Blog

05 Oct 2010

Introducing the Foundation subscription package

To make sure we’re giving you the best possible service, we’ve developed a new subscription package which will provide the perfect basis for your research: the Foundation package.

The Foundation package will replace our Explorer subscription for new subscribers.

What does the Foundation package include?

The Foundation package will give you access to the fundamental records you need to take your family tree back to Victorian times and beyond:

Find out more about all our subscription packages here.

What if I have an Explorer subscription?

Any of you out there with a current Explorer subscription will still be able to renew this subscription from 90 days before it expires. We’ll still add any new records we publish to your Explorer subscription.

Findmypast.co.uk subscription options

Findmypast.co.uk subscription options

Comments (83)

    Matthew Fletcher 5 October 2010 , 4:22 pm

    That seems like a pretty hefty price rise. I was going to get a six-month explorer subscription for Christmas as it would have been nice to look through the parish records, but it would now cost almost double.

    Pity.

    Reply to this
    Jo-Ann 5 October 2010 , 4:38 pm

    How about the option of paying monthly rather than all at once. I’m on a small fixed income so cannot afford one big lump sum like that.

    Reply to this
    Matthew Fletcher 6 October 2010 , 8:28 am

    I found the old price list in Google’s cache. I have already found all my ancestors in the 1911 census by buying credits from your site before there even was a subscription model for 1911.

    So for me, the cost of accessing the parish records for six months has gone from £54.95 to £94.95. It’s such a shame, and will force me to reconsider which provider I’m best going with.

    Reply to this
    Charani 6 October 2010 , 1:21 pm

    I’ll also be thinking long and hard in the next couple of weeks as to whether I can still afford a full FMP subscription. I use the site a lot and find the transcriptions more accurate than others but when you’re on a restricted income, there’s a limit to what leisure expenses can be justified, especially in a period of austerity such as we are in currently.

    Reply to this
    graham headon 8 October 2010 , 9:18 pm

    Hello,
    Fiantly recall an item about parish records being available at a site ‘find my past’ How do I use the site? what is the cost? how do we navigate the site? NOT VERY USER Friendly? I thought by the article on spotlight that this site was going to revalutionise family record searching!
    Hoh,
    Graham Headon.

    Reply to this
    nancy towle 22 October 2010 , 1:24 pm

    How about a 1 month, or 6 month subscription? Do you think you will ever have a senior price for those of us on limited income? The site is great but will become useless if many cannot afford it.

    Reply to this
    John Yeates 22 October 2010 , 3:58 pm

    I am fortunate to have purchased my years subscription before the price hike. I wouldn’t have joined at the new cost – far too much.
    I shall go elsewhere next year.
    Also I have found a lot of transcription errors, I have only reported two or three.

    Reply to this
    Eileen 22 October 2010 , 6:38 pm

    I could not justify the expense of another year’s subscription despite liking much of the site. I was offered a renewal price of £119 and that was after 20% discount. My husband and I have lived on pensions for a number of years now and our utility bills are much more important.
    Shame but that’s how it is.

    Reply to this
    Ian Tresman 22 October 2010 , 7:12 pm

    There’s a recession on. A full six month subscription is £95, the equivalent of £15/month, £3.70/week, or 52p a day.

    So give me 24 hours FULL ACCESS for £2.50, a long weekend (Friday Night to Sunday midnight) for £5, and I’ll jump at the chance. That’s the equivalent of £450 per 6 months.

    If the weekends are peak time, then offer it during the week. It’s not difficult to offer an economical subscription at a price that we can all afford, and which earns the company far more than their existing subscriptions.

    Reply to this
      Janet Ashby 23 October 2010 , 7:26 pm

      I was going to have a subscription for my Xmas present but certainly not now. What a good idea of Ian to suggest 24 hrs full access or a long weekend at those prices-its not too bad like that. I don’t want to be on it 24/52. Please think about this or I’m afraid you will lose a lot of followers.

      Reply to this
    Julia 22 October 2010 , 8:52 pm

    Too expensive.
    Just doing the cheaper option but may go Ancestry.
    Do not like the other changes either – too many errors.

    Reply to this
    Marilyn 22 October 2010 , 11:04 pm

    So sorry, lost me too even though the Ozzie dollar is very strong just not justifiable at the moment.

    Reply to this
    brian 23 October 2010 , 1:28 am

    Well; it looks like goodbye Find my Past
    br

    Reply to this
    Leon 23 October 2010 , 2:40 am

    Hi I am sorry I will not be able to renew the full subscription this year.
    I have been enjoying access to many of the parish registers and 1911, but I find the Census images far harder to read than I would like and the price now makes it too expensive for we Australians; which comes out over $200.00AUD. For us on a pension of $350 a fortnight, it becomes too difficult.
    Sorry

    Reply to this
    Bri Bailey 23 October 2010 , 7:52 am

    Get real “find my past” We are having to pay for our deceitful disgusting politicians lining their future with the EU by paying billions to an unelected organisation which cannot be accounted for or even audited. Surely you have someone in your finance department that has a knowledge of what is going on in the real world, I am disgusted and will not rejoin

    Reply to this
    B Mosley 23 October 2010 , 8:12 am

    I also will think hard about renewing, the price is very steep, you must be aware that many of your customers are only on a pension and not able to afford the new cost.

    Reply to this
    susan 23 October 2010 , 8:21 am

    just wondering if FMP has hiked the price so much because the company need to recoup the cost of all the TV advertising. I’ll renew this time but may not renew next year

    Reply to this
    Jill 23 October 2010 , 9:25 am

    Having used fmp briefly in the past,I’d decided to defer buying a subscription until the winter months when I could spend more time researching. Obviously I’ve left it too late, and as a pensioner I can’t afford the increased price. Shame!! Looks like I’ll be spending more time at the local library on Ancestry – perhaps it’s time you considered offering the same facility.

    Reply to this
    Marion Biddle 23 October 2010 , 9:41 am

    As a pensioner, I agree with all the above comments. I don’t know what your costs are of course, but I do know that I can’t justify spending that amount of money on a hobby, much as I’d like to. You have to take into consideration the number of pensioners doing research compared to the general population.

    Reply to this
    Andrea 23 October 2010 , 10:00 am

    I fully agree with the comments of Marion Biddle that as a pensioner, I agree with all the above comments. I don’t know what your costs are of course, but I do know that I can’t justify spending that amount of money on a hobby, much as I’d like to. You have to take into consideration the number of pensioners doing research compared to the general population. I have subscribed to findmypast for many years as it was good value for money but I am unable to renew with this price increase. 1911 census should be given free to the loyal members of findmypast. I have not renewed………

    Reply to this
    linda 23 October 2010 , 10:22 am

    i have been a member since 1837 online started years ago and again due to rising costs of household bills have only taken on the 1911 census this year and not the full subscription, i think that with all the people researching their family trees if you dropped the costs to a manageable price for everyone you would get more money and a lot more people would be happy and you wouldnt have comments like this being posted, come on make people use and remember you for the good value for money site i remember!! and not a bad taste for being very expensive.

    Reply to this
    Gerry 23 October 2010 , 10:37 am

    I agree with alot of the comments that the price hike is realy realy unfounded and quite obscene in these times when people are struggling to make ends meet and I agree with the suggestion of a monthly subscription would help alot of people

    Reply to this
    Penny 23 October 2010 , 10:40 am

    I must admit that I was shocked to discover that it would cost me £119 to renew and that this included price a 20% discount. And that the Explorer package which included the parish records (to me the most valuable records on this site)had disappeared. Have cancelled.

    Reply to this
    Sandra 23 October 2010 , 12:50 pm

    I have to agree with everyone – the price hike is pretty high. In the past my yearly explorer subscription was approx £71.00 which has jumped to £74.95 for SIX months (full – which includes 1911 census). I too will reconsider renewal in 6 months time. Retired, on a budget, just too expensive. Shame to have to give up something you really enjoy but in these hard times, it has to be done. I too have been a member for years but will go elsewhere. As more and more people do their family research, you would think the prices would go down, not up, due to more people subscribing. You will loose members if prices go up so drastically.

    Reply to this
    M Head 23 October 2010 , 1:44 pm

    Thankfully I have done most of my main tree, but there is always another branch to investigate. I help a friend in USA with her tree and she with mine. I use Findmypast and she uses Ancestry. Best of both worlds. I suggest everyone gets a friend to share the costs.

    Reply to this
    Patricia 23 October 2010 , 3:00 pm

    If I did not receive the loyalty discount at this time I also would not be renewing. I live in Canada and have to do most of my research on line. I can not understand a jump of 40 pounds for a year and will also be retiring soon and hope to have more time for research but not at these prices. I hope you listen to the pensioners out there and may be offer a special Seniors subcription or a monthly payment scheme.

    Reply to this
    Stuart 23 October 2010 , 3:36 pm

    Like Mr Fletcher, I was just about to buy a 6 month Explorer sub, as my PAYG credits were running out, only to find that with re-organisation, costs have almost doubled.
    It’s ironic how businesses are constantly trying to convince customers that when they change things it’s for the better, when they’re clearly not! FMP is good, but getting greedy and needs to re-assess this latest move; the old arrangement was FAR more flexible and workable for its customers.
    Jo-Ann’s idea of a monthly sub is a good idea, as is the ‘sharing’ idea from M. Head.

    Reply to this
    Keith 23 October 2010 , 4:45 pm

    Dear Mr Murdock,
    Well done.
    You and your lad have already generated millions from control of the world’s media.
    Now you have cornered this market too, and I look forward with bated breath to the inevitable reports of your prosperity on the backs of us poor peasants.
    No one but you could have sneaked in a knockout blow such as this increase, so don’t hide your identity any longer.
    Come on out with it man. It’s you who “FIXED” this gold mine, wasn’t it?

    Reply to this
    Heather 23 October 2010 , 6:46 pm

    Very disapointed with price rise – have renewed for 6 months but will
    be retiring next year and will probabley not be able to renew then

    Reply to this
    Lesley 23 October 2010 , 7:13 pm

    As one of the many without any english ancestors, I would love it if you’d break the subscription down to per item. The only thing on your list I’d be interested enough in to take out a subscriiption would be the military records, and I see no point in buying access to databases that I won’t use more than a few times.

    Reply to this
    Michael 23 October 2010 , 7:41 pm

    I was away so did not see the increase so it got paid. I never thought the site would increase by so much, very poor show on your part, let us hope you can find a way to give back a bit on the site workings.

    Reply to this
    Susan Bennett 24 October 2010 , 1:28 am

    Thank god I had renewed my subscription before all of this was published. I have really enjoyed using FIND MY PAST but will now have to rethink my allegiance for next year and seek a cheaper option. I live in Australia and find it expensive enough as it is without this price hike.

    Reply to this
    Lynne 24 October 2010 , 4:30 am

    I am confused.
    I have just read the October newsletter and am a holder of a current Explorer subscription package.
    Your information states: There will be 2 new packages – Full & Foundation.
    The Foundation package will replace our Explorer subscription for new subscribers.
    Also:
    What if I have an Explorer subscription?
    Any of you out there with a current Explorer subscription will still be able to renew this subscription from 90 days before it expires. We’ll still add any new records we publish to your Explorer subscription.
    Yet, according to your website only holders of the FULL package will have access to ALL records. Could you explain this to me please?

    Reply to this
    John McWilliam 24 October 2010 , 6:41 am

    Coming from Scotland much of my research has to be done through at least two providers, Scotlands People and Find My Past. As an OAP I find this difficult to afford. There should be more cooperation between providers in order to offer the public better deals

    Reply to this
    Judi Exton 24 October 2010 , 6:52 am

    I wondered why I got an early email telling me I would get a discount when I renewed my sub. as I have been a member for quite a few years and have previously received the discount. Now I know!!!
    After thinking long and hard whether to renew my sub. I know now that I wont be. I shall miss your excellent site very much, I have found heaps of information in records no-one has; however we are also pensioners like many of your clients; with our low (NZ) exchange rate, and the increased costs of everything, we simply cannot afford it.
    The increase seems exhorbitant, and I suspect you will lose a lot of subscribers. Would it not be better to charge less and retain clients? Please think about giving pensioners a discount. Judi.

    Reply to this
      Uzra 6 February 2012 , 4:35 am

      MMMMMMMmmmmmmmYummmmmmHMMMMMmmmmThathat’s how this fish pilcke taste. u can eat it with rice, bread, chapati, naan whatever and it makes the meal complete,Tried it n lovd it.

      Reply to this
    Caroline 24 October 2010 , 7:22 am

    Prices seem very high. As each year goes on and more of the family tree is discovered it beomes harder to justify a subscription membership. Why not have a life time membership at a reasonable cost.

    Reply to this
    K.JENNEY 24 October 2010 , 7:38 am

    I WAS DUE TO HAVE THIS SITE FOR AN XMAS PRESENT, BUT WE CAN NO LONGER THINK OF DOING IT AT THE NEW PRICES.
    WHY DO YOU HAVE TO PUT THEM UP BY SO MUCH IN THE PRESENT CLIMATE?
    I HAVE IN THE PAST USED PAG; BUT EVEN THAT CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE IF ONE COME A CROSS ANY DOWNLOAD ERRORS.

    Reply to this
    andrew wood 24 October 2010 , 8:42 am

    Even though we are in a period of (government) austerity sold to us on very dubious grounds. Everyone forgot the banks? When they are eventually re-sold there will be bags of dosh for Osbourne to bribe British amnesiacs.

    Actually (wishful thinking) I think it should be everyone’s right to know about their family history…..free of charge! Wow, there’s a challenge.

    Reply to this
    K.JENNEY 24 October 2010 , 8:47 am

    I AGREE Andrew free family info would be & should be free.

    Reply to this
    Lou Armstrong 24 October 2010 , 9:24 am

    I cannot understand why you dont have monthly subscriptions – I get the 1911 Census from you and for £12.95 I get the rest from Ancestry.

    Reply to this
    Sharon Brown 24 October 2010 , 9:30 am

    I currently have an Explorer Annual subscription. How long will this be kept and will all the new releases be available under this? If this is not the case I will certainly not be renewing my subscription at the end of this month.

    Reply to this
    Mick Smith 24 October 2010 , 9:37 am

    My discouted subscription is due at the end of the month, I agree with most of the previous comments, it is expensive and I can’t understand why it has gone up so much, I’m sure I only paid £85.00 last time, comments from findmypast.co.uk would be gratefully appreciated.

    Reply to this
    Michael 24 October 2010 , 9:52 am

    A Cynical attitude that pensioners all have plenty of money is what
    prevails here.

    Reply to this
    Lawrence Finn 24 October 2010 , 9:56 am

    Have to say that unless you start offering shorter memberships which are affordable (and though I’m no where near the pension age) a pensioner discount I suspect you may have just moved your selves out of the affordable range for serious dabblers and hobbyists… Of course people will adjust and eventually the fees may even seem reasonable (after all there was a time in germany when you had to have ten million marks to buy a loaf of bread) however…

    Reply to this
    Roy 24 October 2010 , 10:49 am

    Have used Pay as You go and thought of taking out a subscription now I am short of credits but cannot afford it. Must investigate other sources.

    Reply to this
    Stuart Bainbridge 24 October 2010 , 3:08 pm

    Having recently terminated my subscription to another provider I was about to turn to Find My Past.But, the new Foundation subscription seems very expensive for the limited type of records it gives access to. Its seems that as genealogy companies vie to widen their range of records it is the the basic user who is being required to fund these services through hugely increased subscriptions. As I have little use for military, emigration or other specialised sources I would prefer a subscription which more closely matched my limited use.
    The cost of TV frequent advertising couldn’t be a factor as well could it?

    Reply to this
    john silcock 24 October 2010 , 3:22 pm

    your subscription charges are day light robbery and makes Dick Turpin look like a Saint
    Do your Census Records cover Scotland as the English census would not be of any use to me

    Reply to this
    Gillian Cullwick 24 October 2010 , 4:01 pm

    In October 2009 I paid £54.95 for a 6 month explorer package, ideal for winter evenings searching for my ancestors. I was just about to do the same this year but find that the Explorer package is no more and the equivalent is now nearly £95! Please can you explain how you can justify this huge increase. It seems likely that you are going to lose a lot of regular customers who can no longer afford these very inflated prices. I bet whoever came up with this scheme takes home a good wage packet!

    Reply to this
    Cathy 24 October 2010 , 4:22 pm

    I too was considering an Explorer package during the winter but don’t find the Foundation package useful as I already have Ancestry. Now my only choice is credits or a Full Subscription. Guess I’ll take a pass. Too bad. I have to ask…since you send out newsletters, was there any advance notice of the price hike? If so I didn’t see it. If we’d known, you would have had increased business at the old rates instead of mass cancellations and loss of new business. I agree with other users that a monthly or even weekly subscription would work, even if at the current rate, because most folk can afford the rate for a short period. Though like the Australian & NZ users, the cost is pretty steep in Canadian funds, even with a fulltime job (and remember that really cuts into my user time!)

    Reply to this
    Anne Turnbull 24 October 2010 , 4:29 pm

    Like Stuart, I, too, have terminated my subscription to another provider and was looking at subscribing to FMP – but the cost is prohibitive. I will need to look elsewhere.

    Reply to this

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