Genealogy Chat

Hi I allowed someone access to my tree and now both me and my husband are there on his tree. He never asked for permission, and I really resent this.as we are both very much alive. He`s also somehow mixed up my grandmother with someone else of the same name. I `ve sent several emails to him but he never acknowledges them. I`ve tried emailing GR and although I know they can`t actually do anything, they don`t even answer. I do think that they should really make much more of a point that living rellies on other trees must be asked for their permission.before you use them in your own tree. Jay.

Hi June Keep on at GR because they will make them take them off. I had a problem like that earlier this year and although it took a while they were all removed. I now have no living relatives on my tree and my husband and I are down as just 'living relative'. Jo

i agree they shouldnt even be showing living rellies. i wont open tree anymore i just pm info across

Hi Jay, I've been stung this way before too and unfortunately there's not much you can do about it if the tree thief will no longer acknowledge you. I put my experience down as a lesson to be learned. Be very cautious who you open your tree to. Some people believe they don't need your verbal permission to copy your tree. Deb:)

If you are sensitive about the identity of living relatives, why include them in your GR tree at all, in any identifiable form?

Thanks to all of you. I`m so relieved that I`m not the only one. but it seems such a shame that people like this seem to be allowed to get away with it. I`ll now keep on trying to get a response from GR but we really shouldn`t need to go through all this palaver when we allow access to try and help others and also find rellies we knew nothing of before. Jay.

I agree with Titus. It is rather silly to put the details on the site and then complain if someone, who you have given permission to view your tree, then uses the information. This is what GR say o the subject in the T's and C's ''Please note that, if you make your tree available to other Members, they may take entries from your tree and put them into their tree (even if you do not wish them to). Genes Reunited does not have any liability in this event. However, you must always have permission to include any living individual’s details in your tree.''

GR will remove the living ones if you keep on at them. It is their policy to. It might be worth sending another message to that person, informaing them of th policy and telling them that you intend to contact GR and report them if they do not remove the names within 24 hours. I did the same recently, and the person (who had NOT had access to my tree, but it got the information from a distant relative whom I had trusted in the past) removed the names the same day. Amanda

Someone done this to me.GR did remove all my living rellies.I dont have no living rellies on my tree now and even my grandparents i only have as xxxx,Its a shame we have to do this and i often wonder why people want my grandchildren? Annie

It is very difficult to hide living rellies safely when uploading a Gedcom, using the usual system doesn't always work, and if you hide ALL your living rellies you restrict the access to the great wide world of possible contacts. And sometimes a living person slips through without us realising. Also, it begs the question - is there any point in hiding anybody when all the info is in the public domain anyway? I find it quite odd that I can apply for a birth/marriage/death certificate of almost anybody and get it. BUT I wouldn't want to put a stop to that as I need the facility! If you feel Genes has done something wrong, quote the Data Protection Act to them. Margaret

Sorry, just adding another thought. I don't open my tree to anyone unless I think they are genuine and give me some evidence. I DO think the little button at the bottom of hot matches should be changed so that the default is that the tree is not opened unless you tick the box. I have emailed Genes about this, but like everyone else - no response! Margaret

Margaret, See my note above, GR have no liability for the names that are added to trees, living or otherwise. It is the individual member who posts the names who is responsible for ensuring that the Data Protection Act, or indeed any other law is not breached, and even then it would be very difficult. A case would have to be brought by an agrieved living person against the member who posted their name.

If Margaret finds it difficult to suppress identifying details of the living when creating a gedcom file to import, she should change her software. With mine, PAF, it's a doddle, and if anyone in my family doesn't know who the living are, then they are not close enough to me to care.