when Ancestry changed everything around a couple of years ago!  As I said in my previous post, they really were very helpful, and very familiar with the procedures, and very good at explaining. The young woman that helped me with setting up my initial Anc. membership sub., had sat me down at her computer and talked me through the process of registering, and how to enter my personal details etc. When I was actually entering a password, or adding in my payment info, etc, the private stuff, she walked away while I was doing them. She was very discreet and respectful, but extremely knowledgable about how Ancestry worked. She seemed to know the process inside out.

Then she showed me how to start entering the tree detail, starting of course with myself, but I managed to get as far as my great grand parents!  I already knew their BDM dates and details, as I already had a lot of certs that I had found when clearing out my grandmother's house after she had moved in with my Mum!  (That was actually what inspired me to start my research)!

Later, when I was looking for some microfilm records from The IGI, she was still working there, ordered them in for me, and when they arrived, rang me to go in and she showed me how to use the reader to find the records I was looking for.  I don't see any reason for that kind of service not to be in place, 14 or 25 years later, but I won't know that for sure until I go up during the week! I can only try though, I'm so sick of tearing my hair out over it!

So that's what I need now, someone who will sit down with me in front of a computer, and take me through the process of regaining my original private membership status! Fingers crossed hey!l

Thanks BumbleB, I'll keep you posted anyway - hopefully I'll know more next week 🌺

[chris_49]

Hi Helen D,

 I also have the Worldwide subscription, and it isn't cheap.

I've heard that if you don't re-subscibe, you will lose access to ALL the records that you have previously 'paid for' under your yearly, very expensive subscription.

 I might get busy downloading the records that I have bought over a number of years.

Kit

This is pretty mean! FindMyPast don't seem to do this - I can still access saved records, mostly from the 1939 register, even though I'm no longer a member. I downloaded them as well, of course, but I'm even getting updates - my uncle, who was redacted when I was a member, is now visible.

I'll save that one again just in case they decide to do an Ancestry!

[andrewalston]

The Family Tree Magazine (US edition) podcast this month is all about "hints".

Basically it tells people to check the details before accepting them.

Don't we all wish that more people actually did! 

[jaybelnz]

Home made Quote from BumbleB.  "jaybelnz - not sure why you think LDS can help to sort out your problem with Ancestry.  I didn't think there was any connection"!

👍👍👍 All done BumbleB!  I went to the LDS this morning, and it was sorted in a jiffy!  Woohoo! 😄

[BumbleB]

Very pleased for you.   

[jaybelnz]

Thank you!👍