Ever gone on the attack with a provider demanding more?

[webecedarian]

In particular, has anyone else here had the infuriating experience of signing up with an email provider specifically because they don't require a cell-phone number ... and then at some point down the line, they demand it?

I had that happen with Yandex - luckily the second time I logged in, and I annoyedly abandoned it. But now Gmail is doing it with an email I've had for years.

Has anyone ever fought back, saying it's unethical to change the terms like that? Even more annoying, they pretend it's for your own protection.

[Bamb0]

I didnt think once you signed up they could demand a cell #!!

[Avion]

Originally Posted by webecedarian

In particular, has anyone else here had the infuriating experience of signing up with an email provider specifically because they don't require a cell-phone number ... and then at some point down the line, they demand it?

Nope, I don't recall ever being 'infuriated' because a provider has 'demanded' a phone number. In fact, I don't recall ever being 'besieged' by spam callers either.

Originally Posted by webecedarian

Has anyone ever fought back, saying it's unethical to change the terms like that? Even more annoying, they pretend it's for your own protection.

Take a look on Reddit - there will be literally dozens of people posting daily:

Oh, woe is me, I've been locked out of my email account, etc

This type of 'customer' is most probably the kind of customer that the email providers don't want - especially if the account is being offered for 'free'.

[webecedarian]

Originally Posted by Bamb0

I didnt think once you signed up they could demand a cell #!!

Seems like they shouldn't be able to. I've had utility companies also suddenly demanding more information, even after I've been a customer for years.

Seems incredibly unethical. Reminds me of an interview a while back about the complete unfairness of the beginnings of so-called "contracts" with manufacturers or internet companies, because the buyer has no possibility of negotiating.

[Bamb0]

I wonder if entering all 0s would produce good results??

[dryoldlime]

Originally Posted by webecedarian

In particular, has anyone else here had the infuriating experience of signing up with an email provider specifically because they don't require a cell-phone number ... and then at some point down the line, they demand it?

I had that happen with Yandex - luckily the second time I logged in, and I annoyedly abandoned it. But now Gmail is doing it with an email I've had for years.

Has anyone ever fought back, saying it's unethical to change the terms like that? Even more annoying, they pretend it's for your own protection.

Just my limited experience:
Gmail did not require it, some years ago but has changed. The only way I know to avoid needing to give mobile number is to create a fresh account through android device/mobile device. If done like so, then to be expected at some point is you will want to use the mobile number with thge device with the Google account/GMail. Still, I have a small number of other older Google accounts which have not yet required me to give mobile number.
Proton is the only service I know which still does not require mobile number or alternate email address.

[dryoldlime]

To call the requirement "unethical" is not well justified. The idea is for you to have a way to confirm or verify your new account, or to do so for the account or legitimacy of a message you send at some future time.

Too in case you want or need to change your account's password, the service should require either a mobile number OR an alternate email address; both which you might add to your email account, for security of your account.

[TenFour]

I understand your frustration, but I can guarantee fighting Gmail is not worth your time and is doomed to fail. There is no contact for customer service so where do you even start?

[hadaso]

It is an assumption nowadays that everyone has a smartphone, and is happy to share its number. So businesses don't cater for the extremely few people who do not have one, or that are unhappy to share their number.

[TenFour]

Has anyone ever fought back, saying it's unethical to change the terms like that?

It would only be unethical if the terms of service said they would never change the terms and would never require a phone number. I suspect the terms of service didn't say that when you signed up. Companies change their terms of service all the time. In any case, I would recommend supplying Gmail with every bit of information possible, including a working cell phone number, if you plan on keeping the service for long. When (not if) you get locked out of your account because of some inscrutable reason you will be happy for alternative methods of receiving security codes to prove who you are. I use Google's phone app on my cellphone and I almost never receive any spam calls. The app is excellent at just eliminating unwanted calls, if that is what worries you.

[dryoldlime]

Originally Posted by hadaso

It is an assumption nowadays that everyone has a smartphone, and is happy to share its number. So businesses don't cater for the extremely few people who do not have one, or that are unhappy to share their number.

The possibility at an earlier time was that someone could be able to buy a prepaid phone (mobile) to use for a few weeks, setup through a landline call to the mobile service provider in order to setup cellular service (What Tracfone used to do). Then provide the mobile number to registering your GMail account; and then you would be able to add an alternate email address to GMail account; and later, let your mobile service expire but mean while or later, remove (maybe) your mobile number from your GMail account.

Other forum members may say if that is still possible.

Something almost like that I did in the past was, already having a Gmail account at a time when giving mobile number was not required, went to retail store for a Tracfone device, and at home made a landline call and followed instructions to setup cell. service. I soon also configured my mobile device with that old GMail account (the mobile device being a cheap android smartphone).

[Bamb0]

Originally Posted by hadaso

It is an assumption nowadays that everyone has a smartphone, and is happy to share its number.

Hmmmmm I dont have 1 and dont want one either!!

[SideshowBob]

It's only unethical if they made a commitment never to do it.

If the issue is that you don't have a mobile phone, you can probably receive text messages on a land line via text-to-speech.

[TenFour]

If the issue is that you don't have a mobile phone, you can probably receive text messages on a land line via text-to-speech.

Depends on the service, but some will only send texts to actual mobile numbers. Some people can't get automated texts to their cellphones because their phone number was orginally a landline and is not technically a mobile number. Some services will send texts to a free Google Voice, Skype, or a NumberBarn number, which I have used a bunch, but sometimes the service won't send to these services.

[dryoldlime]

Originally Posted by SideshowBob

It's only unethical if they made a commitment never to do it.

If the issue is that you don't have a mobile phone, you can probably receive text messages on a land line via text-to-speech.

Receiving a audio call with a code to landline is possible from certain kinds of service but not other kinds. A few governmental organizations, maybe. A few finance institutions, maybe.