Steam Account Messed Up

[MrMuse]

Okay here's the deal. I still have access to my steam account because the login details are remembered on my computer..I've forgotten my password and no longer have access to my old email account. If I try to change the password it wants to send it to my email account..and if i try to change my email account it wants the password. This is really starting to annoy me and i want to reinstall windows too but i dare not format my disk or ill never get my 200+ games back.

[Kiya]

You need to create a Steam support account and create a support ticket about your problem
https://support.steampowered.com/newticket.php

You will need to provide them with proof of purchase so that they can verify that the account is yours.
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2268-EAFZ-9762

[MrMuse]

This isn't very helpful though is it. Steam are notoriously slow at getting back to you with support issues. The last time I had any problems it took them 3 weeks to even reply and even then their answers were frustrating and unsatisfactory. (e.g. the "tough turkey" or "contact the supplier" answers to games not working. If you buy a game from a store and it doesn't work you take it back to the store...NOT the people who made the game. Why should it be any different here? My contract of purchase is not with the supplier but with steam/valve. Sure we all hit the "agree to terms and proceed" buttons because it's that or do without...but some of their "terms" would be considered non-legally binding in most countries with a system of consumer law.)

*edit* thank you for the reply though

[MrMuse]

Steam has the ability to create secure areas (such as those for payment details), so they should make one where you can change your password from within your account with minimal fuss. Banks use a simple system where you input letters from your password using a one character set of dropdown menus. This eliminates the likelihood of passwords being detected through key loggers and other kinds of hack. From within my bank's online management i can change or retrieve passwords or user names with ease. Why not here? If it's secure enough for a bank it's certainly good enough for steam.

[MrMuse]

What i'm trying to say is that there are better solutions available than doing everything through email.

[Silicon Vampire]

Thread title is misleading.

This is not a Steam issue at all. It's a user issue involving account details that only support can help with so, you must contact them.

In the future, record your details and maintain control of the contact email address.

[MrMuse]

My email address has changed a lot over the span of six years...so has my password..that's one hell of a memory you are expecting there. And as for maintaining control of the email this is an issue with changes in isp provider that were unavoidable. It's easy to look back and think i should have used a hotmail or yahoo account not linked to isp...but I didn't, and this is where i'm at. It can be fixed in time and after a lot of hassle..that isn't the issue..the issue is that it doesn't NEED to be so fkn difficult to change these things.

[MrMuse]

and trying to contact support with those stupid and unreadable anti-bot filters is even worse.

[MalikQayum]

so basically u want to change the account email without providing any form of evidence of ownership besides that the password is autosaved and logs in ?

try reading it again and think about what ur asking ..

so lets say that was possible how would people abuse that?
1 - get a friend to log in on ur password and tick the autosave log in..
2 - contact steam saying u got no proof but auto login, so change my mail.

sounds stupid to me if people can do that :) now u might genuine own that account i dont doubt that but imagine a scenario where someone does this and doesnt own it..

also is it steams problem u change mail all the time, password etc ? u want the client to mindread u and change the password and email everytime u want to change it ?

btw did u try the security answer ?

whos ur childhood friend
whats the name of ur pet..

etc etc

i think that would allow u to cahnge email..
if u dont even know ur secret answer i would say u brought this on ursefl :)
as it would be suspious as hell ..
not knowning the password
not knowning the email password
not knowning the secret answer

not willing to contact steam support because it takes 3 weeks i admit that one is bullcrap because supports is lazy as hell.. u better of buying a plane ticket and ask gabe in person, probably be faster and worth the money.

[Kiya]

Originally posted by MrMuse:

.the issue is that it doesn't NEED to be so fkn difficult to change these things.

But it is not that difficult to change these things - if you had just lost access to the email you would have been able to change that in the client with your password. If you had just forgotten your password you would have been able to recover that using your email.

The ways to do that easily are in place. The problem here is that you lost two important pieces of information not just one - that is not Valve's fault.

Making it any easier for you would also make it easier for a hijacker to gain access to your account.

Personally I keep a notebook in a safe place close to my PC with all my important log in information for various things.

[MrMuse]

secret answer? where do i get to an area where it even asks that question?

[MrMuse]

change password only sends to old email..or asks for input of email+current password.

[shama]

A support call is your only way out of the mess you got yourself in I'm afraid. As others have said, look at it from a security point of view.
I would rightly be dubious of someone trying to claim an account for which they (a) didn't know the password and (b) didn't have access to the email address associated with the account.

Consider it a life lesson (or three!)
- ISP email address are a bad thing. They tie you to that provider (to their benefit) and you will lose it if you move or find a better deal. Get a permanent email address elsewhere. Do it NOW.
- passwords are important to remember. 'Remember me' can be a useful setting, but resist using it and type your passwords manually every time. You'll soon burn them in to your memory.
- when you intend to change your email address treat it like you would changing your street address: you have to go around letting everyone know of the change. With email it is important to do this *before* you move because they might want to confirm this with an email to your old address first.

So good luck.