Thursday, September 5, 2013

Finally!

SunsetAfter almost two weeks of almost ‘tearing my hair out’, spending countless hours attempting to contact a real person at Google and writing more emails to the Help staff and Help Forum – with either no response or a programmed response that took me in circles – my blog is up and running again.  I was surprised one morning to read an email from a family member advising that my blog had disappeared.  Again!  This happened last year about this time.  My custom domain expired even though I had found someone to help me last year, and I was assured that the problem had been fixed and reset to auto-renew.  This time I was able to make a payment and was assured that my blog (that was locked) would be reinstated within twenty-four hours.  But it didn’t happen!  I watched and waited – and checked my bank account to find that my payment had cleared my bank.  Still, no blog.  I paid for services that I did not receive.  I left messages on countless help screens, begging and pleading for help and for a real person to contact me.  Two nice people at the company that manages Google/Blogger custom domains, helped put me in touch with some helpful information.  Something on my blog indicated that I had cancelled my blog and indicated that I did not care to renew my domain.  Finally – early this morning, my phone rang and a nice lady told me she had been assigned to work on my situation.  She stayed on the phone with me and carefully, patiently walked me through a process I supposedly should know – with passwords assigned over three years ago, which I didn’t know.  When she reached a dead end she asked if she could call me back.  And she did!  She had spoken with someone who could unravel the complicated ‘unusual’ situation.  Then she carefully guided me through the process until she could ‘see’ my blog again.  I don’t know what she did but suddenly – my blog was back.  I felt that an old, long-lost friend had returned.  I sat here and smiled and thanked her endlessly.  And then – I wished her goodnight!  You see, this sweet lady was in Eastern Europe.  Part of the Google ‘Enterprise’ billing staff.  She – who had originally told me she was about to go home for the night – stayed over a bit to return the call she promised to make with the information needed to solve the problem.  She stayed with me until the problem was resolved.  And then she wished me a good day.  Two ladies on opposite sides of the world – in flip-flopped time zones – spoke kindness and appreciation and words of friendship for a few moments.  And my faith in humanity (and Google) was restored a bit.  One early morning in Oregon.  One late evening on the other side of the world.

14 comments:

  1. HOORAY! And bless that sweet lady for helping you out!

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  2. Good job, it is always frustrating. I had a computer technician help me with my blog and I can give you his name if you ever have trouble again. HE is awesome.

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  3. Good job, it is always frustrating. I had a computer technician help me with my blog and I can give you his name if you ever have trouble again. HE is awesome.

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  4. How horrible and so frustrating. I didn't know that you had to pay for a blog...what is that all about? I am so happy for you that it was all resolved, I know I would be very, very unhappy if my blog suddenly disappeared. Welcome back!

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  5. Bless your heart. I'm so glad to see you back. I know all of that was so frustrating. Hugs

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  6. I'm so glad everything worked out! I've missed your posts. :)

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  7. I'm so glad you're back! I know if that happens to me I will be very sad. Blessings, Marlene

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  8. Wonderful!! I've had a few issues here and there...twice this year! Then everything goes back to normal! WIERD! I have heard of similar stories......Be Blessed! Roxie

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  9. Hooray! Rejoicing with you! It is like a friend returning. Welcome back!

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  10. So glad you are back! I hope it never happens to you (or anybody again!) What a headache. Please hold onto your notes in case some of us ever need them!

    Katherine

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  11. I know that must have been super frustrating! Dealing with Google is never easy. Glad it all worked out.

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  12. I am so glad you got it all back! Stories like this are why I decided I needed to make hard copies of my blog through Blurb. I want to make sure I have permanent copies of my blog, and the best way to do that is on good old fashioned paper! So I am, year by year making book of the blog. It gives me a little peace of mind.

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  13. Glad you got your blog back! That orange pumpkin with the white dots is fabric. I don't have the patience to paint that many dots!

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I am grateful that you stopped by to visit me. Your kind and gracious comments are appreciated and treasured.