Ancestry (UK) Membership - telephone directory online?

Question

I just read that Ancestry have the telephone directories for the UK on their site, but of course you need to be a paid member to see the information. I am a member of Genes Reunited, and I don't want to buy membership to Ancestry too, since I don't need the site for much.

But they're charging £6.66/month - £80 per year! Surely there's a cheaper way of joining? Ancestry has always seemed really pricey to me, as I know a lot of places I can get the information for cheaper or even free. I'm not a cheapskate, as I don't mind paying charges, but £80 to view a couple of records?

Do you know if there's a way around this? Ancestry can't be the only site to have telephone directory information...

Answer 1

If you want current telephone directories you can use:

http://www.bt.com

It's free and as long as the person isn't ex-directory you'll find them.

In terms of the historical - I've never used the Ancestry ones but I have membership and am happy to look something up for you if you'd like to e-mail me.

Answer 2

I have been a member of www.ancestry.co.uk /.com for a couple of years now, I think it's amazing. I have the world deluxe membership and I wouldn't swap it for anything. That means I have access to EVERY record on their database, it's amazing. The first lady suggested a fairly good free service with BT.

If there is something you would like me to look up for you I am quite happy to do so.

Answer 3

I have only just started looking into my Family Tree, and like you The Ancestry one seems to be the one that everyone goes for.  I am no cheapskate, but if I can get things for free I will go down that route.  

I got a book from the library - called "Family History Made Easy" by Kathy Chater - she talks about telephone directories and states that it might be worth if you have a very unusual name, to write to everyone in the telephone directory.  Directories for the whole country should be available in main libraries - in England that is.. Not sure if you are English or American.  She suggests that if you do write to the person; enclose a stamped addressed envelope, this is not only courteous gesture; it also, in an odd way; puts an obligatoin on the recipient to answer.

Hope that helps.