deleted very important texts messages

kenng

hi this is my first post so looking forward to it.i have an i phone and i have deleted some very important texts messages that i need to get back urgently.my provider is o2 and they have told me that that they do not keep any such records.I did a bit of home work on it and there is something called Irish Data Retention Law and this requires the provider to keep data for up to a year.I sync my phone to the lap top and have got my old messages going back 2/3 years which i was really surprised about but the texts i need are not there.o2 customer service have been very unhelpful and i hope some out there can throw some light on it.i really need these texts as they are really important,hope some one can help

thanks

galgar

As far as I know, Service providers do not retain the content of text messages or phone calls just the fact that they were sent or made. Not very helpful to you I know.

kenng

hi thanks a lot for that but the Irish Data Retention Law requires that they do is my understanding.the provider does not let people know this because it is a big hassle to get these messages back.

thanks for reply

cookie1977

The Act does not require data concerning the content of calls or emails to be retained however the identity of the senders and receivers of the communication must be retained as well as the data and time the communication was sent, and in the case of mobile phones, the location of the phones.

http://www.irelandip.com/2011/02/articles/privacy-1/president-signs-communications-retention-of-data-act-2011-into-law/

Max Power 2010

The networks do have this information stored, but it is not available to any staff Member and illegal for them to try and access it due to Privacy and Data Protection laws, if it was then any of the networks staff members could be going through your private messages, so it's not a case of calling up and Customer Care say here you go.

The only way to get that information is through the courts i'm afraid.

kenng

thanks for both your replies if i have to go through the courts in order to get them i will do that because as i said it it very important that i get them.i will contact a solicitor to day and see if it is possible to get them through the courts

thanks again for your replies.

cookie1977

Can I just advise that while you can see about going to court, if O2 haven't stored the specific info you want it could be very costly for you.

galgar

Please let us know how you get on as it is an interesting dilemna.

kenng

cookie1977 wrote: »

Can I just advise that while you can see about going to court, if O2 haven't stored the specific info you want it could be very costly for you.

thanks cookie1977 just read your link it looks like you are spot on even though a solicitor told me he could try and was confident he could get this information.if it cost me a few grand to get it it is worth my while to pursue it with out saying too much

thanks again

cookie1977

Best of luck. Let us know how you get on

lil5

Maybe the reps on the O2 forum have more info?
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1479

Apologies if you have contacted them already.

RangeR

kenng wrote: »

hi this is my first post so looking forward to it.i have an i phone and i have deleted some very important texts messages that i need to get back urgently.my provider is o2 and they have told me that that they do not keep any such records.I did a bit of home work on it and there is something called Irish Data Retention Law and this requires the provider to keep data for up to a year.I sync my phone to the lap top and have got my old messages going back 2/3 years which i was really surprised about but the texts i need are not there.o2 customer service have been very unhelpful and i hope some out there can throw some light on it.i really need these texts as they are really important,hope some one can help

thanks

When did you delete the messages?
What type of phone is it?

If it was VERY recent, turn your phone off now and contact a data retrieval specialist. Chances are, they are still there but the area in storage is just marked as "free". When you delete things, they aren't really deleted.

This will be expensive but MUCH cheaper and quicker than going through the courts. It's not a guarantee, though

kenng

RangeR wrote: »

When did you delete the messages?
What type of phone is it?

If it was VERY recent, turn your phone off now and contact a data retrieval specialist. Chances are, they are still there but the area in storage is just marked as "free". When you delete things, they aren't really deleted.

This will be expensive but MUCH cheaper and quicker than going through the courts. It's not a guarantee, though

hi they were deleted 4/5 months ago any idea the cost roughly or any name of where i can go not sure if i can ask that question on this forum

thanks

kenng

lil5 wrote: »

Maybe the reps on the O2 forum have more info?
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1479

Apologies if you have contacted them already.

thanks for that:)

cookie1977

they are more than likely unrecoverable especially if the phone has been used during the preceding period

RangeR

kenng wrote: »

hi they were deleted 4/5 months ago any idea the cost roughly or any name of where i can go not sure if i can ask that question on this forum

thanks

Don't bother. It's no longer a viable option

cookie1977 wrote: »

they are more than likely unrecoverable especially if the phone has been used during the preceding period

^^