Genealogy Chat

I've used searchelectoralroll a lot.

Does it stop being free after a while?
Today it keeps saying "Buy credits" and won't let me see any records.

Or is this a blip?
There's no information to explain it on their website, as far as I can see.

sorry, I can't help because I've never used it

Have you perhaps exceeded the 300 people for free search?

I didn't know there was a limit to the free searches, Gwyn.
I've scoured the website, and can't find any mention of a limit.

But if there is a limit, I've almost certainly exceeded it!

Are you using the correct site? There several with similar names. This is the 'free' one although you can only make so many searches within a minute

https://www.searchelectoralroll.co.uk/Electoral_Roll_Search.asp

Yes, that's the one I'm using.

I haven't exceeded the "per minute" limit.

It's still wanting me to buy credits today.


EDIT:
anyway, I don't have an account with them, nor have I registered with them:

" If we identify 3 or more separate searches within 1 minute or more than 1500 searches made within a 24 hr period we will disable the user account and make no refund upon any payments made."

They seem to have changed the Search Form, but you can still use it without buying credits.

My sis-i-law is on there. Unfortunately, it would be necessary to purchase credits to 'find out more'. The free results do give her current and previous addresses - we know what they were - but without the house number or years of occupancy.

(I had told her about 'opting out' but she hasn't bothered)

Hmmm - well, it's still not working for me.

Perhaps this is what Gwyn meant:

"The Free People search tool is simple to use and will return up to 300 results on phase one search."

But I take that to mean it will bring up 300 results max from one search.
(I assume "phase one" means a free search)

Interestingly, it will let me see the results on the "Live Search List" at the bottom of the Home page. Not that they are results I want to see, nor are they people I have searched for myself.

Oh - this is odd. Went back onto the site via the link posted and its reverted to the original search form.

Perhaps the site owners are tinkering??

That thing about 300 results on phase one search -
can't mean 300 results per search.

I've just tried searching for "John Smith" as an experiment, and it says there are 500 results - not that it will let me see them without buying credits!

Hmm - see your point.
At first I thought it might have been because there were so many results, but even repeating the earlier search for Sis-in-law, they are now asking for credits to view the results.

Weird or what? :-S

If its not gone back to usual by mid-morning tomorrow, it might be worth contacting them to ask what is going on. A lot of companies use the long weekends to undertake site maintenence. Perhaps this is the case here?

Let's hope so!

It costs £2.50 per minute to phone them, so not to be undertaken lightly.

I'll see what happens in a day or two.
Thanks for your interest, Det.

It's still telling me to buy credits.

How about you, Det?

I think they have changed it to a complete paying site without telling anyone.

Is there a cheaper telephone line, as you do not want the help-to-find line but the site information one (if it exists).

They're still advertising "Search for free . . . . " on their website.

Is it also asking you to buy credits, patchem?

This is the only phone number I can find:-

"Can I get help with my UK Electoral Roll Search? or to obtain a contact telephone number or email address
Asking a question at the early stages of your investigations may save you both time and money in the final analysis.
Help is available by telephoning...
Instant People Tracing Line 0903 993 3333

Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 19:00
Saturday and Sunday, 09:00 to 17:00
Calls charged at £2.50 per minute, plus your phone provider’s access charge.
You must be over 18 and have the bill payer’s permission to call."

Sorry, didn't spot your question earlier.

Just had a look for sis-in-law (again) and it is asking for credits to be purchased. On the other hand, the blurb does say that search results are free to street level. This was using an iPad. Could it be different on a PC?

Rather than use the premium phone no, perhaps there's one linked to the trading address?

Search Electoral Roll Ltd.
1a, Swan Business Centre
4 Higher Swan Lane
Bolton
BL3 3AQ
United Kingdom

It's a PC I'm using, so that doesn't make any difference.

The BT Phonebook (online) says "This business could not be found."

Re the company:

http://tinyurl.com/hto5n9w

Aha! Here's a number for another company run by the same people from the same address:

Intelligent Tracing Ltd
Tel: (01204) 657700
1A SWAN BUSINESS CENTRE, HIGHER SWAN LANE, BOLTON, ENGLAND, BL3 3AQ

https://www.endole.co.uk/company/07341742/intelligent-tracing-ltd

http://www.intelligenttracing.co.uk/

http://www.companydirectorcheck.com/ian-hurst-7

I might try phoning that number tomorrow.

The box to tick accepting T&C's has also gone.
The descriptive paragraph about how wonderful the site is hasn't changed
"Search for free to street level with a name or better still with two known names."

It isn't actually fraud as no one has coughed up at that point, but on the other hand they could be in trouble with the ASA and possibly be breaking the Trades Description Act.

I also noticed that the tick box has gone.

You can search for free, and find if any results show. This is without registering or using any money.

And then you have to pay to get any further, so I am agreeing with what you have put.

Very annoying it is.

When I accessed the site through this link, the requirement for money very obvious:

http://www.searchelectoralroll.co.uk/