Ancestry.co.uk

linlin_3

I find the biggest problem with Ancestry and other online subscriptions is that you get no warning of an impending renewal - you're expected to remember (which I don't). You could try calling your credit card company and ask them to put an alert on any unsigned subscriptions.

Has anyone tried splitting the cost of Ancestry? I realise it's a no-no situation, but could they tell?

Segilla

As advised on this site, by phoning 0800 731 6679, you can get a month's free trial. Also, I found that if you had a free trial more than 6 months ago, you can get another one - but I doubt that they'd put up with that for more than a couple of goes.
As to the accuracy of the information, treat all with suspicion. If you know your way around family history you'll see plenty of gross errors.

But it works this way.
e.g, the England and Wales 1871 census is there, provided by The National Archives, (formerly Public Record Office).
The chaotic way this transcript was organised was a scandal, with authentic tales of students employed transcribing copperplate with little knowledge of surnames or geography and so on.

All Ancestry do is to offer it - and allow you to submit corrections.
Is it better to have a faulty transcript than none at all?

But not all is bad about 1871 and the more experienced you are, the better able you'll be to get useful information from it and their other offerings

The cost of annual membership is outrageous of course, and monthly payment a racket, but I've had two free months trials and found much new information, some accessible in other ways. but not so conveniently packaged.

Laura22_2

I found out yesterday that Ancestry took £69.95 out of my account without my authorisation! I have not even heard of this company let alone been on their site and subscribed to anything!!!!

moonrakerz

Laura22 wrote:

I found out yesterday that Ancestry took £69.95 out of my account without my authorisation! I have not even heard of this company let alone been on their site and subscribed to anything!!!!

No problem - just tell your CC supplier and ask for a refund to your account !

sue123_3

I too have just discovered that I have been ripped off to the tune of £79.95 by MFI ancestry and I have never even heard of them. I will contact my bank tomorrow but is there a way of getting this money back, a phone number I could ring or something, does anyone know?

Graeme10

I took up the free trial last year and cancelled after 3 days. Today I received an email telling me that £70.00 approx was to be taken.

I googled 'ancestry.co.uk renew' and found this thread. As google didn't throw up a load of complaints I'm willing to accept that it is just an error rather than the usual 'default renewal' scam.

However, I still think default renewal is a devious method, a reminder email with an opt would be a much more honest method.

Right, I'm off to cancel for a second time and fire off an 'Angry of Addlestone' email to ancestry.co.uk

posh*spice

I love ancestry but I had heard that this was a problem with their free trial and never sighned up for free 2 weeks, just went pay-as-you-go, which was great. Hadn't realised it was so expensive though - that's alot of money. Ancestry is packed full of great info - you can really far with your tree in a year. Have you got stuck?

Ancestry have full census info from 1841 to 1901 and also full BMD plus so much more - it's brilliant IMHO

BACKFRMTHEEDGE

Hi

I appreciate that £70 is alot of money but if you didn't contact them how where they supposed to know you didn't want to join up?:rolleyes: Did you want a smaller subscription? Maybe they will swop your membership type? Personally I also like Ancestry. Which site have you found that is better - out of interest? I don't think you could far with your tree without having full access to the census data 1841 to 1901 for quite awhile - at least a few months. It depends how much free time you have to spend on it, I suppose.:o

dangeroussports

Guys guys guys!

Come one, if you really want to know who your ancestors are then, according to the secularised western hemisphere, just walk into any zoo or off to Africa and say hello to a monkey/ape/baboon etc.

They are the ancestors.......(not mine though!)

lilias

linlin wrote: »

I find the biggest problem with Ancestry and other online subscriptions is that you get no warning of an impending renewal - you're expected to remember (which I don't). You could try calling your credit card company and ask them to put an alert on any unsigned subscriptions.

I received notice of impending renewal from them in a very clear email which told me what to do if I did not want to renew and within what timescale.
I didn't stop the renewal because it's a brilliant site with masses of info.