Monday, April 27, 2009

Still no response from facebook. Here are the emails I've sent:

Update: I have still not heard back from anyone at facebook. I've decided to publish my pretty much one-sided email correspondence with them for everyone to read. This morning I mailed out letters to all the facebook executives. I'll publish that letter to my blog later on this evening, so check back then. In the meantime, you can join this facebook group to show your support. Thanks again to Clare for starting it for me.

Re: account disabled in error

9 messages
The Facebook Team Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 12:07 AM
Reply-To: The Facebook Team
To: aistanbul@*****.com
Hi,

The Facebook Team has received your inquiry. We should get back to you soon. In the meantime, we encourage you to review our Terms of Use (http://www.facebook.com/terms.php) for more information.

Thanks for contacting Facebook,

The Facebook Team



The Facebook Team Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Reply-To: The Facebook Team
To: aistanbul@*****.com
Hi,

Unfortunately, our systems detected that the name on your account might violate our standards. Facebook requires all profiles to be associated with a full, real name that corresponds to a single individual.

Please provide the following information, and we will gladly re-evaluate the status of your account.

First Name:
Last Name:
Primary use for account:

Thanks,

The Facebook Team



Alicia Istanbul Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 11:01 AM
To: The Facebook Team
Thank you. I assure you that my real name is Alicia Istanbul. I will gladly send you a copy of my drivers license or any other type of documentation to prove it.

First name: Alicia
Last name: Istanbul
Primary use for account: Personal use, to keep in touch with friends. I also make jewelry and made a group/fan page on facebook for that.

Please reinstate my account as quickly as you can - I'm feeling very cut off from my friends right now!
[Quoted text hidden]

Alicia Istanbul Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 4:12 PM
To: The Facebook Team
Hello,

How much longer until my account is reactivated? Please let me know what documentation I need to provide to prove my identity.

It's unfair that I've been cut off when I have done nothing wrong. I follow your Terms and Conditions to the letter. I'm not sure why it's taking so long for you to re-evaluate my account and see that I'm legitimate.

Thank you,
Alicia Istanbul
[Quoted text hidden]

Alicia Istanbul Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 5:15 PM
To: disabled@facebook.com, appeals@facebook.com, info@facebook.com, appeals-comment@facebook.com, warning@facebook.com
Hello facebook admin,

My appeals seem to be falling on deaf ears.

My account was disabled in error.

I have offered multiple times to send you proof of my name and identity. Please tell me what documentation you need and I will send it immediately.

I have done nothing wrong or contradictory to your Terms of Use.

My real name is Istanbul. It has been my name since the day I was born. I can't believe I'm having to defend my name.

I have been without facebook since last night, and have not heard back from you since this morning.

Why is it taking so long for you re-evaluate my account and see that I am a legitimate person.

Please let me know what I need to do to have my account reinstated as soon as possible.

Thank you,
Alicia Istanbul
[Quoted text hidden]

Alicia Istanbul Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 1:35 PM
To: disabled@facebook.com, appeals@facebook.com, info@facebook.com, appeals-comment@facebook.com, warning@facebook.com, appeals+nj3b1ya@facebook.com
Hello,

I have still not heard back from you on the status of my account. I am still waiting to find out where you would like me to send you my proof of identity.

My friends have created a facebook group in support of getting me unbanned. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=99596530750&ref=mf

Yesterday you banned my sister, L*** Istanbul K**** [name withheld for privacy] from facebook, because her maiden name is Istanbul.

Banning people because they have an unusual last name is discriminatory. A lot of people are outraged over this.

Alicia Istanbul
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Alicia Istanbul Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 7:57 PM
To: disabled@facebook.com, appeals@facebook.com, info@facebook.com, appeals-comment@facebook.com, warning@facebook.com, appeals+nj3b1ya@facebook.com
Please reply with at least an update on the status of my account.

You are discriminating against my sister and me because our last name is Istanbul. There is *no question* that your actions in this regard constitute clear and unmistakable intolerance and discrimination against us because of our name.

Do I need to contact your CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, in order to get a response? Do I need to contact the media? Do I need to have an attorney contact *you*?

Alicia Istanbul
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Alicia Istanbul Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 10:01 PM
To: disabled@facebook.com, appeals@facebook.com, info@facebook.com, appeals-comment@facebook.com, warning@facebook.com, appeals+nj3b1ya@facebook.com
Please, please, please, reply to this email and let me know what I need to do to have my account reinstated. I am literally begging for someone to reply to me

I have not heard back from anyone since Thursday morning, and this is causing me a lot of distress. I have done nothing wrong and you have disabled my account in error. My real name is Istanbul. My sister's real maiden name is Istanbul. You disabled her account yesterday (L*** Istanbul K******)
[name withheld for privacy] .

There has got to be someone at facebook customer service who can help me.

I am begging you to show some compassion and acknowledge the error you have made and reinstate my account. Or at the very least write back with an update. Please.

Alicia Istanbul
[Quoted text hidden]

Alicia Istanbul Mon, Apr 27, 2009 at 9:45 AM
To: disabled@facebook.com, appeals@facebook.com, info@facebook.com, appeals-comment@facebook.com, warning@facebook.com, appeals+nj3b1ya@facebook.com
Good morning,

Any updates on the re-evaluation of my account?

This morning I have sent out letters to every single one of the executives in your company. I have enclosed printed copies of my email correspondence with you, which highlights your lack of response and customer service with respect to my case.

In the meantime, the facebook advocacy group started by my friend on my behalf has grown to 151 members so far with more people joining every hour. As you can see by the postings on the wall, this case has infuriated many people. http://www.facebook.com/wall.php?id=99596530750#/group.php?gid=99596530750

I still await your response and look forward to providing you proof of my identity whenever you let me know where to send it.

Alicia Istanbul
[Quoted text hidden]

6 Comments:

Blogger Robin said...

How insulting and ridiculous. Yet another reason I loathe Facebook. I'm sorry you have to deal with this :(

April 27, 2009 10:39 AM  
Blogger Alicia said...

I know. It's a total waste of time and energy.

April 27, 2009 2:09 PM  
Blogger Christina Kober Designs said...

this makes me VERY upset! I can't believe they STILL haven't responded!

April 27, 2009 3:20 PM  
Blogger RowanDeVoe said...

Hi Alicia,
I just joined your group on FaceBook to try and help you get back on it. This is the craziest thing I have ever heard! I have a kind of weird name myself and when I joined I kept getting these emails basically saying, "are you sure this is your name?". I don't understand! I hope this can be resolved soon! I am sure you have many other much more important things to think about-like your jewelry!
Wishing your the best!
merle
(which is a strange name and a strange name for a girl!)

April 27, 2009 6:02 PM  
Blogger Frogs Mom said...

Alicia - I'm a(n online) friend of Delilah's and she had a linky about your situation.

My advice is to hold off the emailing; every time you email in your email goes to the bottom of the queue. It's like a thread, or a conversation in Gmail, and every new reply is like resetting the clock.

I used to work in Client Services for Google and this was the way our VP worked, and very likely theirs works. After all, our VP is their COO. :)

April 27, 2009 11:31 PM  
Blogger Jamie Miller said...

Hey Alicia,

Did you get any response from Facebook? I have now sent them 4 emails about various issues and no response. I was particularly surprised they didn't respond to my email saying my credit card wouldn't process for advertising. Still nothing..... :(

May 20, 2009 12:52 PM  

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