Genealogy Chat

If they are going to increase the cost of subscriptions then it would be great
if the site worked.

Gai

I think the membership of the other free sites are set to grow rapidly over the next 12 months

Ive been a member of family tree forum since it started


Roy

I use the first two forums that Joy has posted and have done so since they started. Many 'old' members from here are members there as well. I can recommend them.

If my membership increases nexi year I will have to consider if it is worth it. I only use the tree and boards and do not need all the latest additions

Thanks Joy, I will have a look

Terry

"Which other free forums do people recommend?"


Without saying they are better:

http://www.familytreeforum.com/content.php

http://www.genealogistsforum.co.uk/forum/index.php

http://www.yourfamilytreemag.co.uk/yft-forum/

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php

My membership expires next August but I will not renew.

Which other free forums do people recommend?

I have switched off my auto renew & will not be renewing in February at the new price. As I have said already there are other forums which are free where I can get help if I need it.
I also have 30 useless credits........free to a good home.
When I joined I was given to understand that my membership was basic, for 12 months & would remain so for the length of my membership but that if my membership lapsed I would have to pay whatever rate pertained at the time I re joined.....fair enough.
I think initially I paid something like 7 pounds & that increased to 9.95 a couple of yeras later & has remained at that level for at least 4 years.Reasonable value for what I use the site for.
I have absolutely no intention of paying nearly double for the privledge of using my access to other records in order to help other people.
I´m not mean & have always been happy to help where I can in the past, but this time, Genes are really taking the proverbial.

It would be nice to be offered a 12 month sub as I must have joined after this sub ceased for new members.

Over the past year I have paid $15.96 AUD for a 6 month Standard membership.

So if the price rise is excessive it may not be worth my while to continue with the site.

So why are members paying different amounts over the years. Does this site value some members more than others ?

My receipt for 2008 does not show a price but from 2009 to date I have been charged £9.95 per year

On the 27th October 2011 we were given 30 credits because of problems with the site from 22nd - 24th October 2011

I am being realistic, Jonesey. GR will not miss me, I am a drop in the ocean.

My reply to the standard response "The decision to move everyone on to our current price plan was not one that was taken lightly. ..." etc " ...... I hope this goes some way to explaining our decision, and I hope you will continue to use Genes Reunited.
Kind regards and Merry Christmas,"
that other recipients will have seen, was

"To be asked to pay an increase of that amount is not acceptable. I have
never paid more than £7 plus, and for the last couple of years have paid £6.

No, I would not continue to use the site if this exorbitant increase was
demanded of me."


I think it is unfortunate that a more diplomatic and professional method of introducing and announcing this change has not occurred, particularly in view of the ongoing and irritating errors in this site.

Hi everyone ...

Just to let you know that I have received a reply from GR in response to my request that they allow me to continue at my current subsription rate of £9.95 pa as they breached their Terms & Conditions by only giving me 14 days' notice of the price increase (instead of the required 28 days).

Their reply was that they have given me an extra 14 days on my subscription (previously ending on 31st December, but presumably now running until 14th January) as this will mean that I have had the required 28 days notice!

Now, they may think that they're doing me a favour by giving me an extra "free" fortnight, but to me this seems to be decidedly "iffy" practice.

In view of their latest communication, I am now cancelling my subscription. Although I haven't been on the boards very much during the last couple of years, I would like to thank all those who have helped me with my queries, brickwalls etc. Your help has been much appreciated.

Happy Hunting - and Merry Christmas to everyone!

Cheerio ...

Penny

Like you Jonesey have been paying £9.95 for 6 months apart from my last renewal in August when it was £7.96.

If we are allowed to opt for the yearly sub. then yes it will work out cheaper (for us)....but have not been offered that option in the past (well I don't think I have)....so the best thing to do is cancel and rejoin.....but I dont think I can be bothered now

I just wonder whether or not perhaps people are getting hot under the collar when they may not have a reason to do so.

I joined the site in 2008 and have always paid the sum of £9.95 for 6 months membership, therefore paying a total of £19.90 for a full year. The one exception was renewal this year when I received a 20.12% reduction because of the 2012 London Olympics, thus paying £7.95 for 6 months.

If I have understood correctly if GR have "Got round to me" when my membership is due for renewal on 10th of February 2013 I will be invited to renew at a cost of £14.95 for 6 months or £19.95 for 12 months. Both of these costs being subject to a 20% discount if I renew before the due date. If that is correct and I renew before the due date for 12 months I will have to pay just £15.96 which is £3.94 less than I normally have previously paid for a full years membership.

I can understand why those who have been a GR member longer than I and have previously paid less than me for a full years subscription are miffed at the percentage their subscription will increase but we have to be realistic. I cannot think of anything or any service that I buy or use that costs me no more today than it did 5/9 years ago.

I do however agree that GR in their inimitable manner have once again made a right Horlicks of the presentation of these changes to their long suffering members. They appear to have hoped that nobody would notice or assumed that if any member did notice then they would either accept the new charges without question or simply not renew quietly. Most of the "Extras" that GR claim have made the subscription charge changes necessary do not seem to have been particularly welcomed by the membership. Perhaps it might be in GR's interest to replace a programmer with a public relations expert.

I am on continuous membership and paid 7:50 last year. If they increase it to 15.95 that will be a 100% increase and I definitely will not be renewing.

I think I had some free credits but never used them. I wasn't interested in what they had to offer on here.

Jax, "30 credits for standard members"

I don't no about other members but as a standard member 30 credits was on no use,

No point receiving credits for something you never use as your post says " I still have 25 and only used the 5 because I clicked on one of these newspaper things on the GR facebook page"

I would have prefered a chocolate fire guard

Roy

Edit, most older members are Standard members because other than searching trees, they are not interested in searching the records on GR so have no use for credits, I would much prefer that they had extended my standard membership as thats what i signed up to

The thing is for long term members paying £7.95 pa the value of 5 day's membership is about 10p. That will be nearer 20p at the new rate.

GR actually gave us credits last time there was a serious problem which was better financially if you could find something to use them on.

Did'nt they give 3 days last year to platinum members and 30 credits for standard members for the site playing up?

I still have 25 and only used the 5 because I clicked on one of these newspaper things on the GR facebook page....had I known that it was going to cost me 5 credits I would'nt have bothered, and would have been pretty annoyed had I paid for them