RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: scotmum on Monday 26 November 18 00:37 GMT (UK)
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...if yes, do you know what happened to World subscription option? I only see the following, which seems to offer Essential British option or Ultimate British and Irish option only (the latter with limited US access too). ??? My renewal invite email invites me to renew on World subscription basis
**Update: spoke with FindMyPast who have stated the Ultimate British Isles and Irish option is the same as/replacement for the World/Premium option, even though, as I pointed out to them, the description under "what is available with this package", seems to show a lot less locations/records availability than with a World/Premium package. Has anyone renewed under the new Ultimate British and Irish package name and can confirm they are still able to access all the countries/records they could with their old World/Premium package?
Their own help pages are less than impressive, with a blank space instead of an answer, to the question 'I want to remain on my World subscription...can I? " https://www.findmypast.com/frequently-asked-questions/answer/i-want-to-stay-on-my-current-britain-or-world-subscription-can-i-continue-on-my-current-package ::)
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.Has anyone renewed under the new Ultimate British and Irish package name and can confirm they are still able to access all the countries/records they could with their old World/Premium package?
Anyone?
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Hi Scotmum
I renewed on a World Subscription in June this year. Don't know what will happen next year but I hope they will keep a full access subscription as although my main research is English I have many family members with roots all over the place.
Venelow
Canada
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Was it by 'auto-renew'? If yes, it seems to be that the World sub is still offered to existing subscribers if they auto renew, so you are safe for now.
I can't use auto renew (long story, due to FindMyPast messing up my sub last year), though, and they want me to let my subscription lapse on renewal date, then take out a new subscription (including a code they have provided for a discount I was entitled to), but if I do this, I have to choose between the new package titles, and despite FindMyPast saying the higher of the two gives me exact same access to the World/Premium level sub I currently have, the description of the new packages doesn't read as if it does.
My other option, I suppose, is to let my current World/Premium sub auto-renew, and then try to get them to refund me the difference between the renewal price advised to me and the actual price I am due to pay with the discount code they supplied, but they are insisting I can do it the way they have suggested (let renewal lapse then start new subscription on new name package), so are unlikely to agree.
I just can't help but feel the new named package isn't the same as the old World/Premium one, hence was looking to see if others have found it to be different. I don't want to find I do it the way they are suggesting and then I'm stuck with an inferior package.
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Hi there.
If this link will work, it should tell you what is each package......I don't see any options other than the 2 at the moment. Scroll down to see a comparison of the 2.
https://www.findmypast.com/subscribe?isfreetrialrequest=false
I had a previous World sub also but don't remember if it had more than what is currently offered in the upgraded one. I didn't renew it so I guess I'm in the same situation as you now if I want a sub.
PB
Added: looking back at my sub history, it appears that the World sub also included Australia.
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Yes Scotmum, it was auto renew. I have been a member for several years so I hope they continue this package.
Venelow
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I don't see any specific mention of the 1939 Registry in those Brit subs ???
This seems to be what's available through an Aussie sub and looks like a World sub is available there.
https://www.findmypast.com.au/subscribe?isfreetrialrequest=false
I wonder if contacting FindMyPast would secure an answer about the World sub issue?
PB
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Just noticed your update in your original post, scotmum, so I guess it will remain to be seen how things work out. If you take out the higher level sub, could you let us know if it has what they said it would?
PB
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Hi,
I have had a findmypast.com sub since 2014 2012. I have always had the World Premium one (access to all records). Looking at my sub history, the code has been SUW12.
I renewed in September of this year (not through auto renew...I always untick that, and wait for the offer to renew from FindMyPast). My current sub seems to have the same records - I haven't noticed any difference - but it is now called Ultimate British and Irish collection. I am able to get US census records, US newspapers, the 1939 register etc. The code is now SUU12.
RK
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I better check... not sure
xin
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RK, do you still have Canadian and Ausralian records as well?
PB
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Yes, I do. I can choose from World, Australia/New Zealand, Ireland, Britain (and the component parts :)), USA and Canada.
RK
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Great! Thanks for letting us know :).
PB
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If there is a particular record set that you are wondering about...I can check and see if I have it under my subscription.
RK
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Thanks for responses everyone.
Great, RunKitty. It is more encouraging to hear that from you than from FindMyPast, that the Ultimate package does seem to cover the same as the 'old' World/Premium package. They really need to change their wording on the US subscription page to make it clearer that 'world' records are included in the new Ultimate British & Irish package.
Mind you, it now begs the question why people who remain on world are having renewal invited at $239.50 or being encouraged to auto-renew at $203.58, and are being told this is an unbeatable loyalty offer, yet people who subscribe via the new Ultimate package, with apparently identical access to same record sets, are being charged $179.
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Personally, I don't need anything in particular. I had let my sub lapse and became concerned about access when I read the original post. It is good to know I'll still have the same records available when I eventually sign up again.
PB
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As can be seen from the above, the US site's Ultimate package, doesn't mention access to, for example, US newspapers, Australian/New Zealand records, hence the original questions in opening post of this thread.
At least the UK site's Pro package and the Australian site's World package seem to be clearer about coverage.
The new title for the US subscription doesn't help either, and to me, is confusing, rather than an improvement.
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Put them on the spot and ask them directly.
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An update for anyone following. I have allowed my US World/Premium subscription to lapse (ie didn't let it Auto Renew). I had been invited to renew my subscription as follows:
. Your 12 Month World Subscription is due to end on Sunday, 02 December 2018 and when it does, you can claim 15% off your next year with us by switching on auto-renew in your account. Instead of $239.50, you'll pay just $203.58. It's our way of saying thank you for your loyalty
I have, in its place, purchased a 12 month US Ultimate British & Irish package, currently c$179 or c$152 with their 15% loyalty discount.
So, if a loyal member allowed/allows their sub to auto-renew, it seems they would have paid/ will pay $203.58. If they allowed/allow it to lapse then purchase a new subscription, they would have paid/will pay c$152 (or less if they are entitled to any different discount), for exactly the same record access. Quite a price difference, so thanks but no thanks Auto Renew. I remain loyal, but 'with more $ in my pocket'.
Partly because of the price difference, I had been sceptical about these packages having the same coverage (also because of the poor wording on the page describing the Ultimate British and Irish), but then RunKitty shared their experience of having already subscribed to the Ultimate package. Now that I have also taken out the Ultimate package subscription, I can easily see from my receipt, that it does indeed give access to all the same records (it would have been clearer from the start if they had used the description they have on the receipt, on their Ultimate package description page as well):
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Good news - glad everything worked out well for you. :)
RK