FindMyPast.com Reviews

(based on 42 reviews)

186 of 360 people found this review helpful

I found it really usefull for the UK census and parish records.
You get the original on your screen and can save it, which is good, because some of the transcription needs checking against the original, so that is an added benefit.

Someone here wrote that the Midlands were missing, well in Devon there seems to be a lot missing too. (If you want more than Plymouth, that is.)

All in all an easy to use site, with some growing pains. Better not to depend on it alone for all of your research.

In summary, I would recommend FindMyPast.com to a friend.

215 of 388 people found this review helpful

Ever since i subscribed to this site it has been nothing but trouble.
I keep losing my log in details when i switch pages or change even a christian name on a search.

Their so called help desk said it was a problem at my end but gave no real help in solving the problem.

I subscribe to 4 other genealogy web sites and have no problem with them.
repeated requests for help went unanswered.

When i asked for a partial refund of my year subscription after only 2 weeks of use they refused, again saying the problem was at my end and what little searching i had been able to do was worth more than a years subscription.

In summary, I would not recommend FindMyPast.com to a friend.

185 of 360 people found this review helpful

Logged on thinking I would be able to view bmd records. Thoroughly read the terms and conditions. Thought I was signing up for a free trial. Put it my credit card information, and was IMMEDIATELY charged $78 while my computer screen said I was denied a free trial as I (or someone in my house) had already had a free trial. This is definitely not the case. Meanwhile, my bank called and reported the charge as a potential fraudulent charge. What a mess! Wound up cancelling the card and the charges so that I would not be involved with this company.

In summary, I would not recommend FindMyPast.com to a friend.

218 of 440 people found this review helpful

If you want to research available UK census records, this site will be fine. It does have some odd quirks, such as the credit system. However, if you want a comprehensive site to make a family tree then this is not for you.

In summary, I would recommend FindMyPast.com to a friend.

179 of 392 people found this review helpful

I subscribed thinking i would have a 14 day free trial, I tried a search on myself and a unigue named relative. For the relative it missed all the census entries that would be on Ancestry, I immediately tried to cancel the subscription within minutes and told I was to pay for the trial searches. This is nothing more than a scam site so advising advertising standards.

In summary, I would not recommend FindMyPast.com to a friend.

217 of 451 people found this review helpful

Good points, time saving on fast and good census information, the 1911 had my family within minutes whereas the other bigger worldwide one couldn't even find the surname and variants at all. I'm an experienced researcher using both hands on through records held in various archives and with electronic search sites so I should not have had any troubles on that search. I let my subs to Find my past lapse as I'd thought I'd run out of search options, how wrong I was! Being offered a deuction in fees have got me back onto the Find My Past site and within minutes I had all the census info. on the missing family so saved time too. The next search was a lost soul with a deadend except for a possible connection with another entry miles away, the removal order that appeared when I entered a name and place joined a child to Grandparents and the order confirmed a likely bapt. as the right one giving parent + siblings. The father having died was the reason for the removal and it listed him as late a Sarg't in the Marines. Lots more to go on in the... (Read the full review)

In summary, I would recommend FindMyPast.com to a friend.

197 of 394 people found this review helpful

I use four different websites. Ancestry has, of course, the largest number of entries but they are not the be all and end all. I very frequently turn up records in Findmaypast that just cannot be found on the former. I find the printed transcription of censuses of considerable help as the script of the enumerators of frequently unreadable (to me), especially Welsh returns. Recommended.

In summary, I would recommend FindMyPast.com to a friend.

229 of 445 people found this review helpful

This site is one of my favourite sites and is the one I find the most reliable records on. Sometimes you have to use a wild card to find the information you need (but this is true of any of the genealogy sites, as transcription errors are made). They're quick to respond to queries and correct transcription errors that are pointed out to them.

Yes, they are expensive but they have discounts for people who renew their membership.

In summary, I would recommend FindMyPast.com to a friend.

204 of 407 people found this review helpful

I remember well doing British research back in he days when the census had to be searched, page by page, on microfilm, and vital record indexes were found in huge volumes to be thumbed through on site in a London repository, or again page by page on microfilm or micro fiche. So I am grateful to those who are making these records available online. And to think, I can even print out an image of the original census records on my home computer printer!

It's true this is a paid site, but so is Ancestry for these types of records. And when you consider the cost of digitizing the records and maintaining the service, the cost is very low. I personally prefer the pay-per-view payment plan rather than a subscription, now that my need for looking up entries is less voracious than it once was.

I have also found the passenger lists and other records valuable. The parish records will surely be a great asset online at this site, though they are in the early stages of compilation at present.

It can be frustrating not to find someone in a census when you know for sure they were there... (Read the full review)

In summary, I would recommend FindMyPast.com to a friend.

231 of 485 people found this review helpful

I was quite disappointed with the outcome of my search on this site, but furious when I discovered that they'd taken my money, then set up a system whereby remaining credit would conveniently (only for them!) expire.

I would avoid them - are they the only option in this market?

In summary, I would not recommend FindMyPast.com to a friend.