Genealogy Chat

I've just spoken to a very nice lady at Ancestry, who says that all customers have, or are in the process of being contacted.
They are trying to organise some other way that the UK based customers can pay for their membership, but in the meantime they are offering a 3 month free service to those whose membership is due for renewal now, to tide them over, until another payment method can be established.
What a nuisance this is - oh well, time to try and hassle Maestro now.
Best regards and have a good weekend.
Karen Watcham.

Blimey, I shall quickly tell them I use Maestro then!

Hi david
thanks for the info , i got kicked off yesterday, had a whinge at my hubby this morning about it and he has paid for it now off his card a full year as well when i was paying monthly. What a loving Hubby.
Tracy

I opened a thread on this subject yesterday. Also spoke to Ancestry and posted this response.

I have just had a lengthy conversation with Ancestry. Firstly it took them 10 mins 41 secs to take my call. They confirm to me that the only forms of payment they Accept at this moment is American Express, Visa and Mastercard.
They will NOT accept - Cheques, Bankers Drafts, Postal Orders, Cash via Courier, Debit Cards or direct debit !
They say they are looking at a alternative method of payment and in the meantime have agreed this and I will put this in another paragraph.

"If your Membership is due for renewal and you are unable to pay via the accepted method of payment, please contact Ancestry on 0800 404 9723 and they will arrange free membership until such a time that mutually acceptable forms of payment can be agreed"

Interesting use of the word "mutually". In theory you could veto any suggestion they make and string out the free membership for ages!!!

Now, where do I apply for that Maestro card ?!?? ;-)

I think I should apply for a Maestro card!

Maestro is just an updated Switch card. I spoke to QVC yesterday because their web site didn't have Maestro as an option to pay, and their customer services told me to use the Switch option.

Of course, this doesn't help if Ancestry won't take Switch either.

Anyone would think they didn't want our business!

Can the next person to phone ask why they won't take debit cards?

This really annoys me - I'm against credit cards on principle, and I don't want to be browbeaten into getting one.

I've already switched from Hertz rentals to another company for the same reason.

I can't see the logic to it - a debit card is just as safe for them as a credit card, isn't it?

I used to have a pre-paid credit card which I would think is the safest type to use on the Internet, but hardly any sites will accept it (including the GRO).

Peter has an explanation on his thread"Ancestry will not accept Maestro Card"
about 1.11 today
Bet

oops-showing my age-should have said 13.11 today!!
Bet

My membership ran out last weekend.I emailed genes and didn't grt a response so just sent a cheque off.They didn't say to me I could get 3 months free membership,didn't reply at all and I've been a fee-paying member for 5 years.This must be happening some time in the future.

Thanks Bet, I missed that.

Mary From Italy,

It isn't something they have against Debit Cards, it's something they have about Maestro specifically (all to do with authorisation of each payment - another thread explains it far better).
My Debit Card has a Visa logo, therefore is accepted by all vendors that accept Visa - including GR and Ancestry.

Rob

Debit cards with Visa.... which is what I have are also excepted by the GRO, and every other website/catalogue /mail order I have ever ordered from....I thought most Debit Cards had Visa.


Nicky

I used to pay my subs with Maestro.When I rang the up and asked if they took cheque,I was told no they don't.but you can get a pre payment card,(I think most shops do them).put the amount for your subs on it.You have to register the card(fee phone number)Once the card is registered I rang Ancestry and paid my sub's from there. Maureen

My debit card also has the Visa logo, and Ancestry have accepted it so far, but other firms like Hertz are no longer accepting any debit cards, even if they have the Visa logo.

I have problems using Maestro on this site to buy credits, I guess it's the same thing then.

Gypsyjoe

Genes took my payment the other day for my subs renewal and mine is a Maestro card.
Tracy

It's not that I don't want an easy answer - I did have a prepaid electronic Visa card, but most sites, including the GRO, won't accept them, so I didn't renew it.

Not sure what kind of prepayment cards would be sold in shops - shops don't sell them here in Italy as far as I know.

I Have also just ordered a cert online off GRO and use my Maestro card.