Shared Experiences Verify problem

john65black · 11 Jun 2019

Hi,
I keep getting emails from MS saying security alert asking me to recover my account. I am asked to fill out the last four digits of my phone number for verification but when I do this I get the following message. "There's a temporary problem with the service. Please try again. If you continue to get this message, try again later."
I have been trying to verify my account for several days but keep getting this reply. How do I get out of this catch 22?

I thank in advance all who offer help.

Thanks John

- - - Updated - - -

Sometimes I get to enter code which is the next page after the above. I then wait for MS or someone to reply by phone but nobody phones me.

John

Caledon Ken · 11 Jun 2019

Hi John. Welcome to the TenForums @john65black

The phone number you are using, is it a mobile number? I've see the system get real cranky when it has to text to a land line in Canada. From your timezone you must be across the water.

Depending on how you set up account did you use a recovery email address as well. If so then you should have the opportunity to try an alternate way to verify.

Ken

john65black · 11 Jun 2019

Thanks for the help Ken. I am in Scotland and I didnt register a mobile just a landline. I still have not has an email or phone call yet. It seems as if the system is overloaded sometimes producing the dreaded red text about being temporarily unavailable at the first step and sometimes at the second. I am still at a loss to know how to treat it. I wonder if the security alert interloper is me as I have a new smartphone. If so then I wont worry but if its some bandit then I want to get on top of it. I know that MS have my email account but I have only ever needed one and its too late to set up another one.

John

Caledon Ken · 11 Jun 2019

Actually it might not be. If you are in your account at account.microsoft.com there should be a security box with the word update.

It will then challenge you for account password. Not sure if it will challenge on code.

I've seen it, many times, where if you can't validate account, and you add new security info, like cell number, it kinds of puts you in this Security state where every time you log in for the next 30 days it tells you security info has change. Basically they figure the real user will sign on in these 30 days and if they didn't initiate the change they can cancel the update.

Prior to doing this I would establish and test a gmail account. Or use smartphone number.

MS can crank out thousands of text per minute, not sure system is overloaded. Where I live it just won't test to a landline. Other places near here it will. Very strange.

Should you lose control of account it is essential you know birthdate and names you recently emailed and I think subjects. Basically the machine will determine if you are you.

Shared Experiences Verify problem

Shared Experiences Verify problem

Thanks Ken