Genealogy Chat

Hi Heather, Frances and all.

Re: Ancestry/Maestro bank card.........

As promised I contacted my on line banking service and questioned the fact that my Maestro card was not being accepted by at least four companies now!!!!!!!! they could not give me an explanation why this was happening.

They gave me a telephone number for their Customer Relations Department who's line was engaged nearly all day..so no luck there...
Finally got through to their Head Ofiice in
Glasgow and explained their/my rejection of Maestro............
They had no explanation to give and could not understand why Their card was being rejected at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..

How things stand at the moment, they are going to send me paperwork to take on a Mastercard..........phew.

Bearing in mind I have been with the same bank for over forty years and all financial paperwork are linked in with them, am not prepared at my time of life to start moving banks..............

That's as far as I can take this mystery! at the moment... and to be quite honest am feeling a little p-----d off right now....

Reason being: Have been to hospital today and the news is not too good..

I will be posting update of same on a thread which is ongoing at the moment.. cannot remember which one.. the one which keeps members updated on who's in or out of hospital??????.

JoyceP

Heather,

Thanks for your advice...

As mentioned will contact my bank and ask why their 'terms' have changed regarding Maestro and non acceptance by some businesses and do they realise the knock on effect it is having on their existing customers. Also why were we not informed and offered alternate named card facilities.

Will await a reply before contacting Ancestry, yet again!

JoyceP

I dont think there is a site that equals ancestry Joyce. But I am sure some people have managed to pay by cheque in the past. Try ringing customer services again and asking them what you can do. Or can you not get an alternative card if this Maestro one is going to be a problem with other businesses too?

Wow Frances.....

Ancestry are supposed to be one of the best websites going and they come up with such an excuse, well hell mend them because as you say they will lose
quite a few customers....

But then reading their reason for rejection strikes many a cord now, companies I have dealt with in the past have also changed over from Maestro.

Right, next step will be a letter to my bank to inform them of the situation and to ask what they intend doing about it.. in respect of their so called 'terms' which are causes so many hiccups to uses.

Thanks also Potty and Island for your input.

Am wondering what alternate site there is to Ancestry?...........

Thanks again all,

JoyceP

i do not think so you have to buy vouchers

Hi i have received e mail from ancestry, they are no longer accepting payment by maestro card, as my renewal is now due, i rang and they are saying they can no longer accept payment by maestro,due to maestro changing the terms,as i do not have any other credit cards, they say i can buy vouchers, who knows where from when i spoke to the lady on the phone i said they will lose customers, and was told if the maestro conditions change they will e mail those concerned.
shabby treatment by ancestry, when they sort out this mess i for one will never subscribe again
Frances

JoyceP

Have just checked my subscription and I used my Maestro card in October - but I think they may still call it Switch. Annoyed to see I paid £79.95 when others have got it cheaper. Will definitely haggle this year!

Good afternoon to all,

I have posted this problem many times and got different suggestions from members.....none of which have worked, thanks members...........

I have tried unsuccessfully to join Ancestry...but no joy to date.. reason being I only have a Maestro bank card which they do not accept.

Have e mailed and phoned them, to no avail............

All ideas and suggestions greatly received.....before I start bashing my head against a brick wall... would have to go outside to do that though and it's down teaming with rain. lol

Helpppppppppppppppp


JoyceP

nudge

Penny, I received the exact same e-mail as you.

Just out of curiosity have you ever tried to access any of the Irish Records? I have but would have had to pay to view them, which seems rather odd when I'm suppossedly paying for UK & Ireland.

M. Steer

nudged

Patricia, mine was renewed in May, so obviously the price has gone up then.

I rang Ancestry, using their free number, and got 5% discount, plus a 'free month'.
They said that the £55 deal was from ages ago, and they can't offer it now.
Obviously pays to ask for a discount, though.

Patricia

mine due soon so i will see
fran

Hi Penny - and others

Thanks for updating us, though I think I might do what Keith suggests!
Nothing ventured...

Patricia

Thanks for getting back to us Penny.

Mines due on the 15th, so I'll just leave it as it is then as I only need the England and Wales census etc.

Sandra

If worse comes to worse, join quidco.com and get 15% cash back for joining ancestry - use a different email addy to your usual log on one with them - they dont seem to pick up on names or credit cards but they do pick up on emails - LOL. For added security give your OH's name.

As mentioned before, if you ring them and explain that friends are being charged £55, they will reduce the charge (well they did for me and others)

Hi guys ...

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I eventually got a reply on the Ancestry messageboard yesterday evening - but nothing really conclusive. As they suggested, I rang the freephone number this morning and explained the problem.

Apparently, the £69.95 is the current "un-publicised" charge (seems applicable to those who are renewing subscription, not taking out a new one). The person I talked to did not think it would make any difference.

My subscription was due to renew today (Friday) and I've just checked through the website - still seem to have access to everything as before!

Hope this is helpful to you.

Penny

As nobody's replying to this, I think I'll follow Heather's advice and ring them, asking what they're on about!
I'll try and haggle, too.