FWIW and taking the subject a bit too literally, another way is to be active on Google Plus.
The only way to get hold of a human at Google
31–40 of 189 posts
Re: The only way to get hold of a human at Google
#32I've noticed this trend with many big companies lately (Amazon, Paypal, and Google). Everything is automated and they give you almost 0 chance of defending yourself.
They also don't care because they are de-facto monopolies.
Amazon suspended my account 4 months ago. I'm just getting the $5K they owe me in money now. To this day, I still don't know why they suspended me (100% feedback and virtually no problems).
They shuffled me around their automated system with the result being that my account stayed suspended.
I was also suspended a couple of years ago from Google Adsense due to one of my scripts going awry. I wasn't clicking my ads, but It refreshed a page a bunch of times with Adsense ads on it.
If I try to signup with my name, I just never get any response back. This one was definitely my fault. I could just use my LLC, but I got out of that game ages ago.
Re: The only way to get hold of a human at Google
#33I'm sorry for the trouble you're having. I have on idea of what's happened and why but thought it timely to point out for the benefit of those reading this thread: I highly suggest you use two-factor authentication with GMail: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/advanced-sign-in-secu... Or Jeff Atwood's post on this: http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2012/04/make-your-email-hac... Your email is too valuable to be l…
Really? It is now a suggested policy to use additional authorization flows in order to use this email service?
Are we talking about the same email service? You know, the one that's supposed to be so awesome that you'll quickly forget about getting your email the "old fashioned way" by having to mess with those pesky things like setting up a POP/IMAP account on your host provider?
Talk about things coming full circle.
[Addendum} No, haven't had my email hacked. I guess I was a little blow-hardy, thanks for responses :)
Re: The only way to get hold of a human at Google
#34I'm sorry for the trouble you're having. I have on idea of what's happened and why but thought it timely to point out for the benefit of those reading this thread: I highly suggest you use two-factor authentication with GMail: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/advanced-sign-in-secu... Or Jeff Atwood's post on this: http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2012/04/make-your-email-hac... Your email is too valuable to be l…
I am, of course, already using 2FA, but I completely agree that everyone should have it set up.
Re: The only way to get hold of a human at Google
#35I agree its maddening to be locked out of gmail for no specific reason. I imagine the customer to employee ratio is a billion to one, so even if they had a ticket system, it'd be overwhelmed in a short amount of time. What are the chances your account was hacked and is now being used to pump out spam? Turn on two-factor authentication if you haven't already, once you are able to get back in.
They do have support reps and a ticketing system. You have to pay for them though. I suggest upgrading your account when it comes back online so that you're paying for support.
Re: The only way to get hold of a human at Google
#36That's terrible. What are some better options for web-based email?
I like fastmail.fm
Re: The only way to get hold of a human at Google
#37This is why you should never use free email for anything you care about, and especially not GMail. I hate to break it to people but the PAID service is not better either, you're just paying for what you used to get for free...
Re: The only way to get hold of a human at Google
#38There's actually a big support team for Gmail. For enterprise customers. Here are instructions: http://gmailaccountrecovery.blogspot.com/
gmailaccountrecovery.blogspot.com appears to be unrelated/unaffilated with Google. The bottom of the page says "(c) 2012 Brett K. Carver". Also, blogspot?
Re: The only way to get hold of a human at Google
#39I'm sorry for the trouble you're having. I have on idea of what's happened and why but thought it timely to point out for the benefit of those reading this thread: I highly suggest you use two-factor authentication with GMail: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/advanced-sign-in-secu... Or Jeff Atwood's post on this: http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2012/04/make-your-email-hac... Your email is too valuable to be l…
Google's got enough of my info.
If they want to come up with a two-factor auth, I'm happy to provide the public half of a PKI keypair. Of my choosing.
Not my phone number, thanks.
My real email is too valuable to be left to GMail.
Re: The only way to get hold of a human at Google
#40I'm sorry for the trouble you're having. I have on idea of what's happened and why but thought it timely to point out for the benefit of those reading this thread: I highly suggest you use two-factor authentication with GMail: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/advanced-sign-in-secu... Or Jeff Atwood's post on this: http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2012/04/make-your-email-hac... Your email is too valuable to be l…
Really? It is now a suggested policy to use additional authorization flows in order to use this email service? Are we talking about the same email service? You know, the one that's supposed to be so awesome that you'll quickly forget about getting your email the "old fashioned way" by having to mess with those pesky things like setting up a POP/IMAP account on your host provider? Talk about things coming full circle.…
gmail is a large high-visibility target.
I, for one, appreciate the fact that 2FA is available with the service. Everyone should have it turned on for any high-value mail account they own, Google or no-Google.