12 ms·

> On December 5th, I sent a note to a PR contact who I work with on Google-related news and I told him about my problem. He said he had gotten my case escalated

> On December 5th, I sent a note to a PR contact who I work with on Google-related news and I told him about my problem. He said he had gotten my case escalated and I should hear within 24 hours. Sadly in all these stories that end successfully there is an inside help from someone that has contacts in Google. I don't even want to think about what would happen to people that don't know anyone inside Google.

waterphone 9y ago
It happens all the time, and there is no recourse unless you can get lucky enough to cause a social media storm with enough outrage it catches someone's attention.
- SteveGerencser 9y ago
  Agreed. I see this story several times a year. Usually with small time people with no contacts to get them help, but I have seen large companies lose control of everything as well. I just don't understand handing over mission-critical services to companies that offer you zero control or support in exchange for free or nearly free.
- maxxxxx 9y ago
  The ability to cause a social media storm alone could be a motivation for having some social media presence. It seems otherwise you are screwed if something goes wrong.
MaysonL 9y ago
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.
- maxxxxx 9y ago
  This stuff makes me worried about the future. We'll have this massive AI/computer machinery making more and more decisions without any recourse. This will be the ultimate faceless bureaucracy. At work I can almost every day hear someone yelling at his health insurance company because something has been f...ed up. Once they start hiding even more behind automation how can you resolve anything?
  - dredmorbius 9y ago
    Automated lawsuits.
- user5994461 9y ago
  You have an interesting sister in law. In all the blacklisted stories, there is something shady going on with the sender.
  - MaysonL 9y ago
    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.
- polkovnikov-ph 9y ago
  Tell her to be sure there is a distinguishable "unsubscribe" link in letters.
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
  - PakG1 9y ago
    You'd be surprised for how many technology-inept users that wouldn't make a difference. They'll still mark the email as spam. It's easier for many people to understand and easier to click.
UncleEntity 9y ago
> I don't even want to think about what would happen to people that don't know anyone inside Google. Like me... Luckily I'm still logged into gmail on the iPhone so there's a (slim) chance I might be able to get back in on the laptop. --edit-- Maybe last time was a fluke but I managed to get signed in, weird. Sorry to doubt you google.
perl4ever 9y ago
I used my work email as my backup for my gmail account, and thus could not retrieve my password after I left that job (on good terms even, but they would not let me use my old email). Having access to my android phone tied to the gmail account helped not at all. I tried the gmail password retrieval system repeatedly, but could not get it to recognize me even though I had an archive of much of my email, so I thought I could be confident in answering questions about who I emailed and such. So, I switched to a new email account. Luckily, I had a tablet that (to this day) is still logged into my lost gmail account, so I can tell that nobody I care about is still sending to the old address. All in all, the consequences weren't that bad, although among them were the loss of my ability to have my straightforward firstname.lastname@gmail.com address...unfortunately using just my first initial and last name is not unique. The concept of being able to reach a human being at Google is tantalizing but the fact is, I have such resentment and bile built up for the way things were designed that I'm not sure I want to reach out. And it doesn't matter a great deal anyway. I suspect in the long run it's lucky I learned not to trust them too much.
- mehrdadn 9y ago
  Please tell me you've at least set up the email forwarding and "send-as" features so that you can send/receive via that account from another account if you ever want to? And on that note, maybe also set up an application-specific password if it allows you to do this without entering a password? (Though MAKE SURE to test this on your new account to make sure it doesn't lock you out with a password prompt if you attempt this.) (Although note that if you do this via Gmail it will leak your sending email address in the headers.) Also, I think you might be able to retrieve the rest of your emails too. You might not have IMAP access, but at worst, you can write Google Scripts and have then upload your emails to another account. It will be rather slow but you should be able to copy all your emails this way. I don't think it should prompt you for a password when giving permission but I'm not sure; again, test this on your new account before trying. Make sure to wait like half an hour to make sure any internal password prompt timers expire.
- Spooky23 9y ago
  I have a similar situation with my cable company. I have a mail account that I used like 20 years ago that still gets mail, but I can only access it by copying a cookie to my browser. According to the cable company, the account does not exist. Somehow between the multiple mergers, it keeps getting migrated but is orphaned from their identity system.
bitL 9y ago
> inside help from someone that has contacts in Google The same is happening with Amazon right now; sellers getting kicked out by default and there is no way to get hold of a real person, just talking to some machine learning bot. Real people simple don't matter anymore.
hello_newman 9y ago
In my experience, that is 100% true. I made an app and uploaded to the Play Store, but it was rejected for whatever reason, and I was told I'd hear back from them within 72 hours. 8 days later after not hearing anything from them despite multiple attempts, they got back to me only _after_ a friend of a friend connected me with someone who works at Google. The iOS store was a piece of cake compared to anything Google related.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
notyourday 9y ago
US over time has developed this amazing alternative system to deal with all kinds of really complicated b.s. it involves guys and gals in black robes. They even get to say "Agree, that thing you signed is stupid, so we are going to presume you did not actually sign that". Use them. They are lovely. 1-800-BUILD-A-BEAR lovely. They also happen to love to smash into faces of smug dumb entities. Like Google. Or Apple. Most often because they have their own horse to ride. But who cares. Just. Use. Them.
- mistermann 9y ago
  Wouldn't life be wonderful if this was true.
  - notyourday 9y ago
    Talk less. File more.
    - fapjacks 9y ago
      I dunno if you're a lawyer, but you should be in marketing.
nasredin 9y ago
I used Tor to access Google "products". After taking a hiatus and logging in with the correct (strong) password Google essentially locked me out. And no I don't have any "techbro" friends who work for Google. Lessons: Do not use Google unless you are OK with losing your account if they one day decide to hold your identity and data hostage. Even if you PAY Google ("Google Apps" or whatever the fuck they are calling it these days), you are still at risk. Set up mail forwarding in Gmail and migrate to a service not run by an advertising monopolist.
- jopsen 9y ago
  Always setup 2FA for anything you care about. Both TOTP, U2F and one-time codes, if available. And save the backup codes! Multiple physical copies. If you use TOR you should be taking your operational security serious. Passwords are useless.
ortekk 9y ago
My AdWords account got locked a few years back. It was my first attempt to try AdWords on my website. I've loaded around $20 and it almost immediately got locked (not a single ad was shown/clicked). I could never unlock it or retrieve my money from it. So Google has my 20 dollars now.
- mehrdadn 9y ago
  Chargeback?
  - alvah 9y ago
    Chargeback plus time machine you mean?
    - mehrdadn 9y ago
      Whoops, yeah, I guess it depends on how many years back it was. I guess it's better advice for what to do when it happens. That said, I know at least bank's website allows disputing transactions over a year old but I'm not sure if they allow over 2 years or not (you may have to call).
- lxchase 9y ago
  I recently got a letter in the mail (from EY if I recall correctly) who on behalf of Google, asked me if I wanted to collect the unused balance from an inactive account (with options on how to receive said funds), otherwise it will go to your states' unclaimed funds. Perhaps check there to see if it got sent there?

waterphone 9y ago

It happens all the time, and there is no recourse unless you can get lucky enough to cause a social media storm with enough outrage it catches someone's attention.

SteveGerencser 9y ago
Agreed. I see this story several times a year. Usually with small time people with no contacts to get them help, but I have seen large companies lose control of everything as well. I just don't understand handing over mission-critical services to companies that offer you zero control or support in exchange for free or nearly free.
maxxxxx 9y ago
The ability to cause a social media storm alone could be a motivation for having some social media presence. It seems otherwise you are screwed if something goes wrong.

MaysonL 9y ago

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.

maxxxxx 9y ago
This stuff makes me worried about the future. We'll have this massive AI/computer machinery making more and more decisions without any recourse. This will be the ultimate faceless bureaucracy. At work I can almost every day hear someone yelling at his health insurance company because something has been f...ed up. Once they start hiding even more behind automation how can you resolve anything?
- dredmorbius 9y ago
  Automated lawsuits.
user5994461 9y ago
You have an interesting sister in law. In all the blacklisted stories, there is something shady going on with the sender.
- MaysonL 9y ago
  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.
polkovnikov-ph 9y ago
Tell her to be sure there is a distinguishable "unsubscribe" link in letters.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- PakG1 9y ago
  You'd be surprised for how many technology-inept users that wouldn't make a difference. They'll still mark the email as spam. It's easier for many people to understand and easier to click.

UncleEntity 9y ago

> I don't even want to think about what would happen to people that don't know anyone inside Google. Like me... Luckily I'm still logged into gmail on the iPhone so there's a (slim) chance I might be able to get back in on the laptop. --edit-- Maybe last time was a fluke but I managed to get signed in, weird. Sorry to doubt you google.

perl4ever 9y ago

I used my work email as my backup for my gmail account, and thus could not retrieve my password after I left that job (on good terms even, but they would not let me use my old email). Having access to my android phone tied to the gmail account helped not at all. I tried the gmail password retrieval system repeatedly, but could not get it to recognize me even though I had an archive of much of my email, so I thought I could be confident in answering questions about who I emailed and such. So, I switched to a new email account. Luckily, I had a tablet that (to this day) is still logged into my lost gmail account, so I can tell that nobody I care about is still sending to the old address. All in all, the consequences weren't that bad, although among them were the loss of my ability to have my straightforward firstname.lastname@gmail.com address...unfortunately using just my first initial and last name is not unique. The concept of being able to reach a human being at Google is tantalizing but the fact is, I have such resentment and bile built up for the way things were designed that I'm not sure I want to reach out. And it doesn't matter a great deal anyway. I suspect in the long run it's lucky I learned not to trust them too much.

mehrdadn 9y ago
Please tell me you've at least set up the email forwarding and "send-as" features so that you can send/receive via that account from another account if you ever want to? And on that note, maybe also set up an application-specific password if it allows you to do this without entering a password? (Though MAKE SURE to test this on your new account to make sure it doesn't lock you out with a password prompt if you attempt this.) (Although note that if you do this via Gmail it will leak your sending email address in the headers.) Also, I think you might be able to retrieve the rest of your emails too. You might not have IMAP access, but at worst, you can write Google Scripts and have then upload your emails to another account. It will be rather slow but you should be able to copy all your emails this way. I don't think it should prompt you for a password when giving permission but I'm not sure; again, test this on your new account before trying. Make sure to wait like half an hour to make sure any internal password prompt timers expire.
Spooky23 9y ago
I have a similar situation with my cable company. I have a mail account that I used like 20 years ago that still gets mail, but I can only access it by copying a cookie to my browser. According to the cable company, the account does not exist. Somehow between the multiple mergers, it keeps getting migrated but is orphaned from their identity system.

bitL 9y ago

> inside help from someone that has contacts in Google The same is happening with Amazon right now; sellers getting kicked out by default and there is no way to get hold of a real person, just talking to some machine learning bot. Real people simple don't matter anymore.

hello_newman 9y ago

In my experience, that is 100% true. I made an app and uploaded to the Play Store, but it was rejected for whatever reason, and I was told I'd hear back from them within 72 hours. 8 days later after not hearing anything from them despite multiple attempts, they got back to me only _after_ a friend of a friend connected me with someone who works at Google. The iOS store was a piece of cake compared to anything Google related.

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

notyourday 9y ago

US over time has developed this amazing alternative system to deal with all kinds of really complicated b.s. it involves guys and gals in black robes. They even get to say "Agree, that thing you signed is stupid, so we are going to presume you did not actually sign that". Use them. They are lovely. 1-800-BUILD-A-BEAR lovely. They also happen to love to smash into faces of smug dumb entities. Like Google. Or Apple. Most often because they have their own horse to ride. But who cares. Just. Use. Them.

mistermann 9y ago
Wouldn't life be wonderful if this was true.
- notyourday 9y ago
  Talk less. File more.
  - fapjacks 9y ago
    I dunno if you're a lawyer, but you should be in marketing.

nasredin 9y ago

I used Tor to access Google "products". After taking a hiatus and logging in with the correct (strong) password Google essentially locked me out. And no I don't have any "techbro" friends who work for Google. Lessons: Do not use Google unless you are OK with losing your account if they one day decide to hold your identity and data hostage. Even if you PAY Google ("Google Apps" or whatever the fuck they are calling it these days), you are still at risk. Set up mail forwarding in Gmail and migrate to a service not run by an advertising monopolist.

jopsen 9y ago
Always setup 2FA for anything you care about. Both TOTP, U2F and one-time codes, if available. And save the backup codes! Multiple physical copies. If you use TOR you should be taking your operational security serious. Passwords are useless.

ortekk 9y ago

My AdWords account got locked a few years back. It was my first attempt to try AdWords on my website. I've loaded around $20 and it almost immediately got locked (not a single ad was shown/clicked). I could never unlock it or retrieve my money from it. So Google has my 20 dollars now.

mehrdadn 9y ago
Chargeback?
- alvah 9y ago
  Chargeback plus time machine you mean?
  - mehrdadn 9y ago
    Whoops, yeah, I guess it depends on how many years back it was. I guess it's better advice for what to do when it happens. That said, I know at least bank's website allows disputing transactions over a year old but I'm not sure if they allow over 2 years or not (you may have to call).
lxchase 9y ago
I recently got a letter in the mail (from EY if I recall correctly) who on behalf of Google, asked me if I wanted to collect the unused balance from an inactive account (with options on how to receive said funds), otherwise it will go to your states' unclaimed funds. Perhaps check there to see if it got sent there?