Got my permanently disabled Instagram account back after 36 days. Here's what happened and how I got it back step-by-step without Legal Shield or an attorney
April 13th I woke to an email stating "Take action or lose access to your account"
FYI I have multiple IG profiles under 1 main account, this particular account is used by me updating friends and family on my daughter. When I received this email I also logged into IG and noticed all my accounts were logged out and blocked. As a reference my main account I use to promote my business and use for brand deals was verified with 35k followers. (verified means zero) All the others with were simply back up and random. Not super actively being used.
I clicked the link in the email and it brought me to a screen to verify my identity. I did that and immediately received this
I felt relief! I logged into IG and began to see my accounts populate. But my main account, the one I was most concerned about did not. I received this message.
I was confused because I was never given an opportunity to request a decision to begin with on this profile. The way this message read was as if I've attempted to appeal something. I searched everywhere to try to contact Meta. We all know this is virtually impossible.
Another point-I had a business facebook account that was attached to my IG account which surprisingly wasn't deactivated. This account has around 10k followers ( I mention this because many people say if the accounts were connected they too were disabled)
I purchased verified for my FB account in order to talk with someone. I explained my situation via chat. Here was the first conversation excuse the typos-
at this moment I felt this was being taken seriously and I wasn't being dismissed. We spoke, I explained the situation and wanted to know what community standard I violated. He wasn't able to tell me. I was then told this will be escalated.
After about 2 hours, I received this message.
I'm scratching my head because this makes no sense.
FYI all this was done April 13th. The day of the disable.
I waited 2/3 days and nothing happened, no change and no opportunity to appeal.
I reached out to Meta again. Here was that conversation.
Now I'm really annoyed and feeling they want to take the call offline to prevent a paper trail. That's just my thought.
needless to say I was pissed and realized Meta has no interest in resolving these issues.
My next step was to contact my state Attorney General (Maryland)which I did, and this was the response.
I did this but wasn't too optimistic. This was done 3 days after the disablement.
I then waited until April 20th 7 days after the disablement and filed a small claims.
The CSC agent assigned to Maryland is 5 minutes from the court house and the court house is less than 10 minutes from my house, So I had time :)
I filed the claim stating all my facts. Cost in Maryland is $44.00 (the court house will assist with what forms you need). I suggest you type out the details of the case at home so you can provide a detail account of the case and not leave anything out. You can then attach your print-out to the claim. Keep in mind, if you are filing a small claims case you do not need an attorney. Remember, small claims is designed to only recover funds and not property ie: IG page. What the claim does, is force Meta to have a real person look at your case. In my claim I also stated I am losing money due to brand deals. I explained I never received an opportunity to appeal, I was able to recover other accounts under my profile etc. I also stated I am willing to dismiss the case If my account is recovered. (Make sure you focus on the money portion and what you are losing due to this issue even though the ultimate goal is to recover your page the max claim in Maryland is 5k) When you file you will be given the option to have the writ of summons served on Meta at the closest CSC office-https://www.cscglobal.com/service/entity-solutions/registered-agent-services/service-of-process/sop-locations/ by a sheriff (the cost is around $125) your own professional process server (price varies) or you can have a friend do it as long as the friend isn't associated with the lawsuit and they are over 18. I recommend having a friend do it. Serving a business like Meta is much easier than serving an individual or a small business. Meta is not going to try to avoid the service. Once you file, you will then receive the writ of summons to your home address (this time frame varies. I received mine 4/26 which was 6 days after I filed) Not sure about other states but mine also came with a trial date of July 1.
You want to serve META as soon as possible. I had them served May 1. Once they are served, you have to submit the service to the court house. Providing them with details such as the person you served, what they looked like, their name, what time you served them etc. (The person we served would not provide her name), which was fine, we just made note of her appearance and approx age.
Meta then has 15 days (in Maryland) to provide to the court their intention to defend. They waited until the 15th day and submitted their intention.
I woke up on 5/19, 4 days after they filed their intention to my IG account fully restored. I never received an email or any notification. Just a restored account.
Now I have to dismiss the case and I'm only out $44. I will say this, I plan to wait until a couple days prior to the scheduled court date to dismiss the case in the event something happens to my account. After everything I've seen many people have said they lost their account again after a couple weeks. Fingers crossed.
I hope this helps.