Genealogy Chat

I think some of us may need to look at our Subscription Details info and check when the sub expires.

I have been a member since 2008 and have always had a basic sub automatically paid on 6 monthly basis
It was automatically renewed on 15th Dec ( 5days ago) and cost £7.95.
This equates to £15.90 per annum

I'm absolutely disgusted!

I keep a small tree here and I read the boards and sometimes add to them. I don't subscribe to the records, blogs, keepsafe etc... nor do I want to.

I joined when the site was Genes Connected and have been a member ever since.

My subscription as a standard member was renewed at the beginning of this month for £7.96 (I'm a very old member and pay by the continuous member method)

I seem to be 'safe' for a year but will think very seriously at the end of November next year when renewal comes around.

If this site worked properly, which it very rarely does, I wouldn't mind so much but I really think this is all about profit for BrightSolid. They are doing things behind members backs which is disgraceful!

Viv in Herts

I think we can say. Happy Christmas GR. :-)

I have sent my protest.

As Roy says even the dicounted rate is about a 100% rise for some of us.

" If you renew before the renewal date then there is a 20% discount"

does that mean those on continuous membership where the payment is taken ON the renewal date do not qualify for a discount

I too only use this site in the main for the fun of helping others on the boards so do not benefit from any other info on this site. I will also not renew if I have to pay nearly £20 - money better spent on a sub to another research site

Wow that's a huge increase!

I joined in 2004 but won't be renewing in March at that price. I've kept a paid membership going so that I could message new possible connections, but there haven't been any of those for a very long time now. I think I probably noticed those tailing off at about the time membership prices for new members virtually doubled.

I don't need the tree-building facility here and, if I have genealogy queries, I can take my pick of several very good free sites.

I already have several trees uploaded on to on another large, optionally free site and can message new connections there without paying any membership fee at all. Admittedly, I have to search for the names myself, but, as I no longer seem to receive hotmatches , I have to do the same on GR but pay for the privilege!

It will be a 100% increase for me in May.

I haven't seen a Hot Match in months. I do not like the new tree and have no intention of using the other new 'enhancements'. I have access to records with subs to Ancestry and FMP so will not be buying credits.

Although I have enjoyed my time on the boards I am sorry to say I will not be renewing at the new rate.

As Roy suggests it is an approximate 97.5% increase....So who got a pay rise in line with that this year? :-|

Chris

How disappointing! I too just have my tree on here and use the chat boards.

How do they justify such a big increase for us........can someone from GR explain it?

Is it to make the members pay for all the errors needing to be put right on the latest unwanted tree changes?

I think I am gradually going to copy my tree elsewhere. :-S

Yes Roy. Well said.
Genes, if you really believe that longstanding loyal members are going to be fooled into thinking that 100% increase in their subs includes a 20% discount you must think we´re all a bit simple.
As most of us are saying, the all singing all dancing changes that have been made since Brightsolid took over have only caused endless aggrevation & very few of us use them.
In return we have lost the forum that we signed up to in the first place. No Hot Matches for over a year, no contact with fellow researchers unless we find them for ourselves & a tree facility that certainly doesn´t do what it says on the tin.
I will not be renewing when my current membership expires in February.
Not that I imagine Genes will be devastated to hear it.

Well said, Roy.

I don't use any of the records on here, or Keepsafe or read blogs or even keep a tree on here - just use the site for the boards. Those who use the records obviously have to pay for them. so that should be used to cover their costs.

Far too high an increase. I've been a member since Nov 2002, so I think I'm a loyal customer but not for much longer.

Yes, 100% price rise for me so I shall be thinking twice, which is a shame after all the years of membership. Not happy about that at all, maybe we should have stayed with ITV.

For long term members that represents an increase of around 100% in a single price rise,
That's approximately 97.5 above inflation and in these times of Austerity hitting hard pressed families and the fact that most families have suffered either a cut to their income or are having to work extra hours for the same salary and the increase in food and energy prices,


Does GR really believe thats fair?

Genealogy is only a hobby for most and i do no several members who have not renewed their subs over the last 12 months because times are hard and they can no longer justify the cost of keeping their hobby going so I think that increase will drive a large proportion of members away

Is this the way to treat members who over the last year have been in the main very patient whilst suffering long term site disruption on an epic scale due to so called bugs? and the changes to the site some of which are still to be resolved

Roy

Just seen this and looked at my renewal.

I have been paying anually since 2006 and I paid £7.96 in March 2012 for a year's subscription, so that means in March next year it will be £19.95 !!! MORE THAN DOUBLE

Think somebody is making it up as they go along, every body is paying different amounts :-S

As one of those who got the semi cheap sub of around £20 a year in two 6 monthly instalments (less any discount of course). I had been thinking for a while this was too much to pay to use the boards....now this has finally made me make up my mind as to whether to continue

So whats slowly moving over??

At next renewal date or if we like you a little longer?

Thank you Estelle - but isn't it a shame that this change hasn't been highlighted before by Genes themselves.

I've had no hot matches for months, I've had no contact with new family members for several years on here.

I've not been able tio use my free credits since your search on the newspapers is awful (for London).

I won't use Keepsake as these things are private.

I enjoy reading the boards and I don't beleive £20 with or without a discount is worth it!

Hi everyone,

as Rachel has already said in her email, we are slowly moving everyone over to the same renewal price. For those of you on a standard subscription, this is £14.95 for 6 months and £19.95 for 12 months. If you renew before the renewal date then there is a 20% discount on the cost of your renewal. Elizabeth - this is why your is £15.96, as that's the annual price less a 20% discount.

As normally happens, we will email you before your renewal date to confirm the cost of it.

If you do have any further questions then please contact our customer support team.

Kind regards,

Estelle

It gets worse....have just looked at my account and it says:-

You currently have standard membership

You subscribed on 11 December 2012

Your membership expires on 22nd December 2012

:-S :-S

Jax

I am now more confused than ever-the £9.........I previously paid as a continuous member was for 12 months so I thought the new rate is for that also :-S

So it is still discounted then?

Annual rate is £20.00 I believe and six months is £15.00

This is the reply to my e-mail to GR for clarification:-

(I mentioned another member had been told that the full sub has to be paid now)

"Thank you for getting in touch re one of your contacts renewal rates.
We are slowly moving everyone to the new renewal rate and as this is a gradual process it will affect different members at different times

I hope this helps and we look forward to seeing you on the site soon"

Kind regards

Rachel
Genes Reunited Team

From this it would appear that £15.96 is the new annual sub