Subscriptions to Commercial Family History Sites

[Donches]

I would think many people like me often wish to take out a subscription for only one month to one of the commercial sites. However all of them record the subscription to be repeated monthly and it's nececessary to cancel this when not wanted. I feel this is not quite straightforward. Does anyone agree? You are caught if you are not aware of the procedure or forget to make the cancellation. I have also been involved in one where I cancelled the monthly renewel and everytime I opened the subscription details to confirm this, I found that it changed back to continue, in a loop.

Don

[ColC]

I have found the best approach is to take out the subscription for the length of time required and then cancel well before the end date that you want. Your subscription will still last for the duration.

Colin

[Donches]

Colin,
I agree, but I do think the process should be more open.

Don

[Mart 'n' Al]

Many sites these days using this business model have an option to switch off auto renew as soon as you sign up.  It is usually fairly easy to find in your profile setting or accounts setting somewhere.

Another valuable option is to set a reminder using your computer calendar. Set it for a week ahead and a couple of days ahead.

Martin

[Walter Stevens]

I'm based in South Africa, and my searches are mainly local or UK. Would anyone have recommendations as to the "best" commercial site(s) to subscribe to? I have a lot of my tree uploaded in the free version of Geni, and I've used FamilySearch quite a bit. I think access to a good source of passenger lists would help. The other area that's a bit of a struggle is the former Northern and Southern Rhodesia (Now Zambia and Zimbabwe).

[Melbell]

There are specialist Boards within Rootschat dealing with African and other countries.  I should think they would be able to advise you.

Melbell

[Catherine Wait]

Hi Walter, try https://www.eggsa.org/ for passanger lists, not all have been transcribed, but well worth a look and also for other resources in SA.

Regards
Catherine

[Walter Stevens]

Thanks for the suggestions.