Trouble from old Facebook account (that I can’t get into!)

[YelloYelloYello]

I have an old Facebook account that I used while at Uni. It has the usual embarrassing tagged photos from a slightly wild youth but not much else. I didn’t continue to use it after Uni.

It’s really not doing my career any favours as if someone searches my name then that old account shows up! Someone sent me a link to it the other day saying “Is this you...”

I’ve tried logging on but unsurprisingly I can’t remember what password I set up all those years ago. When I try to recover the account they will only send a password reset to my old Uni email address (which no longer exists - I even contacted the Uni to check).

Facebook are not helping at all. Everything is automated and when I go through the troubleshooting I always end up at basically a ‘nevermind, make a new account instead’ answer. I don’t want a new account! 😫 I could cry.

Has anyone has success getting into an old account or getting it taken down?

Hmm. Don't really know much about getting into old accounts. But,
The only thing I can think of is are you friends or in contact now with anyone on your locked original page? If so can they report you for being a fake person, or for something bad so Facebook shut it down. Don't know if that actually happens, just a thought. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Have you tried this?

Under right to be forgotten legislation you can request that search engines don't index the page. Google it and action. The page will still be there but no one searching for you will find it.

@Mountaingoatling

Under right to be forgotten legislation you can request that search engines don't index the page. Google it and action. The page will still be there but no one searching for you will find it.

I will definitely do this, thank you. But I am assuming that people will still be able to go into Facebook itself and search for me there?

@AngusThermopyle & @Henio I made another (temporary) account to try reporting my original one. I’ve attached a screenshot of the options that come up when I click ‘report’. The only ones that are helpful are the last three and they all take me back to the ‘Recover This Account’ nightmare loop that only ends in failure (and weeping).

Maybe I should try reporting it for pretending to be me... I’ll do that now.

Can you do a right to erasure request directly through Facebook (via their privacy notice which should give a contact), I'm not sure how they will prove it's you exactly but it's worth trying as it is your personal data.

@userchange7643 I’ve been looking for a direct contact for hours now. If I can find one then I will definitely try that, thank you.

@YelloYelloYello
Does this work... 0203 386 6000

[quote YelloYelloYello]@userchange7643 I’ve been looking for a direct contact for hours now. If I can find one then I will definitely try that, thank you.[/quote]
I've found this: www.facebook.com/help/contact/540977946302970

You guys are amazing, thank you. The number isn’t answering but it may be out of office hours so I’ll try again on Monday. And I’ve sent off the request form. Had to fill it in for the wrong thing and then write a lengthly attachment as otherwise it redirects me back to the loop of doom - but at least it might get me through to an actual human so worth a shot!

Fingers crossed OP!

You can get back in if you give photo ID documentation like a Passport.

Do you know whether you’ve been sent a genuine link to your profile? I only ask as I remember those click bait scammy emails which were something like ‘I can’t believe what you’re doing on this photo…’

@LemonSwan

You can get back in if you give photo ID documentation like a Passport.

That’s what I had originally heard. I didn’t love the idea of them having a scan of my passport but I dug it out ready to go and yet there is no option for me to show it to them. There must be a way though, I must need to hit on the right combination of answers when I start troubleshooting.

@BitchIAmFromChicago I wish it was a scam. I went through the search in FB separately and there I am in all my embarrassing teenage glory.

I should speak in schools and colleges. If kids need a warning about what you post online damaging your future prospects then my massive drunken arse would be convincing enough! 😫

You need to speak to a human to process the ID. Keep sending emails OP. You will get there eventually.