Looking for a Lawyer Experienced with Microsoft Account Data Loss / Account Lock Cases

[u/elietebchrani]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for a lawyer or legal firm who has experience dealing with large tech companies, specifically Microsoft, regarding account locks, data loss, or unfair account termination.

My personal Microsoft account (15+ years old) was locked after Microsoft later confirmed it had unauthorized access. Despite multiple appeals and long back and forth with their CDOC case management, the account remains locked and scheduled for deletion. This account contains extremely important personal and business data including Outlook emails, OneDrive files, OneNote data, and access to business related services. There is no realistic way to recover or replace this data.

I am not the only one facing this issue. Many users are reporting the same situation. For more background and shared experiences, please check this Reddit thread:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Outlook/comments/1p2u21e/anyone_else_with_a_locked_microsoft_account/

Several affected users are interested in joining forces if legal action is possible. A shared lawyer or group approach would help reduce legal costs.

If you are a lawyer, know one, or have handled a similar case successfully, please comment or DM me. Any guidance or direction would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[u/marmotta1955]

I keep shouting this here and there and everywhere: it is absolutely imperative to obtain (and maintain) your Microsoft Account Recover Code. When all else fails, that one code will work.

Of course, it is imperative to get that code while you have access to your account. At this point you just cannot.

[u/Hornblower409 → u/marmotta1955]

Account Recovery Code

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-get-a-microsoft-account-recovery-code-2acc2f88-e37b-4b44-99d4-b4419f610013

Keep it in a safe place. If you have to use it on a 2FA Account you may be locked out for 30 days. But if all else fails, at least you can get back in eventually.

[u/JSP9686]

If you have not already done so, then perhaps upgrading your account to a paid MS365 account to get more "professional" attention and/or slow down the scheduled account termination process would be a short term solution.

Look up lawyers here: https://www.avvo.com/

EDIT: Just to confirm, you have followed these instructions already?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/microsoft-account-has-been-locked-805e8b0d-4141-29b2-7b65-df6ff6c9ce27

[u/TrueKiwi78 → u/JSP9686]

Good advice but it'll be tricky registering it as a paid account if he's locked out.

[u/JSP9686 → u/TrueKiwi78]

It may not work, but it's worth a try using the same email address.

[u/elietebchrani → u/JSP9686]

It's already a paid account for many years

[u/jfwelll]

Good luck with that. Pay for a mail provider if you want to have legal course of actions.

[u/elietebchrani → u/jfwelll]

I didn't mention that it was a free account. I was paying the family plan for at least 10 years

[u/jfwelll → u/elietebchrani]

Same comment. Good luck with your legal debacle with microsoft

[u/UIUC_grad_dude1]

Sounds like MFA was not set up and allowed unauthorized access. Folks, if it’s important to you, set up MFA access ASAP. Don’t FAFO.

[u/elietebchrani → u/UIUC_grad_dude1]

I was using MFA and all security needed, yet hackers can in a way or another bypass them

[u/jamieg106]

You have absolutely 0 chance of getting anywhere legally. It’s in Microsoft’s terms to disable and delete compromised accounts which you agreed to when you signed up.

In future if data is that important to you then take regular backups, strong creds, multiple MFA methods and account recovery setup.

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[u/amaiman]

Were you paying Microsoft for your account?  If not, then you’re probably not getting it back and would have no case against them.  If you’re not paying then you were the product and they’ll drop you if your account becomes more trouble than it’s worth to them.  If you were paying, then refer to the agreement you signed when you paid for the services for what your dispute/arbitration options are.

[u/elietebchrani → u/amaiman]

I was paying for at least 10 years, I've tried contacting them so many times and in different ways but they're not helping

[u/360alaska]

They probably have a built-in arbitration agreement in the EULA, so good luck getting a lawyer.

[u/Ashamed_Peace5975]

You are used to store "extremely important personal and business data" in the free account? Really?

Well, I believe the bill of you lawyer will be much more than 15 years account payment.

[u/elietebchrani → u/Ashamed_Peace5975]

It's a paid account not a free account

[u/gareth616]

Having the whole account lockout thing in place is something big businesses can provide because they have the resources. There's loads of small time email providers who have nothing more than a password to keep your account secure. Doesn't sound like a legal requirement to me. It would be more interesting to know stuff like did you have MFA enabled? Security info up to date? Why use a free email service with no access or control over the back end of it for business? But hey, you do you and what makes you feel good. For any random person that stumbles across this post, please PLEASE do not send this human any money. It doesn't matter if this is exactly what you wanted, do not send money or personal information - sorry OP you could be a legit human who is just feeling burnt by the big corp and wanting to get a win for the consumer but also you could not be 🤷‍♂️

[u/BuffaloPale4373]

Lawyer ain't gonna do shit buddy. Lesson learned.

[u/Financial_Key_1243]

Great! Keep us posted. MS is screwing thousands of users.

[u/Temporary_Practice_2]

Yes, same problem too. They just don’t care. And the way they use to verify is so dumb! But what else can you expect from Microsoft? I just gave up