Terms
We regret we cannot undertake any research until we have received payment in full. This is standard practice among researchers. Sadly, our experience on rare occasions when we have not implemented this rule, means that is now rigidly enforced.

Our Guarantee
If we say we have searched a particular document, we have done so. In our reports, we cite reference numbers of those documents we have searched. If any researcher, at a later date, finds a relevant entry that we have missed, we will refund your money for that piece of research in full.

Copies
Pastfinders endeavour to provide copies of all relevant entries from original documents. The Public Record Office, and the various County Archives, provide copies to "research standard" - i.e. as legible a photocopy as possible, and it is this that Pastfinders include in our price. Sometimes, a photocopy is not possible - for example, from parchment, or when the document is too fragile, or from bundles of documents tied together. Under these circumstances, we can usually arrange a PFDS (print from digital scan), for which there is an extra charge (currently £2.60 per page). This is the cost price to us. Unfortunately, on extremely rare occasions, not even this is possible, if the document involved is physically too big, or too fragile.

"No find, no fee"
Except under very rare circumstances, Pastfinders does not operate a "no find, no fee" service. We actually believe it to be ethically questionable, and not in the client's best interest.