What a hassle! Change your password, lose your account!

[waldamir]

Just wanted to warn people. I changed the password for my Amazon account and there was a glitch. The system created a new account that didn't have any of my information, and prevented me from purchasing or downloading any more books. I phoned Amazon and was told that some information was needed which I provided, and then was told that my account would be FROZEN for 24 to 48 hours. OK, so I waited. I called to check on the status, but the friendly customer service rep was unable to provide any information at all and said I would have to continue to wait. I called tonight and was given the same story. It has been days and I can't figure out just why my business is no longer accepted. I mean I've bought a bunch of books. Oh well, I guess for the time being I'm back to paper books from one of the chains. They do need our support I guess. But I sure am missing my Kindle.

[Toby]

That's strange. Wish I could help. Just keep calling & emailing them until you get an answer from Amazon.

[Betsy the Quilter]

Wow, that's depressing!  Keep calling them back.

Betsy

[rho]

I would keep calling and asking to speak to a supervisor or someone able to get me activated again and while I would be nice I would also not get off the line until someone helped me - and if I couldn't get someone to help me on that call I would call back again and again until someone did help -

[NYCKindleFan]

I recently changed my password and everything went fine. I'm sorry this happened to you but I notice this is your first post so at the same time I can't help but be a little suspicious of people who register on a site just to bash something/someone. Hope all is resolved soon!

[Ann in Arlington]

Well, let's not assume that's the ONLY reason waldamir registered.  After all, when you have a problem it's natural to go looking for a solution.  I'm glad he/she came to us!

W, you've been given good advice -- keep pursuing it at Amazon. . .escalate to supervisors if you have to.  I had a similar issue when I first bought my Kindle. . .somehow they got my account split and, though everything seemed to be fine, it didn't show any of my previous purchases so my 'recommendations' were all off. . . .they did get it fixed. . . .keep working it.

Also, welcome to the Boards. . . .there's an INTRO section. . . .come on down and let us know a little bit about yourself!

Ann

[Leslie]

Just wanted to warn people. I changed the password for my Amazon account and there was a glitch. The system created a new account that didn't have any of my information, and prevented me from purchasing or downloading any more books. I phoned Amazon and was told that some information was needed which I provided, and then was told that my account would be FROZEN for 24 to 48 hours. OK, so I waited. I called to check on the status, but the friendly customer service rep was unable to provide any information at all and said I would have to continue to wait. I called tonight and was given the same story. It has been days and I can't figure out just why my business is no longer accepted. I mean I've bought a bunch of books. Oh well, I guess for the time being I'm back to paper books from one of the chains. They do need our support I guess. But I sure am missing my Kindle.

Go try posting under your original password and see if that logs you in. It is my experience that you actually can't change your password at Amazon -- if you try to, the system just sets up a new account, as you discovered. But the old one might very well be there. Try it and report back.

L

[drenee]

A couple of months ago I had a similar problem.  All at once I couldn't access anything in my account.  I called CS and was told I had three accounts.  One was from three or four years prior.  The CS rep walked me through closing the older account and merging the other two accounts and giving me a new password.  It was resolved in about 15 or 20 minutes. 
I agree with the others who have suggested you keep calling.  Days is too long to wait to fix an account glitch.
Welcome.
deb

[waldamir]

Thank you all for the support. I've been trying and trying. Still not resolved, but I hope soon.

For the record: I love my Kindle. Changed my life. But sometimes hearing from others helps when there are problems.

So far I've been told that it is under investigation and that there is no one I can contact and that I have to wait to hear from them. Frustrating. Hope it gets cleared  up soon.

[ny2ks]

Thank you all for the support. I've been trying and trying. Still not resolved, but I hope soon.

For the record: I love my Kindle. Changed my life. But sometimes hearing from others helps when there are problems.

So far I've been told that it is under investigation and that there is no one I can contact and that I have to wait to hear from them. Frustrating. Hope it gets cleared  up soon.

Wow, I can understand how frustrating this must be, but it sounds like Amazon is erring on the side of caution to make sure that your account was not being hijacked. If someone had hijacked your Amazon account you would be out of more than a few days of Kindle management access---you could possibly find not only a ton of high priced items were ordered and sent to Outer Mongolia but someone got access to your credit card and bank information too. I love the "one click" ordering option but the convenience of fast ordering (i.e. stored credit card and bank information being kept by Amazon) makes it that much easier for the bad guys. Something triggered the investigation and though frustrating, once it is completed you will have access back and the peace of mind of knowing that Amazon apparently has some safety measures in place to protect us.

[Anju No. 469]

hang in there waldamir - suggest you do like Ann says and try to get a supervisor.  Of course, you might have to wait until Monday, but then today might work as well.  Good luck!

[MonaSW]

if you try to, the system just sets up a new account, as you discovered. But the old one might very well be there. Try it and report back.

I've done that. Now I have a second account with a $5 gift certificate applied to an account I didn't intend to create. But the old account works just fine.

[DawnOfChaos]

That's very odd.  I change my passwords once a quarter and have never had an issue.

[Wannabe]

Go try posting under your original password and see if that logs you in. It is my experience that you actually can't change your password at Amazon -- if you try to, the system just sets up a new account, as you discovered. But the old one might very well be there. Try it and report back.

L

Yes, this might work. I didn't realize it but I once had two accounts. They both had exactly the same username but the passwords were one number different. It was only by chance that I discovered the second account and when I did, I had them close it.

[NYCKindleFan]

Go try posting under your original password and see if that logs you in. It is my experience that you actually can't change your password at Amazon -- if you try to, the system just sets up a new account, as you discovered. But the old one might very well be there. Try it and report back.

L

I don't believe that's true at all. About 2 months ago my husband and I both had to change our Amazon passwords-actually Amazon did it. We each got an email from them  (and yes it was legit, it addressed us by our full names, not "Dear User" and we called Amazon to be sure) saying a phishing scam had targeted the site and they had changed our passwords for our safety, provided the new ones, and asked us to log in with them and change them again. We did so and all has been fine. All our info is intact. No fradulent activity or charges, nothing. This was just our experience but I'd like to think it's the norm, not the exception.

[Leslie]

I don't believe that's true at all. About 2 months ago my husband and I both had to change our Amazon passwords-actually Amazon did it. We each got an email from them  (and yes it was legit, it addressed us by our full names, not "Dear User" and we called Amazon to be sure) saying a phishing scam had targeted the site and they had changed our passwords for our safety, provided the new ones, and asked us to log in with them and change them again. We did so and all has been fine. All our info is intact. No fradulent activity or charges, nothing. This was just our experience but I'd like to think it's the norm, not the exception.

Obviously, your true is different from my true. I have at least two Amazon accounts (maybe more) with different passwords. If I log into the wrong one, I don't see my Kindle, don't see my gift certificate balance and don't see all my Kindle books. I've talked to Amazon about this and they cannot assure me that if they delete the rogue account that all the information on the real account will remain intact. So, I have let it be and am careful which password I use to login.

L

[MikeD]

That's very odd.  I change my passwords once a quarter and have never had an issue.

Same here.

Sorry to hear about your problem, waldamir. I hope you get it solved soon.

[kyliedork]

I think you have tripped a amazon user account security system. stuff like chnaging passwords from a new IP address, missmatch in the IP range & geoaddress database, etc.  I wouldn't be surpised that they can't mention to much info reguarding your situation on the basis that it may give to many clues to the internal security systems

[waldamir]

Unfortunately the situation is still going on. As has been suggested, it will go on till at lest Monday and they can't tell me anything. You know, for security I have no problem waiting. I am frustrated that several of the reps I've spoken to said that they would send an email to the account specialist and then they never did. They have also told me it would be taken care of by yesterday and if not I would get an email "for sure." Didn't happen. No email, no response. They said I would hear by 6pm today "for sure," no notice again. So my Kindle books are unavailable to me and I can't purchase anything.

What are the best sites others have found for purchasing books? Looks like I'm going to need to find another eBook-store. I'm going into Kindle withdrawal! Sigh.

[Kind]

Just keep on calling them. Say you will take your business elsewhere. I mean, you are pretty much handing them money and they are refusing.

[MikeD]

...What are the best sites others have found for purchasing books? Looks like I'm going to need to find another eBook-store. I'm going into Kindle withdrawal! Sigh.

You might consider multi-format books from Fictionwise.com or check out baen.com if you like Sci-fi.

[Leslie]

What are the best sites others have found for purchasing books? Looks like I'm going to need to find another eBook-store. I'm going into Kindle withdrawal! Sigh.

Get some of Josh Lanyon's books from Loose Id. They work just fine on your Kindle and Josh writes great stories. The first two Adrien English books are together in one volume...a steal at $6.99! Adrien is a book store owner turned amateur sleuth. Fun stuff.

http://www.loose-id.com/prod-Adrien_English_Mysteries_1___2-459.aspx

L

[Ann in Arlington]

Free books, mostly classics, at manybooks.net and feedbooks.com. . . .

Ann

[Cuechick]

I would keep calling and asking to speak to a supervisor

Ditto! Take names too!

[Cuechick]

Free books, mostly classics, at manybooks.net and feedbooks.com. . . .

Ann

Good point! I forgot about that too. I love feedbooks!

[koland]

I recently changed my password and everything went fine. I'm sorry this happened to you but I notice this is your first post so at the same time I can't help but be a little suspicious of people who register on a site just to bash something/someone. Hope all is resolved soon!

It's been several yeas and was pre-kindle, but I had a similar thing happen to my account. I had not tried to change the password, but the account was frozen. They tried to get me to create a new account, but then my login for my affiliate account would have had a different email address and I would have lost all my history. They did eventually get my original account unfrozen, but it did take a few days (and a lot of calls).  Similar to the person who has recently claimed to have an account closed for too many returns, my account was apparently flagged for something similar - but without ever having made any actual returns. Either a glitch at their end or someone was doing the closing by hand and missed, or someone tried to hack into the account (but I never saw any unauthorized purchase receipts) - and I had a similar problem with being "dead" to regular CS until they got it straightened out. They never did say why the problem occurred, but I've never had an issue since. However, I always back up all my purchases from them (music, books, games, whatever), as you truly are unable to access any of this is your account has a problem.

Karen
http://booksontheknob.blogspot.com/