Paid £82.95 - No Records

[Verdun]

Findmypast is known as a very reputable service and I have been using them for years. BUT recently I have noticed that many records on BMD are not found on findmypast where I had hoped to get more info. I understood that their records were complete but it now seems many are missing. I have always only paid under " Pay as you go" so have not lost much. In your case I would continue to complain to the nth degree.
Barbara Hamilton

[Gilly Lewis]

I think that is disgraceful. Surely, 'Find My Past' should in this instance give you a refund. How were you to know that they had a 'Black Hole' for Nottinghamshire, if you and other people researching are not forewarned. I wouldn't let them get away with it. Demand a refund or part of the amount as you have done some searching. I'd be absolutely furious if I was to be looking for a family in a certain part of the country and discovered after paying that amount to be informed, Oh sorry, we've a black hole for that part of the country. Threaten them with, 'Trades Description'.
Good Luck
Gilly

[tony vines]

I have used FMP a huge amount over the last couple of years and their databases have invariably enabled me to get back some 150-200 years on specific lines very quickly. However like sueannbowen above I have quite often found no hits when in fact the record is there all the time. I typically start a census search for example with the name, a date of birth and the likely county. If it tells me that there is nobody that fits those parameters or comes up with a list that doesn't include the person I'm looking for I widen the age band and delete the county reference. With the same negative response I then start experimenting with wild cards until after further frustration I do an address search and carry out the laborious task of searching manually all the entries in the place I think the person is at. I've often found the person this way and to my initial surprise his/her name is perfectly legible, the age is right and the county is obviously. correct too.

I am no longer surprised to find someone using the address search that their search engines cannot seem to find because it happens so often. Thank goodness most of the people I look for don't live in cities or large towns! However, despite my annoyance at the time, it is a small percentage of the successful searches I make using the normal techniques. I don't understand why this happens when the information is totally legible to a transcriber so I do not think that it is caused by a mis-transcription. There are of course many mis-transcriptions which I report and they are usually when the image is poor, the handwriting is diabolical or the name is unusual.

I'd be interested in anyone else's experience along these lines. To be clear however, I shall be renewing my subscription next time it comes up.

cheers

[jac65]

I think that is disgraceful. Surely, 'Find My Past' should in this instance give you a refund. How were you to know that they had a 'Black Hole' for Nottinghamshire, if you and other people researching are not forewarned. I wouldn't let them get away with it. Demand a refund or part of the amount as you have done some searching. I'd be absolutely furious if I was to be looking for a family in a certain part of the country and discovered after paying that amount to be informed, Oh sorry, we've a black hole for that part of the country. Threaten them with, 'Trades Description'.
Good Luck
Gilly

I fail to see why this is disgraceful nor why it is in breach of 'Trades Description' This thread commenced over 12 months ago and as others have pointed out FMP lists the various databases it has access to and it is surely up to the subscriber to actually check that their interests are covered. FMP does have the complete GRO Indexes 1837 to 2006 but doesn't have, nor do they say they have, all Parish Registers.

Andy

[arthurk]

- without logging in I was able to view the terms and conditions (those relating to refunds are as you were told), and what parish registers they have available.

I wrote the above a little over a year ago in relation to FindMyPast, but it might not still be totally correct. A week or so ago I was trying to see whether certain parishes were included on the site, but I couldn't find the information anywhere - not even a breakdown of numbers of entries by county.

If this kind of information is still available, please could someone tell me/us how to find it?

Arthur

[Mona]

On home page, click on Parish Records (left column); click first on list Baptism Parish Records; click on a parish or scroll down, it gives number of entries and ranges of years included next to each parish.

PS: the same information can be found for each item listed in Parish records online.

[arthurk]

Thank you, that's useful. I think I must have looked everywhere except where you suggested, so it's good to know that the information is still available.

Arthur

[Burrow Digger]

Hi don't know if this helps but I recently bought a bit of software from ebay, Family Tree Maker 2009, I didn't want the software it was what came with it, 6 months free Essentials Membership to Ancestry worth £80+ and I only paid £18.00 plus free P&P so have a look a round and you might find a bargain.

steveh37

Yeah I did the exact same thing. I purchased a old version (might have been 2008 or 2009) cheap copy of FTM not for the software but for the free 12 membership I got for Ancestry. I had so much fun during that year, found a LOT of info and I made sure to CANCEL my membership before the 12 months was up.

Never used the FTM software at all. I have always used LEGACY