Anyone locked out of their Photobucket account?

[DanEC]

I maxed out my free storage in my Photobucket account about 2 years ago - actually exceeded it a little as I just loaded pictures until it said I couldn't anymore. Rather than start paying monthly I just went to another provider and opened another photo storage account.

Now, when I try to access my older photos in Photobucket it has locked me out saying I've exceeded my allotted storage. :toetap: I have a hard time believing they aren't breaking some law in denying me access to my photos. Clicking on Contact Customer Support just leads to a broken link. Anyone else had this experience? If so, did you find a work-around or way to customer support?

[YerDugliness]

When Google took over Photobucket they made it so difficult to use that I just quit.

There are quite a few photo-hosting websites, but I understand your dilema. IMHO you should be able to access the photos you had before the one that exceeded your limit.

Do you think they are trying to coerce $$ from you with this tactic?

Perhaps contact Google...IIRC they "obtained" Photobucket a couple of years ago.

BTW---your photobucket link works for me, I can see your photos, so they haven't locked them down.

A google search brought up this:

You can call Photobucket's headquarters in Broomfield, Colorado by calling 1.720.560.2072.

Dugly

[DanEC]

Thanks Dugly. I found a customer support number through Google but when I called it, it went to a recorder that provided an email address. I wrote them an email but got a non-sense response from Robbie the email robot.

To be frank, it does appear to be a ransom demand with my photos the kidnapped property. My account had a bonus storage amount provided some years ago and basically I just loaded pictures up to when it said it was full and wouldn't load any more. Now the current account size looks larger than what I remember they used to report is as - but there isn't any way I can go back and verify that. But I mean - when it was full, it was full and they wouldn't let me load further pictures. So they controlled that - not me.

If no response I may have to pay their ransom demand for additional storage, transfer the photos elsewhere, and then stop payment after the first month. Of course all the photo links in my build thread and elsewhere will be lost then.

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Thanks Dugly. I found a customer support number through Google but when I called it, it went to a recorder that provided an email address. I wrote them an email but got a non-sense response from Robbie the email robot.

To be frank, it does appear to be a ransom demand with my photos the kidnapped property. My account had a bonus storage amount provided some years ago and basically I just loaded pictures up to when it said it was full and wouldn't load any more. Now the current account size looks larger than what I remember they used to report is as - but there isn't any way I can go back and verify that. But I mean - when it was full, it was full and they wouldn't let me load further pictures. So they controlled that - not me.

If no response I may have to pay their ransom demand for additional storage, transfer the photos elsewhere, and then stop payment after the first month. Of course all the photo links in my build thread and elsewhere will be lost then.

Instead of transferring your pictures from there, why not just copy them from there to somewhere else without deleting them from the site. After you pay one month fee cancel like you said. Your pictures are still there if you did not delete them so your photo links will continue to work on your build thread, etc.

[Ron61]

Dan,

I am not locked out but I don't like the way you have to mess around now in order to put a picture from there into a post. I used to just click on the IMG link and it would say copied and that was it. Now I have to go through a few steps to get a picture embedded in a post.

Ron

[ACHiPo]

Dan,
I've been having lots of issues accessing your pics. I thought it might just be an iPad issue, but I'm having it on my PC as well. Seems to be more of a site issue than with your pics specifically though?
AC

[Ron61]

Dan,

I can access your slide show OK on photo Bucket using the link in your signature, But when I click the camera icon to see any pictures you have on this site I just get a No Pictures in this account, so you may not have uploaded any to here.

Ron

[DanEC]

I've tried everything I can think of including opening another account from another email address but I can't circumvent the lock on the account. My idea of paying a month for additional storage and moving some photos won't work - as the only payment option is for an entire year at $35 ransom. I guess it's going to come down to that and then I will move some photos over to the second account and maybe there is a way to seek a refund (ha - yeah right).

[Ron61]

Dan,

If you don't mind email me your account name in Photo Bucket and let me try something.

Ron

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by DanEC

I've tried everything I can think of including opening another account from another email address but I can't circumvent the lock on the account. My idea of paying a month for additional storage and moving some photos won't work - as the only payment option is for an entire year at $35 ransom. I guess it's going to come down to that and then I will move some photos over to the second account and maybe there is a way to seek a refund (ha - yeah right).

A paid account gets you a whole boatload of space.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

A paid account gets you a whole boatload of space.

I agree but this type of behavior leaves me very untrusting.

[twobjshelbys]

I had free account when they first started and used it for all of my car pictures that I post to forums. At some point I filled it up and started another. At some point they increased the size by about 10x. One time I was getting pestered that my account was exceeding bandwidth (I think it was the Ford GT Rally) so I went to paid, but I think I dropped it afterwards but still get a lot of capacity.

The provide no means to combine multiple accounts. The only is to re-upload all of the photos to the other account. They do this to discourage multiple free accounts. I've left mine alone because it has many links to it but won't use the second one any more since the first one is now so big.

As far as being "untrustworthy" they are no different than any other online business and can and do change their terms of service frequently. It's always gotten better.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by Ron61

Dan,

If you don't mind email me your account name in Photo Bucket and let me try something.

Ron

Ron - I emailed it to you through the forum link. If you don't get it let me know.

Thanks

[Ron61]

Dan,

I received it and tried a few things but it won't let me in. I just get the You have used 100% of your free storage message. There is one more thing I want to try but it will be a while as I am busy with our site.

Ron