Ted W.

I have had an Apple iPhone and IPad for several years. Putting aside petty annoyances of continuous ios updates, I detest the Apple practice of altering connections for each new model they produce, thereby ensuring a captive market for their peripheral products, and causing unnecessary obsolescence of previous models. However, their support system is the biggest joke of all.

My little used iPhone 6 has lost its internal microphone, and after a lot of Googling for an explanation it appears that the system is stuck in "earphone" mode. None of the usual internet tips and tricks have changed the situation. This means that when I make a call, I have to either have earphones on, or use the external speaker. I don't carry earphones around, and its not good to get a phone call in a cafe or coffee shop when all you can do is have the call on loudspeaker. So - the last word on all the tips and tricks pages is, if all fails, to contact Apple Support.

The Apple Support page puts you through the third degree to categorise your problem, and then asks for your device serial number. It it is more than two years old, you are frozen out of the system with curt advice to visit an Apple service centre.

The speaker problem is a common issue, and one would think that Apple could do a little better than to shunt people off their help system without any advice at all. I am over the Apple business model, and will be moving to a Samsung android device, never to have to deal with Apple products again.

I'm grateful that at least there are alternatives to the Apple system.

I joined up on a 21 day free trial. Unfortunately, I entered an incorrect email address, which I did not realise at the time.

On the site, I requested access to a restricted family tree, but received no response. After some time, I found the incorrect email address in my account details, but could not amend my email address. The password had been sent to the incorrect address I had given and I had no access to alter details on my account.

Since I had received no response to my query for access to the restricted information, I decided to cancel my account at the end of the trial period, and rang the number given on the MyHeritage website. After pressing the option for account enquiries, I was tele-prompted for my password, which I did not have. Thinking laterally, I chose the option to open an account instead, which produced a live operator in very short time. This lady, Pauline, was a joy to deal with, and dealt with my story with the utmost efficiency and politeness. The account was cancelled as requested, and I then agreed to an extension to a new indefinite free restricted account.

I am impressed with the amount of detail available on the MyHeritage web site for the research I have done. Even the freely available information is surprisingly comprehensive. My fears of possible account mishandling were allayed by the courteous efficiency of the operator when contacted about my problems, and I intend to take up a paid account to access the full range of their information once I have settled down a bit.

In short, MyHeritage.com have a comprehensive data base with masses of information, and their support staff are extremely good at their job; very helpful and efficient. I have no hesitation in recommending them.