Archives has a rating of 1.1 stars from 158 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Archives most frequently mention credit card, free trial, and customer service problems. Archives ranks 52nd among History sites.
Scott P. I cannot believe that every single person on this review page has something negative to say about archives.com. The only conclusion I can come up with is that the millions who have actually HAD a great experience with the site is just simply not saying so. This is now the second year I will be using the resource, and I just love what I've accomplished. I use it often and have been doing extensive research into 16 different lineages. I have been able to (with much patience) trace most of my ancestors back for 300 or more years. I'm sorry to hear how some have lost out. I love using this site. The only thing I have to complain about is that they do not have extensive background in continental Europe. Otherwise, I've really enjoyed the results.
This is a scam, they will give you 7 days, then auto charge your card, you have to call them to cancel no way to do it from your site, I was on the phone for a hour, to get a human. I will never use this again. They NOT REFUND YOU! I canceled in Feb over the phone, and then got charged again in March had to call again.
Scott P. I cannot believe that every single person on this review page has something negative to say about archives.com. The only conclusion I can come up with is that the millions who have actually HAD a great experience with the site is just simply not saying so. This is now the second year I will be using the resource, and I just love what I've accomplished. I use it often and have been doing extensive research into 16 different lineages. I have been able to (with much patience) trace most of my ancestors back for 300 or more years. I'm sorry to hear how some have lost out. I love using this site. The only thing I have to complain about is that they do not have extensive background in continental Europe. Otherwise, I've really enjoyed the results.
I had a great experience with archives.com When I wanted to cancel I called them right up and they took good care of me. I use it often and have been doing extensive research into 16 different lineages. I have been able to (with much patience) trace most of my ancestors back for 300 or more years.
Completely unscrupulous. I cancelled their service, got a confirmation email, and then they still tried to bill my card for a renewal. If you are somehow in their clutches, I seriously recommend that you cancel your credit card - I don't know another way to be sure.
Just realized they have been taking money out of my checking account for months. Shame on me for not being more vigilant. Don't know how they got my account. Something very fishy. Spoke to a rep instead of selecting the number to cancel. Want my money back. May call my bank to claim fraudulent charges.
Tip for consumers:
Don't.
Sadly this says free but you can get no information at all until you submit a credit card. I here that ancestry.com bought them out so maybe they will improve it and it will be available on the ancestry.com site. I love ANCESTRY.COM it is worth every penny I spend on it each year.
I did take the 7-day trial and cancelled within two days - four months later I am still getting a monthly charge and cannot get a refund. The customer service is horrible and impersonal. If you can find the information some other way - please, please do - it is awful.
I joined for a free trial. I cancelled my membership because I was never able to find information, looked at my bank statement and they have been pulling money from my account for 2 months. Yeah reached out to them and they used the unfortunately nothing they can do because I knew the terms this and that. Well if I cancelled why was it still active? And why have I been charged. Stole my money.
Tip for consumers:
Double check if you cancel or they will take from you too.
Products used:
NONE
I, like Spencer B., do not have the negative experience that seems to be so prevalent in postings here. As a matter of fact, if you research reviews by companies who compare and rate ancestry research sites (including their customer support and knowledge) it is consistently ranked second only to Ancestry, com. I also couldn't help but notice some of you in this string are actually complaining about Ancestry.com and not Archives.com. At any rate, I subscribe to Archives and another family member uses Ancestry and we compile our findings to get a better family tree. Yes, I actually find info on Archives that is not found on Ancestry and the same is true the other way around.
This site is definately committing fraud. They charge way too much for something you can do yourself. Many are not aware of this. Stay far away from them. They ripped me off good and then hid in the "free trial" language that they charge a recurring fee. Total fraud. When I called them about it, archives.com was arrogant too and refused to credit my card. I got them though with my bank... who will not tolerate the likes of them. Hasta la vista archives.com.
I have called and sent emails and called and cannot get anyone to talk to. They put you on perpetual hold and you cannot get any satisfaction. Archives billed me fraudulently! I don't know how they did it because I did not complete the form for the free trial but I ended up being charged $9.99. They feign ignorance all the while knowingly ripping off people probably by the thousands if not the millions. There is no end to their cheating ways! Do not be fooled! They will take your money fraudulently, whether you sign up or not!
I signed up for a trial and am now receiving a charge every month for $7.95. I've tried to cancel but the web site doesn't work, and when you call the phone number, you just sit on hold indefinitely waiting to talk to someone - and no one ever appears on the phone. I am going to contact my credit card company and also the Better Business Bureau!
Started trial to see what they had to offer... which was little/no information or a link to the. Gov websites to order the appropriate forms. I also saw the advertisement which looked like a screenshot of the death certificate I was looking for and the ad said I could see it right away, but this is not so. Deceptive advertising.
I cancelled my membership or so I thought until today to find they had taken a further subscription got in touch with my bank who are now in the process of cancelling this for me I feel this is the only way to go
I went on that site to find something and couldnt find what i was looking for they took and had a way to cancel subscription and thought i did it but was wrong i work so its not easy for me to just sit and make calls when i want when i finally did they say sorry but no refund unless done on same day as charge what hell is that they should refund like all other places do but they just shown that they steal money from everyone dont go on the Archives you just might not get what your looking for and may end up being charged with no refund. I would rate them a zero overall
Tip for consumers:
Dont use Archives they will rob you
Found a lot more information on Ancestry.com. Archives leads you to believe you can look at documents right away--not! You have to order them from $30.00 and up! Some of the records I can goto the local library and print them for 5¢ off the microfishe machine. Granted, not all of the records are there, but there's enough there to make me happy. Plus, Archives does not have a whole lot on overseas searches.
I cancelled my "free" trial, I will see if any charges show up on my credit card, especially now after seeing all the complaints about them charging you.
I went to sign up for this site but part way through realised it was US only and they wanted my card details. I didn't finish the set up and would have cancelled straight away if I had. I have never logged in nor made even 1 search - until I noticed they were billing me anyway each month! Then I logged in and saw indeed I had never used it and it was no use to me, I know they are part of Ancestry.com who do have my card details. I tried customer services but the rep called Heather was unhelpful and bordering on totally rude - the answer being along the lines of "tough we have your money, haha!"
I signed up for a free 7 day trial. Site offered nothing for my search - absolutely nothing. So I cancelled my membership the day before it expired. All seemed well. Then I reviewed my credit card billing and I noticed I had been charged for two months. I wrote to their customer service, stated I had cancelled on time and wanted a refund of my two months. A reply from Angela in customer service says they will happily cancel my membership but not give me a refund for my two months as per their membership agreement. Of course, if I had an e-mail showing the cancellation things would be different she said. Seems to be a scam to me. Do not use this site.
I've found records from the 1880's. I've uncovered so much information. Not sure if I want to pay $9.99 a month to keep the access. For now I'm enjoying the information on my family that I have found.
It's a scam. After you've given your credit card info, and only after, you can search. I could find one record and if I wanted it, I had to go to an alternate site and pay for it. The annual charge is a total scam. What you reallly want will cost you much much more. I cancelled the following day. Sure enough, they charged my account. When I called I got some guy who was trained at avoidance. It's a scam so save your money..
I've been waiting for 2 and a half months for four pairs of shoes Air Force 1's, and they have not made it here at all and there is no communication back from the company with all of the emails I've sent to them I would think that I would get something back. But no, nothing. They stole $500 from me and won't answer me about a return or to send me the shoes finally. This place is a scam and they should be locked up for theft, fraud, false advertisement, and for being douche bags. F this store and the people running it. I'm a Sneakerhead and I would've bought almost every shoe design they had there if they would've just sent me the money or the shoes finally. They get no stars from me and a big F-U FROM CANADA
Tip for consumers:
DONT FRIGGIN DO IT ITS A SCAM THRY ROBBED ME OF $500
Products used:
None
I have never signed up for even a trial but this site has somehow obtained my bank card details and charges me monthly for services I do not want and have never asked for. That is fraud of a criminal sort and the site ought to be shut down.
I thought I had gone through the Ohio state website to obtain my father's and mother's death certificates. I was asked for my bank card details for a 14 day free trail but would be charged for a moth's trail at $9.99 after a month. When I tried to access the website firstly it told me to sign in did not recognise my email and could not get a password change (didn't ask me for a password to begin with!). And the only way you can cancel the membership is to sign in or call Utah! Unfortunately I couldn't do that from my mobile phone in Scotland. So I have just called my bank and blocked any payment to archives.com. Angry. Frustrated. Time wasted. No further forward. Scammers? Feels like it to me
When I tried to cancel my trial period, which they make a bit difficult, the link led me back to the search page. What the hell is that? So I emailed them with screenshots of what happens when I try to click on the cancellation link. No response... then my Paypal gets debited and so I email them again regarding this issue. Silence is all I get. I have since disputed the charge with Paypal so hopefully I will get some progress with them and hopefully before Archives.com debits my Paypal account again.
I had a great experience with archives.com When I wanted to cancel I called them right up and they took good care of me. When you sign up for the free 7 day trial it says in four places it will bill if not canceled in the 7 days. People just need to pay attention when they put their credit card info on the internet and make sure they understand the terms and conditions.
They count on people not checking their credit card bills so they can keep the subscription for as long as possible. They also make it impossible to contact them to cancel or even call them I could not find their phone number anywhere on the site!
Stay away, they are scammers!
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