General Chat

ok i'm probably not going to get some good feedback from this but here it goes

a friend of a friend is intrested in family trees but due to working 60 hours a week hasn't got time. he ideally wants a pedagree chart done for his mum and dads diamond wedding annaversary. he has asked that i do the resech for him. as a stay at home mum i have the time and could do with the money - he's offerd to pay, but do you think it's ethical to do it? he's going to pay for all the certs i will need and my ansestory membership too - which i was going to give up as i can't afford. but i'm concerned i may upset or offend others . honest opinions please (but don't be too harsh please) vicky.

Go for it.

I would get him to pay for Ancestry, for initial research, and of course for all certificates. Then consider an hourly rate as if you were working for someone else.

My friend's ironing lady asked me to look up a few ancestors for her, turns out her brother tidies my garden once a week! Anyway, just checking out the most obvious records took me 5 hours, for which I didn't want any money. But, that gives you an idea of how much the most basic research takes and costs.

Cant see why it would upset anyone . This is a mutual arrangement that would help both of you out and the result would be a lovely pressie for his parents. If you enjoy doing family research and have the time then go for it.
If i was in your shoes I would do it !
Shirley

I would definitely go for it. As Helen says, sometimes the simplest things can take time. (There is a microfilm of a particular church's records that hold details of my ancestors and is kept at Preston and if I've gone through that reel once, I bet I've gone through it six times! I just keep finding new relatives popping up! But if I had done that research for someone else, it could have added up to 30-40 hours of my time.)

Plus, if you've got experience of using microfilms, microfiches, how to search and look for alternative spellings, knowing that the letter "S" can sometimes be read as "L" etc, you might be able to find things and you might be familiar with resources that your friend may not spot or wouldn't know about. So you could use your experience to help him.

Absolutely ethical! I would have no qualms whatsoever . No difference between being paid to do his housework or gardening and being paid to research his tree ...it is your time, effort and expertise he is buying...just as in any 'job'.

As long as he is happy to pay and you keep a record of how many hours you are researching I can't see a problem :))

Hi Vicky,

Yes.

I think he just wants to give something to his parents that he hasn't got the time to do.

That's so sweet, bless him.

Kind regards
Amanda

Can't see why it would offend anyone! There are many professional researchers out there - ie they do it for money - that doesn't mean they have any certificates in it!
As Claire says - your time - his money!
You may find a new career!

i suppose you could call me a profesional as i have a ba hons degree in criminology and politics. during that 3 year uni couse included a 3 year research topic so supppose i'm good at dealing with mountins of paperwork. might offer my services to others, i would love to do a proper geneology course one day.

At the end of the day ( don't you just love that phrase )? It is how 'you' feel about it. If 'you' feel uncomfortable, then it will always bug you, no matter what 'we' say.

Go for it !..I've done it a few time's.

If you know the person..just give them a price and of course..they pay for any cert's.

Cass

I'd do it and probably enjoy it. Nothing unethical about it.

Sue x

You go and do it , and enjoy the rewards you get for your time and effort

Pam x

luckly he only wants a pedagree chart which is good for me as i won't have the time to do more. the annaversary is in january and he ideally would like 5 generations so time will be a squeeze. I'm the same though if i'm on a roll i go for it. I also get ideas in the night of where to hunt for the next clue, i end up coming down in the middle of the night to jot it down!
i'm so pleased my skills will be of use to someone I was doing my degree with children to raise a house to run unlike most people at uni . and leaving school with no qualifications because i'm dislexic is quite an achevement to me and now i get to put my skills at uni into practice and i'm so exited about that

Victoria, how can you even ask? To have fun and get paid for it!!!

Send him to me if you don't want it. :>))))


A brilliant offer, go for it. What a thoughtful son also to do this for his parents.

Gail

I agree... go for it.
You have been asked.
You are going to be paid.
It is a present for a special person.
What is the problem Victoria?
Go on, enjoy yourself and do something lovely for someone at the same time!
What could be better?
Good luck.
Deanna X

So you see, Victoria, no- one seems to think you are doing anything wrong. Go for it.

Go for it ....I already have