Playstation Account Recovery Requirements are Ridiculous

[yumms]

I had to contact PS support to recover my PS+ account since the system wasn't sending password reset emails.

They needed the following information:

The PSN Account Online ID and email address
The Credit Card used to make purchases on the account
The serial number of the first console used to create or log into your account
Details of recent transactions made on the account
Email address used when the account was created
PayPal details (If applicable)

I never use CC on PSN, always used gift cards and who the fuck would have the original serial number of the console where the PS account was created on?! I created mine on a PS3.

They basically told me to fuck off and get back to them with all the information above.

Thankfully, I did manage to log in my account myself.

 

[Rosebud]

Serial number is bullshit, but the other looks normal? They need to make sure it's really your account.

Keep backup codes somewhere safe.

 

[TheInfinityGauntlet]

I mean it's account recovery it needs to be secure

I do think the serial number is a bit much but everything else seems fine

 

[TylerDurden4321]

If you never use your credit card with PSN, you can't provide the number. That ones easily doable (though I'd love them to ask me for the number I once provided before I switched to only buying PSN cards on Amazon and deleting my credit card on PSN ...that would be admitting they still have it saved somewhere).

But the SERIAL NUMBER of the original console? That was a PS3 fat in my case... which I would still have stored somewhere, hadn't it gone YLOD in ~2010.

Is OP really right, that they ask about that serial number?

 

[Yuntu]

That seems pretty normal for account recovery. With Apple for example you need similiar info and it can take ... I think the longest I saw was like 42 days?

 

[MJForum Poster]

The serial number is insane. I don't have my PS3 laying around anymore.

 

[Finale Fireworker]

On one hand, in the age of digital libraries I am grateful it would be difficult for someone to steal over ten years of purchases from me by tricking Sony support in to giving them the keys.

On the other hand, who would have the serial number of the first console they ever used the account with? How would anyone ever have that?

Admittedly it is harder for yumms because they don't use a credit card on PSN, but I imagine there are lots of people like that due to the PS3 breach.

 

[BarryFishFinger]

Serial number of the first console? Wow. My account was created on a fat PS3 that ylod on me and got ditched about a decade ago.

 

[Yuntu]

On one hand, in the age of digital libraries I am grateful it would be difficult for someone to steal over ten years of purchases from me by tricking Sony support in to giving them the keys.

On the other hand, who would have the serial number of the first console they ever used the account with? How would anyone ever have that?

Admittedly it is harder for yumms because they don't use a credit card on PSN, but I imagine there are lots of people like that due to the PS3 breach.

Click to shrink...

Yeah the serial number bit is a bit extreme. Unless they would clearly say to write that down during account creation (I dont think they do).

 

[Serious Sam]

The serial number of the first console used to create or log into your account

Click to shrink...

Haha what? My original console which I sold probably changed 5 owners by now.

 

[Mr. Snuffleupagus]

I'm having the same issue having switched phone numbers recently and there not being able to complete 2FA. In the UK there are no CS agents available either by phone or chat window and you have to log in in order to file a support ticket, which is the whole problem I'm having in the first place. It really sucks.

 

[cw_sasuke]

Thats why you always need to save these kind of details while you still have access to that information and the account - once you locked out it gets difficult to obtain some of the information.

Same way for some online and f2p games - where the CS is gonna ask alot of details information to get the recovery process going on.

It sucks - but thats the way to prevent from account being claimed by random persons that only got your most basic information.

Usually you can progress if 1-2 of the asked requirements isnt available and keep engaging, but they are gonna ask other stuff from you then. Just the easiest way for the companies to make sure that people dont use the account recovery unless absolutely neccsary and if they are legit.

 

[Awadlx]

Yeah I agree. I think they should hand over the account to anyone who asks for it.

The serial number is not a must requirement btw. If you are unable to satisfy any one question, you are expected to provide enough answers to the other questions to assure them the account is yours.

 

[DieH@rd]

Serial number of the first console? Wow. My account was created on a fat PS3 that ylod on me and got ditched about a decade ago.

Click to shrink...

Don't loose access to your account. :D

 

[Rosebud]

Btw, where can you see the serial number of a console?

 

[Temperance]

I've long known about that serial number business.

If you created you account on your current PS4, back up that code now before you upgrade to a PS5 and sell it off.

 

[Ready2Rokk]

So is there anyway to look up the serial number of your first console on PSN while you have account access? Otherwise, I have no idea. I'm not even sure I know what it is? I borrowed a PS3 from a friend for a few months and that was probably the first console I had the PSN ID attached to.

 

[Meus Renaissance]

Surely they mean the serial of the console LINKED to your account?

 

[dom]

You don't need the serial of first console to recover the account. It's just one way to do so. You can also use a serial of a console that your account has been active on for awhile.

Also OP, do you really want account recovery to be easy? If it's easy for you, it's easy for a social hack.

 

[Adamska]

Always keep your PSN receipts handy for these cases.

 

[Rosebud]

Always keep your PSN receipts handy for these cases.

Click to shrink...

Yeah, people shouldn't delete any emails from purchases.

 

[Deadceptor]

The serial number of the first console used to create or log into your account

Hold on, gonna grab my PSP from the drawer!

 

[OrangeNova]

Serial number of the first console is so dumb, I registered mine on my friend's launch PS3... That thing is in a landfill somewhere now

 

[Diablos]

What of you don't have the serial number of the first console you used??

 

[yumms]

You don't need the serial of first console to recover the account. It's just one way to do so. You can also use a serial of a console that your account has been active on for awhile.

Click to shrink...

Nope, I told them I can provide the serial number of my PS5, that was last used to log in with the account.

It was not good enough.

 

[BelieveMeUstink]

I don't think so. Say if you were beating someone online and they decided to mess with your account, they wouldn't get far. These security parameters are needed

 

[Phellps]

Serial number is the outlier here, everything else seems par for the course. I guess I'll take a picture of my PS3 serial number just in case lol

 

[Madmackem]

I'm having the same issue having switched phone numbers recently and there not being able to complete 2FA. In the UK there are no CS agents available either by phone or chat window and you have to log in in order to file a support ticket, which is the whole problem I'm having in the first place. It really sucks.

Click to shrink...

I gave up and made a new account, I've had that account since the start of PS3 so it's a bit of a pisser to give it up but like you I enabled 2fa on a phone number I no longer have access to and when I read the need of a serial number the account was made it that just wasn't happening. Lost a fair bit of digital content but hey ho live and learn.

 

[Powerofthecloud]

Is it serial number of first console or oldest registered console? Thats a big difference.

 

[Vundu]

Glad I still have my PS3. Time to take note of the serial number.

 

[panda-zebra]

I had to contact PS support to recover my PS+ account since the system wasn't sending password reset emails.

They needed the following information:

The PSN Account Online ID and email address
The Credit Card used to make purchases on the account
The serial number of the first console used to create or log into your account
Details of recent transactions made on the account
Email address used when the account was created
PayPal details (If applicable)

I never use CC on PSN, always used gift cards and who the fuck would have the original serial number of the console where the PS account was created on?! I created mine on a PS3.

They basically told me to fuck off and get back to them with all the information above.

Thankfully, I did manage to log in my account myself.

Click to shrink...

They told you to provide as much information as you can to make sure thet you're the person who should be accessing the account. They didn't tell you to fuck off and provide every piece of information or else they'll give you the middle finger and you're shit out of luck forever, they want as much of it as you can provide and they'll do what they can given what you supply. That serial number one is a really good one in your favour - if you have it, it's highly unlikely a scammer would, if you don't no big deal.

If they make it too simple we'd all be losing our accounts all the time.

 

[Mr. Snuffleupagus]

I gave up and made a new account, I've had that account since the start of PS3 so it's a bit of a pisser to give it up but like you I enabled 2fa on a phone number I no longer have access to and when I read the need of a serial number the account was made it that just wasn't happening. Lost a fair bit of digital content but hey ho live and learn.

Click to shrink...

I still have my launch PS4 if I can just bloody well get through to them!

 

[pswii60]

I sold my PS3 in 2013!

That surely can't be right.

EDIT: and that was a PS3 Slim I sold in 2013 - I actually created my PSN account on an imported PS3 from Japan in 2006 (yes the FOMO was real) which I swapped out for a Euro unit in 2007.

 

[yumms]

They told you to provide as much information as you can to make sure thet you're the person who should be accessing the account. They didn't tell you to fuck off and provide every piece of information or else they'll give you the middle finger and you're shit out of luck forever, they want as much of it as you can provide and they'll do what they can given what you supply. That serial number one is a really good one in your favour - if you have it, it's highly unlikely a scammer would, if you don't no big deal.

If they make it too simple we'd all be losing our accounts all the time.

Click to shrink...

Sorry, that is incorrect. I was asked to provide ALL the information.

Since I did not have the serial number or the CC info, they could do nothing.

 

[plain]

I don't think the serial number is required. A friend of mine just had his account recovered and he did not provide a serial number. The account is as old as PSN.

 

[red731]

I started putting my serial numbers of consoles and other log in-able places that tie to hardware into password manager notes section due to this.

 

[catboy]

when i lost access to mine i just had to send them a passport photo

 

[Bakura]

Everytime I go to their customer support I hate sony even more. Worst customer support service ever.

 

[Dis]

I remember reading years ago on the other place about someone needing the serial number of their first console to hand over to them to get his account back when someone stole it and changed the password and email, the moment I read that I took a picture of my ps3 serial number and kept it with my account recovery codes and when I got lastpass I threw it in there too, I still have my launch ps3 as it never yellow lighted but I never wanted to risk not having the serial just in case, but they really should inform people upon account creation to write down a copy of their serial number for these kind of reasons the same way places like steam tell you to note down recovery codes for 2FA. But that's something that should have been done at ps3 launch by them and now a lot of people find out that they ask or it and are like wtf because this isn't a situation where the psn launched a year ago, it's been more than a decade ffs Sony.

Friends psn account got stolen as well but he was able to give them enough info other than the serial number to get it back, just took way too long considering someone else was using it for a good week or so.

 

[ZeroNoir_]

First console? i have had like 5 PS3 and used the accounts on like 10. lol

 

[Muffin]

Yeah I agree. I think they should hand over the account to anyone who asks for it.

Click to shrink...

No they should do their job. The serial number thing is nonsensical. Asking for CC info if OP never used one is garbage too. Either ask for different information, or if nothing else satisfies requirements, get on the problem with the password reset mails not arriving, instead of just telling OP to go away.

 

[The Shape]

The only time I've ever looked at a console serial number was when I was looking for a specific Xbox 360 Jasper that didn't have the RROD problem. I also don't have my PS3 from 10 years ago when I created my PSN account. I guess I better be careful to never need this recovery.

 

[Madmackem]

I still have my launch PS4 if I can just bloody well get through to them!

Click to shrink...

Good luck mate, not fussed about losing trophies but I'd guess I had about £500 if not more spent on digital software I've had to write off.

 

[MDR]

"The serial number of the first console used to create or log into your account
Details of recent transactions made on the account
Email address used when the account was create"
I don't know any of this info on the top of my head, i would need to research a bit, and the serial of the first console would
Be straight up impossible. I think I created my account on a fat ps3 somewhere in 2011....

 

[score01]

Maybe it's just a combo of the information they need otherwise most of us are out of luck. My OG PS3 phat is in silicon heaven. God bless.

 

[Temperance]

I'm having the same issue having switched phone numbers recently and there not being able to complete 2FA. In the UK there are no CS agents available either by phone or chat window and you have to log in in order to file a support ticket, which is the whole problem I'm having in the first place. It really sucks.

Click to shrink...

Too late at this point but they have finally enabled using an Authenticator instead of SMS (unreliable and unsecure). So if you get your account back enable 2FA again setup something like Authy and for godsakes keep the restore keys and PSN recovery codes stored somewhere safe.

 

[Fortinbras]

I remember the serial number requirement, which was already in place during the PS3 era.

Thankfully I kept mine and also kept records of all the other consoles and handhelds I used with my account.

I also kept old credit cards and receipts but I absolutely cannot remember the email address I used to create the account. I changed it since then.

So I guess I'm out of luck if I ever have to recover my account? Seems insane...

 

[Mr. Snuffleupagus]

Too late at this point but they have finally enabled using an Authenticator instead of SMS (unreliable and unsecure). So if you get your account back enable 2FA again setup something like Authy and for godsakes keep the restore keys and PSN recovery codes stored somewhere safe.

Click to shrink...

Will try! Apparently I can turn 2FA off in the console itself so will attempt that in a bit once I get it all reconnected.

 

[Footos22]

Losing access to your outlook account is a whole level of bs. Especially if you forgot to update your phone number. Filed numerous forms on behalf of my wife all came back with not enough correct information. They want recent emails with exact subject lines what devices you used account on and everything. In the end we just gave up and got her a gmail account.

It sucks but least it's secure.

 

[Deleted member 28962]

I've heard about the serial number thing before, which is why I made sure to write the serial number of my fat PS3 down and store it on my Google Drive.