Employee left the business but is still using her work email address

[FYLM]

And according to Microsoft, there is NOTHING they can do about it.

I set up a small business 2 years ago. One of my employees left last week. I called Microsoft as we are with Office 365 to reset her email account with a new password so that she could not access it and I could manage the account myself (I am a sole trader). The email address she was using was the generic one, "hello@....".

As she changed all the passwords, Microsoft have said there is nothing they can do. I can't get into Office 365, I can't reclaim the email address from her, there is literally NOTHING I can do.

All they keep saying is "contact your HR", "contact your IT dept", etc. I don't have these things - I am a sole trader!

Can anyone advise me please? Thanks.

I think from your main GoDaddy account page you can delete/disable her specific email address. I did that when one of my team left and changed it to a new email for a new team member i.e. changed louise@ to lucy@

Can ypu answer security to queestions to reset it if you are the owner?

Glad you’ve sorted something out OP but, on a separate note, in terms of the possibility that this ex-employee may be taking business or clients from you, do you have a contract with her that has a clause guarding against this? This is pretty standard in, for example, sales-related jobs and certainly a wise move with any future employees.

It's odd they required you to shut down the website unless you were hosting your website itself with Microsoft?

You just needed to change the records which tell your domain where your emails are. Generally it's the MX records you need to change and they should have been able to help you change these away from Microsoft to another email service of your choice.

Anyway glad it's all sorted now and sorry about your friend.

I think that you’re asking advice on the wrong website. Contact the ICO for advice.

I would go get a free half an hour with a solicitor for advice and then followed up by a solicitors letter to your ex employee plus call the police as what she is doing could be classed as fraud. Let us know how you go on

It was sorted yesterday at 04:25

I don't know why some people always come out all guns blazing and tell OPs to go to the police, the ICO, etc. Believe me, these people are highly unlikely to give the tiniest toss about something like this, let alone do anything. I've learned that the hard way.

Login in go daddy

And redirect all emails to that email address to a new one

Are you a member of the Federation of Small Businesses? They can give you free legal advice.

If you bought the domain name through GoDaddy, they might be able to reset with them (though now msn email).

Sounds like you might have to set up a new email account.

You might find this link useful: what to do...

She has very likely commited an offence against the computer misuse act. The ICO have brought prosecutions using this.
Case here of maliciously accessing personal data of the business when no longer an employee.
metro.co.uk/2022/05/12/yorkshire-spa-forced-to-close-after-sacked-worker-cancelled-hundreds-of-appointments-16632403/

I assume your ex employee was able to access personal data, if so I'd be reporting to the ICO as a Section 170 and computer misuse act

This is absolutely a no. no. You must have a cease and desist letter sent to this ex-employee immediately. This could turn out very nasty for you. I had a very lucrative business in London. I " mad " employee retained a copy of the keys to the office and committed fraud, stole items from the office and took a list of the clients , who she contacted in an effort to blackmail me.. Its also very rude !

Has OP actually spoken to the ex-employee?

Perhaps because unlike you they had help?

The only problem is you're going to lose business. Some friend!

How are you a sole trader.with employees??

Presumably you can do that.

Sole traders can have employees.

Because that's a perfectly normal thing.

Why do people not read threads and updates?

sole trader means that you own the business yourself. it is not owned by a partnership or a limited company.

you can employ as many people as you want

I would send her a formal letter saying if business has been lost or she has accessed emails and company account after leaving that you reserve the right to take action.

I would def have a paper trail.

check your sent mail and drafts!

That will be cheaper than losing your business.

Do you have your own domain name? If so, get the host to sort it for you.

If you have MS365 you should be able to edit the overall account admin password which will allow you to change email address information.

If you live near me I'll come and do it for you. DM me approx location.

Ignore me, I'm too slow and didn't read all as I was wanting to offer to come and help you as quickly as possible.

Glad you're sorted.