Genealogy Chat

Something definitely wrong with system (apart from treating renewals as new registrations) - no reply from genes, but keep getting automatically generated emails telling me I am not a member when I am - membership does not expire until 25 April. Didn't have this problem last year!! AAARGH!! Hello Maggie, Thanks for using Genes Reunited today. You tried to use a feature only available to full members, so I wanted to see if you needed any help. Once upgraded you can send unlimited messages to other members of Genes Reunited to discover if you are related and share information about your family history. Plus, you can add photos to bring your family tree to life. If you didn't have your credit or debit card with you at the time, here's a link straight back to the upgrade page to save you a few clicks. If you'd prefer you can send a good old-fashioned cheque in the post. You can find details on how to do that here. I hope we see you on Genes Reunited again soon. Joanna The Genes Reunited Team

Hi My membership is up for renewal in a few days, I've had the reminder, can't remember if it quoted a renewal rate, but on account details I've got continuous renewal selected. However I don't know which card I payed on! Do you think they will tell me if I email them, can't see any card payment details on here or am I missing something? Michelle

If you try and renew manually the system doesn't seem to treat this as continuous membership, so you end up paying full price, so dont go pressing buttons. Continuous membership only seems to work if you don't click on anything and let the system renew using your card. If your card expires then continuous renewal also fails and you get charged the full rate when you try to renew. Last year GR did provide refunds on request when people genuinely misunderstood the process, but not sure what their policy is now. It is a very good idea to have a card with a small limit for use on the internet. This does limit the damage. Don't forget thought at if someone does use your card fraudulently the credit card company must re-imburse you. but there is then the wait and the hassle factor to take into account. For those who don't like credit cards and still want to use cheques, think very carefully. Cheques are actually far less safe than cards. If a check gets into the wrong hands there is everything there on one piece of paper. Bank account, name, signature, oh and how many put their name and address on the reverse?

I understand your concern about credit card transactions online. I too am wary. We have a separate card with a very low limit, especially for such times. Good luck with getting the situation sorted. Gwyn

Thanks both - yes I have got a 'renew now' link - takes me to the £9.95 for 6 months and assumes I am not a member - the pay by cheque option quotes the same price. I have continuous membership on account details, but have always paid by cheque (on time) as am not a big fan of leaving credit card details on any website. Will wait to hear from GR.......

Maggie, Check in your account details section and see whether you have continuous or single membership selected. Continuous membership SHOULD be much less than the renewal price you were quoted but, as we are all charged different amounts, I do not know the proper price Also with continuous membership, make sure your credit card details will still be valid on your renewal date. Otherwise GR will charge you that expensive single membership price. I would advise you email them and keep records of your correspondence in case GR overcharges you. Tracey

Have you got a ... Renew now... message just below the Genes logo ..and left a bit? Is that the price quoted there? I've been here since 2003 too. I recently renewed for £7.50 I think the message afterwards did say something like..Thank you for upgrading... Which I don't understand. Gwyn

Have been a full member since 2003. Can see other people's trees, and if this appears can post messages - so why when I try to renew (membership doesn't expire until 25 April) does the system invite me to BECOME a full member at £9.95 for 6 months - a massive increase on last year's annual fee? Awaiting reply to my question to genes about this problem, but in the meantime have had what looks like an automatically generated email inviting me to BECOME a full member when I am ALREADY a full member - anyone else having this problem with what looks to be only part of the genes system???