Upon ownership transfer, my business email is unavailable!

[ArtWorks1]

The business is an all-volunteer gallery, ArtWorks on Main. We have about 10 volunteers that need access to the POS. We also change board members periodically. That means that, though volunteers are pretty steady, officers change. It happens that all officers dropped out, so that means the "ownership" of the Square account changed. So, I finally got the former "owner" to pass the account to me, but somehow, the business email did not follow.

Now no one can log in except with my personal email...

I spent almost 2 hours on the line with Square to try to get the email back -- ended up that I could not get it because the former owner still had it. I said "take it away -- they are not even participating anymore!" They said, can't be done.

I say that is ridiculous! I understand the security protocols that may cause this, but they can be over written -- well except if I was talking to a robot who pealed off periodically to consult with other robots! What gives?

Square has hijacked the gallery's business email!

[Candlestore · Accepted solution]

@ArtWorks1 ;

You can change the email associated with the account.

For example make a [email protected] or something.

You can change your Email on your Square Dashboard here: https://squareup.com/dashboard/account 

Then I would also look at setting up Team Permissions.

Since your a Non Profit I would setup 2 accounts only, more would be a fee or this was the case before....

      1 - Owner Full permisions   President other officer

      2 - Sales Staff with limited permissions  Artworks For example

This way all volunteers can log in as Sales Staff for example with the same 4 digit pin.   You will not be able to see who did which transaction but will not be charged a fee for this from Square.   If you add team members you would be required to pay per team member but I am not sure what it is.

This will also help with not having to give out the Main login Email to all volunteers.

https://squareup.com/help/us/en/article/5591-get-started-with-employee-management 

The other thing I would look into is Device Codes.

This would only allow the Devices you approve to access your Square acoount.  Now if each employee used their own phone or tablet this would help track who did what.

Here is more on Device codes :  https://squareup.com/help/us/en/article/5586-manage-devices-by-location 

Hope all this helps you get this worked out.

[ArtWorks1]

Thank you Keith, but your direction to the account "update" is where Square won't accept the original email. It says "already taken" or something like. Thus my call for assistance. The "robot" said the former account "owner" still had it -- eye roll here.

Your other advice is GREAT! I want to get to that as soon as I get the original email back -- or maybe sooner if I have to get a new business email address -- a bad outcome!

[Candlestore]

@ArtWorks1 ;

Why are you trying to change the Email to the same email that did not get Passed along to you with the Business changing ownership?  So yes I understand the Bot saying it is taken.  I get that when I type in a Password and it says incorrect, then I try to change my password and it says it can not be the current one.  EYE ROLL..... I just tried that one and you said it was incorrect...... stupid computers!!!!    LMAO

I thought you were Changing the Passowrd not just the Password  Associated with the old email address.

Like [email protected] to [email protected] 

Since your trying to save the old business email address you would either have to get the old 'owner' to give you the log in credentials so you have it.  Then change the login credentials asap.  Not sure how good of communications you have with the previous president to get those details.  So I have no idea how easy that will be.

I thought you were trying to Change the email address from the previous presidents name to you or the Volunteer group.  Meaning not using the same email address.  You would also may need the Phone number that is linked to the account to get a security code for security reasons through Square.   So anyone can not just change the email and login like you stated for security reasons.  

The email credentials is one people forget about transfering ownership of a business and some passwords too.  

The only thing I can think of is to call Square support (might not be till Monday now).   Their phone number is in my signature line below.  Get ready to Press 9 alot   🙂 and you will get through to a live person, or I do anyway.

[ArtWorks1]

Thank you Keith, for taking the time. My reference to "robot" was probably a real person at Square Support -- the 2 hours with no result. But answers I seem to get are always "by the book," no offer to talk to a tech to fix what seems to be a weird circumstance.

I got on the community here to maybe shake out a better response!

At least you have provided some better help, so I am grateful. Have a great weekend, Joan

PS: if I figure it out, I'll let you know!

[Candlestore]

@ArtWorks1 ;

Thanks also and you have a great weekend!!!