Microsoft outdoes themselves again, in a bad way

Yesterday my mother-in-law received a notice when she tried to login to her email account that it was blocked due to suspicious activity and she needed to verify that she was truly who she says she is. There was an online form. One of the questions was a standard security question that she thinks she knew the answer to. Next she had to give them 3 people she had recently sent emails to and what the subjects were. Like she said how is she supposed to know that if she cannot see her email. Also, wouldn't a hacker be able to know this info? All of her contacts are saved she has no idea what their email addresses are. Also she checks it once a week.We attempted to give them the information and submitted the form. their response was it was not enough and to resubmit with more info. Sounds like she isn't the only person in this hell.Here is one thread discussing this in MS forums. There are multiple threads.
MS hellIt is amazing that a corporation like this is so tone deaf to the needs of their users and customers.Here is the text of our complaint to the state consumer protection. It won't get us anywhere but felt it needed to be said.

quote:

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I have had a Microsoft Hotmail account for years. yesterday I received an email stating my account was locked due to suspicions it had been hacked. Microsoft has an online recovery tool, but they have determined I have not provided enough information to prove who I am. There is no ability to contact a person and all I have gotten back is that they want me to provide more information and resubmit.

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Like most people now days my email is my link to the world. I have important tax, financial and travel on this account. If I cannot access my account I lose extensive amounts of personal and financial information.

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Microsoft has no viable workaround. My son in law has been working on this has found no way to get a response or any workaround.

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This MS forum will give you an idea of the magnitude of this issue.

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I ahve been calling MS phone numbers. Their response is that they do not offer phone support and will not take my information because they have no idea who to submit it too.Lovely.Edited by Theodoric, : slight cleanup

It is my mother in laws. I have nothing important on my email. I back everything up.The thing is very few people like her are savvy about this. If a service is offered they should provide a way to resolve issues that makes sense and is accessible.

They should have a viable process in place for people to resolve issues when they arise.It is amazing that so many people have decided that the user should just expect to be fucked.The issue is that there is no way to resolve an issue when it arises.

I have decide not to respond to the idiots that have nothing constructive to say.Seems some people think that getting fucked over by corporations is ok. Wonder what it is that they bitch about.Edited by Theodoric, : No reason given.

If a company offers a service, whether free or not, they should be willing to support the service.How about you just quit posting to this thread since you OBVIOUSLY, have nothing constructive or even relevant to add.Good day, Sir,

Gee, gmail is free and they have a great customer service. Pretty much destroys your argument. Why are you so pissed off?I said Good Day; Sir.

Immoral? Are you fucking serious?Go away itchy ass. (Billy Connolly reference)Squatters?Do you have any ideas what that word means? People are invited to use Hotmail.Edited by Theodoric, : No reason given.

My point exactly.Got into her email this morning. Not sure how I was able to get them to send an unlock code to my email, but they did.Doesn't seem that security is so important after all.