Outlook saying I need more storage.

I just went through this. I find it such a scam! I was without email capabilities for 2 days. Received NO advance warning, just an email from Microsoft in the morning saying that sending and receiving email would be stopping immediately and it did. I spend several hours deleting in email and one drive without much care because I worried about not receiving information that I was waiting for, related to my current role and also some important personal information. I find this absolutely heinous. People should be given a heads up that this is going to happen and not be held for ransom to pay for more storage!

I emailed the CEO of Microsoft UK (clare dot barclay at microsoft dot com) on Monday. The next day, having had no acknowledgement/reply, I again emailed her saying that if I have had no satisfactory reply by Thursaday I would take further action. Which I will do since Microsoft are acting illegally and unethically. It looks like any action to remedy this problem by an account user (such as you or me) will not work, since the obvious purpose of this scam (which is what it is) is to extract money from us by pressurising us (concerned that our accounts will not work) into buying storage on a free account. All the best, Jonathan

Hi Kathy

Not sure if my reply to you went though, so please excuse this is a duplicate. I'm old enough to see an obvious scam where there is one. Microsoft are clearly trying to force users into paying for storage by making them concerned that their accounts will not function properly because, since Feb 2023, they suddenly have 'insufficient storage', apparently due to 'Cloud usage' (I have never used it since I see no evidence that it is secure). And from the same month our accounts are suddenly swamped with spam. which probability indicates is no coincidence.

Since this would be both illegal and unethical, I contacted Msoft UK's CEO (Clare dot Barclay at Msoft dot com, posted thus because this website asterisks out addresses). Since I have had neither acknowledgement nor reply since Monday, I have again contacted her and said I will take further action if unsatisfactory reply/no reply by Thursda (still none). She is apparently worth USD 100M, so evidently feels I am irrelevant to her professional life. Not nice. All the best, Jonathan.

After 25+ Years too!.......I deleted over 5000 email messages, the whole Sent folder and a bunch of other stuff. Can't get rid of it in the Deleted folder to "Restore then Permanently Delete". It's been 4 days. MS "tech support" are useless, they just want me to keep deleting email folders but everything is stuck in Delete anyway, so won't work. This is definitely FRAUD. I'm locked out altogether, can't send or receive any emails. This SUCKS MICROSLOP!!

After trying to troubleshoot this very same issue I discovered the message from Microsoft below:

Changes to cloud storage

Starting February 1, 2023, cloud storage used across Microsoft 365 apps and services will include Outlook.com attachments data and OneDrive data. All data will continue to be protected with Microsoft’s comprehensive set of security features.

This update may reduce how much cloud storage you have available to use with your OneDrive. If you reach your cloud storage quota, your ability to send and receive emails in Outlook.com will be disrupted.

To ensure we offer the best experience, the cloud storage changes and new quota bar will gradually roll out on or after February 1, 2023, across your app settings, Windows settings, and Microsoft account. If you do not see the new storage experience in your settings or Microsoft account, be sure to check back in the coming weeks.

I have been using Microsoft Office 2013 for years (and enjoyed using the Outook mail software)

I was not even aware that files were being stored in OneDrive cloud storage.

When I clicked on the pink ribbon advising I needed more storage space there was an option to view OneDrive cloud storage. There were files stored there from 2015/2017 I deleted them all. A person is also presented with different options to 'purchase' increased storage capacity.

I will continue to delete what I can, but I am going to start using my (Google - gmail) account from now on.

I spent way too many hours trying to fix my outlook software and was glad when I finally found out what is truly happening.