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I got locked out of my Google account for a month

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Re: I got locked out of my Google account for a month

#181

Post by kuschku »

mehrdadn wrote: post #180
kuschku wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I managed to successfully complete the (a) flow, but it was considered not enough, due to the different IP, and minor inaccuracy with the creation date. I later managed to successfully complete the (b) flow due to the SMS. I believe Google isn't using a binary definition of success, but a confidence interval of how sure they are you are the actual owner - if they are reasonably sure you are the owner, less questions…

> I managed to successfully complete the (a) flow, but it was considered not enough, due to the different IP, and minor inaccuracy with the creation date. That's exactly what I mean though. You didn't answer their questions correctly. It wasn't just due to your location/IP; you put in the wrong date. (It's quite funny/ironic that you are also answering my questions incorrectly and yet insisting otherwise. While I sym…

> you put in the wrong date

There is no "wrong" or "right" date for Google. Google's support says to input whatever date you remember, Google will judge it as neither "true" or "false", but based on how close you are, and (this part is now speculation) combine that with other factors.

Re: I got locked out of my Google account for a month

#182

Post by busterarm »

jopsen wrote: post #124
busterarm wrote: post #80

Funny, I also have an account where I can't remember the password and I've given google three factors of identification and they still won't verify my account to reset the password. I have no PR friends that work with Google, so I'm shit out of luck.

Where any of those factors: U2F, TOTP, one-time recovery codes?

They didn't offer me TOTP but did offer SMS verification.

Re: I got locked out of my Google account for a month

#183

Post by mehrdadn »

kuschku wrote: post #181
mehrdadn wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I managed to successfully complete the (a) flow, but it was considered not enough, due to the different IP, and minor inaccuracy with the creation date. That's exactly what I mean though. You didn't answer their questions correctly. It wasn't just due to your location/IP; you put in the wrong date. (It's quite funny/ironic that you are also answering my questions incorrectly and yet insisting otherwise. While I sym…

> you put in the wrong date There is no "wrong" or "right" date for Google. Google's support says to input whatever date you remember, Google will judge it as neither "true" or "false", but based on how close you are, and (this part is now speculation) combine that with other factors.

> There is no "wrong" or "right" date for Google. Google's support says to input whatever date you remember, Google will judge it as neither "true" or "false", but based on how close you are, and (this part is now speculation) combine that with other factors.

I'm sorry but you're not going to win over anybody like this. They asked you for a date, they potentially gave you some leeway for error (or not), and you gave the wrong date. Evidently your error was too high for them to overlook. You could argue they asked a bad question or should have given more leeway, and people might actually sympathize with you there, but relying instead on pedantry like this does not help.

Re: I got locked out of my Google account for a month

#184

Post by whiddershins »

jwilk wrote: post #177
whiddershins wrote: post #46

I think this is the money quote: “That same day I opened a second GMail account so I could have access to services like an email account if need be, [...]” So, this journalist is in the middle of a horrible experience with Gmail and responds by ... opening another Gmail account, because basically realistically imagining email as something other than Gmail is far too much of a stretch in most people’s minds.

What alternatives to GMail do you recommend?

Honestly I think the answer to your question is: giant fail by the tech community, because to my knowledge there isn’t anything actually comparable, free or paid.

Re: I got locked out of my Google account for a month

#185

Post by crazygringo »

jsjohnst wrote: post #142
crazygringo wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think you read the article: "They don’t have customer service, yet I’m paying for storage."

1) please check the rules of HN before replying that way 2) I did read the article, paying for Google Drive or Photos storage is not paying for Gmail.

1) Apologies

2) The article isn't about Gmail, it's about an entire Google account where the author stated they ARE paying for extra storage for Gmail and Drive -- where you seemed to imply they're not paying. And buying your own domain does nothing for getting access back to your 10,000's of past e-mails or your 100's of GB's of files you're paying to store.

Re: I got locked out of my Google account for a month

#186

Post by kurtisc »

polkovnikov-ph wrote: post #42
MaysonL wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My sister-in-law has a blog that sends out email notifications to subscribers (who requested them) when she posts a new article. After a few hundred subscribers had marked these notices as spam rather than unsubscribing, her blog, email account and entire site got blacklisted. She only managed to get this cleared up via a tech support friend who has contacts at Google.

Tell her to be sure there is a distinguishable "unsubscribe" link in letters.

Not just that. If I have to follow the link and log in, it's easier to go back and click spam.

Re: I got locked out of my Google account for a month

#187

Post by DashRattlesnake »

jwilk wrote: post #177
whiddershins wrote: post #46

I think this is the money quote: “That same day I opened a second GMail account so I could have access to services like an email account if need be, [...]” So, this journalist is in the middle of a horrible experience with Gmail and responds by ... opening another Gmail account, because basically realistically imagining email as something other than Gmail is far too much of a stretch in most people’s minds.

What alternatives to GMail do you recommend?

https://www.fastmail.com/

It costs $5/month if you want to use your own domain. I've pretty much stopped using Gmail, etc. and switched totally to them.

Re: I got locked out of my Google account for a month

#188

Post by MaysonL »

user5994461 wrote: post #34
MaysonL wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My sister-in-law has a blog that sends out email notifications to subscribers (who requested them) when she posts a new article. After a few hundred subscribers had marked these notices as spam rather than unsubscribing, her blog, email account and entire site got blacklisted. She only managed to get this cleared up via a tech support friend who has contacts at Google.

You have an interesting sister in law. In all the blacklisted stories, there is something shady going on with the sender.

She's a weaver, fabric artist, and teacher of fabric arts. Travels the country giving courses. Sells instructional materials and occasional tools and materials. Not a bit of shadiness involved. Your comment is inappropriate for this site.

Re: I got locked out of my Google account for a month

#189

Post by jftuga »

DashRattlesnake wrote: post #187
jwilk wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What alternatives to GMail do you recommend?

https://www.fastmail.com/ It costs $5/month if you want to use your own domain. I've pretty much stopped using Gmail, etc. and switched totally to them.

How is their calendar?

Re: I got locked out of my Google account for a month

#190

Post by WillPostForFood »

inferiorhuman wrote: post #108
WillPostForFood wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You have to update your email address with every person, service, mailing list, etc.. you use.

Just like with a second gmail account…

yes, if you are opening a second account, regardless of where, there is plenty to move.
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