Genealogy Chat

Hi I have registered with this site, but am finding it impossible to purchase units (this is over about the last week). On each occasion I get a 'CPI' error on the payment page. This obviously happens enough for it to be on their FAQ list, but how can it happen all the time? I have tried contacting them, but they have yet to reply - I suspect that they never will. Steve

I registered with this site last year, and was initially pleased as I found some details that I couldn't find elsewhere.However I bought some units, and then for some reason never explained, I was unable to access the info, I think it said 'session timed out' in the end I was unable to use the units I'd bought as by the time the problem had been sorted, my units were out of their time limit. I would recommend Ancestry.

Thanks Hilary. My only reason for trying this site is that it is supposed to have a full index for the period 1866-1920, and this would be really helpful for a few cases, as FreeBMD isn't very complete for the early part of the last century. It looks as if they have got a rubbish system for taking money - I will try again a bit later, but I won't buy many units at a time. Steve

Steve, I tried several times last weekend to get some credits and got the same error message you received. However persistence paid off and I managed to get through one day last week. Stick at it! Pete

The 1866-1920 period is wonderful on familyrellies, name/place/time span searchable. One tip, only use one first name as it glitches with more. If you have an unusual surname you can bring up EVERY b,m,d in that period for the whole country - which is a great boon. Just enter the surname and event for the whole period/whole country - do it three times, b,m,d - cheap way of getting it all! BUT, as you have found, since the day the site opened it has had problems with access from some servers - I cannot understand why they havent sorted this after about 2 years. When you sent your mail, did you submit twice?

It does have different search options to Ancestry but Ancestry has two bmd database sets. One is a partial index and one is the complete index. You need to use the complete index to get all the results.

Ah but Glen, when you have no idea of the date except its between 1866-1920 or if you have a smaller time span but are a lazy *** like me, its great to just enter the name and bring up the results. And, also with the unusual surname search when you get every one of that name up in one fell swoop - people you didnt even know existed - woo hoo.

to Pete - yes, I tried re-sending, but the site seems to specialise in different ways of stopping you making payment. I got through eventually to the payment screen, but it then told me that my bank had refused payment - which I don't believe - without saying why. I tried again using a Switch card, with the same result. I then logged out, then in again, and now I am back to the original message. Sometimes you just can't win! How can a site make a profit if they have such an inefficient method for collecting fees? I never had this problem with Ancestry or Findmypast.

I do agree with you, its such a valuable asset but such a lousey website. Ive never had trouble with access but every now and then it refuses to recognise my password - I have to say that when I whinge they have given me extra units but its not the point, you want to be able to access it immediately. Ive just been there now to find something for someone in overseas deaths, it just kept taking me round in a circle and not opening the index. Maddening and then actually finding HOW to complain seems to have got worse. BTW if you have a specific person you are looking for let me know and Ill see if I can get them for you on there.

Thanks for the offer, Heather, but nothing is really urgent. I have a number of people to look up, but I suspect that they are either missing completely or will be on FreeBMD before too long - plenty of other stuff to look at meanwhile.