Options for accessing organization google account

December 3, 2020 2:49 PM

Is there a way to get access to an organization's google account that is inaccessible because one person won't share it?

A small volunteer organization has a google account that was set up as a regular free google account (not a GSuite account). One person set the account up, has used it without sharing information about it, has left the organization on bad terms, and is refusing to share account access. Is the organization's only option to set up a new account? Or is there a way to access it through an appeal to google in some way?

posted by medusa to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

Best answer: Is the account tied to a domain name you control, or is it just a regular @gmail.com account?

If just a regular account, you may be out of luck. But have you tried the steps for recovering a hacked account? I would caution that the person who created the account likely has also not shared the information you would need to recover it, such as an associated reset email address and the answers to any security questions. Worth a try, though. If you manage to successfully recover it, don't forget to reset passwords, set up new security questions, etc. so the volunteer can't do the same right back.

You can always try asking Google both via support and on a public forum, such as on Twitter, for help. But in my experience it is super hard to get anyone to pay attention. It would likely also be hard to prove that you should be able to take the account over. It sucks, but if the account recovery process doesn't work, the path of least resistance is probably to just do a new account. Perhaps set up a new account, then wait for a few months and try again to get the volunteer to give over the account access (once they have calmed down a bit)?

Good luck, that does not sound fun.
posted by gemmy at 3:42 PM on December 3, 2020

Best answer: Yeah this really depends how much the person doesn't want you to have access to it. In the Before Times I'd suggest trying to log in via some kind of office computer where they might have the password saved in the browser. Or, yes, do what gemmy suggests. But honestly, it would be easier in many cases to just either tie some sort of thing to the return of the account access (i.e. "We will not contest your unemployment claim if you can give us access to this account" or similar options which may be of questionable legality) or just salt the earth and set up a new one. A lot of very tough love answers on this Stack Exchange question covering a similar but not identical situation.
posted by jessamyn at 3:49 PM on December 3, 2020

Response by poster: gemmy, it's a regular @gmail.com account.
posted by medusa at 5:22 PM on December 3, 2020

Are any financial or payment items made through this account? In that case, perhaps a sternly worded letter about criminal misrepresentation of a non-profit could convince them to hand it over? Maybe something to head to small claims court?
posted by nickggully at 5:56 PM on December 3, 2020 [1 favorite]

Best answer: gemmy, it's a regular @gmail.com account.

Yea, I think you are probably SOL, unfortunately. You may have to decide if it's worth even fighting with this person on this, or if it's better to just cut your losses and put that effort into making sure everyone knows that your new official contact info is [e-mail] instead.

Or spend the time/potential money on setting up an organizational domain and/or associated email address instead. Might be easier to explain the switch to a new email if it's to a "[e-mail]" instead, and may get people to switch to it faster as it's more official-looking.
posted by gemmy at 6:07 PM on December 3, 2020 [3 favorites]