Genealogy Chat

I have just had a request to view my tree - no name and the sender isnt known to me. I tried to reply asking for information, but the reply template has, at the bottom 'let this member view my tree'. I don't want to let her view my tree, but there is nowhere to 'untick' that instruction. OC

OC, I can't find a tick box either. I just went to 'contacts' to make sure that it wasn't ticked there. On the reply section, did you have the 'allow member to see' in red writing' to click on? I hope the default is to not allow. This doesn't make much sense at all! Selena

OC, Look like a new one this - very cunning. If you hover over it you will see that the words 'allow this member to view my family tree' is actually a hyperlink. Click on it and you will allow them to see it, same as putting a tick in the box. Otherwise just reply in the normal way, but I would check you contacts list after just in case.

Thankyou both. As you say, a cunning new improvement. I don't like it. OC

Well, I have sussed it out now, I THINK (hope). As Peter says, you have to click on 'Allow this member to see my tree' for that permission to be transferred to the reply message you send. If you don't actively click on it, they don't get permission.I think. I hope. I have sent the lady a message - and she is not showing up in my 'sent messages' OR my contacts! What a wonderful system. OC

Just out of interest I just checked mine. I went to Messages, then 'Your contacts'. I STILL have the tick boxes!! Can you see their tree? Let them see your tree. I wonder why you haven't OC. OR am I on the wrong thing?Regards Ann

If I go to 'My Contacts' yes, I still have tick boxes down he side of the page. But this person doesnt show up in My Contacts, despite me having them set by date, and even though I have now replied to her message. To me this means that if you reply to someone who has sent you an automatic message, they DONT appear in your contacts?????? What I was trying to do was to reply to this lady's message by clicking on 'reply' on her message. That is when the non-tick thing appeared 'Allow this person to see my tree' OC

Ah, I see.(I think! ) You are talking about replying to the auto response to view your tree! Luckily, so far ,I have only had requests to view my tree from folks who had already been in touch with me.(so they were on my contact list). Regards Ann

Gillian No, I tried that - unless she has changed her surname. Off now to see if I can find her membership numbner and connect that to any of my contacts! Please - anyone reading this - DONT use the automatic requests, it drives old dears like me mad, particularly when I don't know what name you are interested in! OC

Me, too, OC ... :-) No time to wade through pages of contacts!

Nudge up

I contacted a member through the Search names box last week and the tick box was there, although I did not use it and member has not been allowed to see my tree. The message I sent does not appear on my Messages but the person is listed under my shared trees. Elizabeth

I had a distant cousin contact me the other day about our shared ancestor, I checked his tree and established a connection so messaged back allowing him to see my tree. I got a nice message back from him mentioning the shared relatives on both our trees. Then......... got an automated request to give him access to my tree, looked at my contacts list and the box wasn't ticked to allow him access even though from his message he had quite clearly seen it. Now I am very confused. Trudi

Trudi Oh Gawd! It gets worse... I most particularly do NOT want this person to have access to my tree, folllowing the reply to my message. The person has stated they have no particular name in mind, just want a look at my tree! (Unh???) I have now gone through 23 pages of contacts, checking who has permission to see my tree (no-one, at present) but from what Trudi is saying, that doesn't mean a thing! OC

OC, Yes I am worried and confused by the above mentioned event. How can we be sure that GR are doing what we want i.e. if someone contacts you for access and you reply, is access given without your knowledge? That incident drove me to distraction the other day, the mistakes that could be made. I don't want to be suspicious or cautious with genuine people. Do you know if these boards are read by GR administrators? If they are then hello administrators, it would be very nice if you would make it clear to us all when changes are made to the way the site works. I have to say, I use a few (free) sites where administrators post, but never seen it on this one. By the way - why would someone want to look at your tree without genuine relationship? Trudi

Had an e-mail from someone earlier this evening requesting we share trees to see if there is a link between his and mine. He mentioned a name in my tree. I replied asking him for more info before I opened my tree. I have a box which it looks as if I have to tick to give permission, which is better than remembering to untick on the old system. Anyway as soon as I had sent him the e-mail, I went to 'Contacts' under messages and his name was there, and he had opened his tree for me. However, the box which shows whether my tree was open for him remained unticked and so he couldn't access my tree. Hope that makes sense. As a matter of fact, as he had opened his tree for me to look at I was happy to share my tree with him too, so ticked the appropriate box and sent him another e-mail. Liz

Hi OC I had put this on your thread over the road so don't know if you saw it. I had someone send me an automatic request to see my tree, and i replied to them but when you go into my contacts the box next to his name is still unticked Julie

Julie That's part of the problem - the contact is not showing up as a contact! Unless they have changed their name, I have been through 26+ pages of contacts and cannot find them. Ah well - my genes tree has numerous BIG mistakes on it, so they won't get very far if they are just on a tree raid expedition. OC

Hi OC et all I have been reading your thread with interest and concern. I have been into 'My Account Details' and checked I had the ticks in the right places. There is a note beside your personal details:- This will hide details you have entered for individuals born in the last 120yrs with no death date; except you! I have this box ticked. 'HIDE ALL LIVING RELATIVES = YES' So technically unless i have a death date for a person born in the last 120 years no details of this person should be available for anyone to see. My question now is:- How can we check that is true? I have access to people's trees and most even the ones i know are alive are on the tree with all details available for me to see. There is another thread on this board which i can see many people are voicing their concerns :- 'Is Someone Out There Using Your Identity? posted by David Hodge' Well if all the details are shown even if we do not want them to be we are leaving ourselves wide open for fraud I suppose. Worrying isn't it? Yvonne

Hi Yvonne, I suppose one way to check if living relatives are indeed hidden is to create a free account and allow yourself access to your tree if that is possible. Or give access to your tree to someone to check for you.