How to Contact LinkedIn Technical Support
First off, let me say that it’s ludicrous that this even merits a blog post, but LinkedIn has so obfuscated the process that it takes a lot of digging to find it. If you just want the link, here it is:
http://linkedin.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/linkedin.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php
If you’d like to see how to find it for yourself, read on. Also, if you don’t get any response at the link above, there are some ideas on how to escalate your issue at the end of the post.
I had my attention called to this issue on Twitter today:
It actually took me a couple of minutes to figure out. I won’t bore you with all the dead-ends I tried that didn’t work…let me just show you what did:
1. Scroll down to the bottom of any page on LinkedIn:
2. Click on the Customer Service Link. This takes you to the LinkedIn Customer Service Center, where they invite you to first try to help yourself:
3. At this point, click on any of the FAQ entries – doesn’t matter which one. Once you do, now at the top of the page there will be an Ask Customer Service tab (why it’s not there on the first page is a mystery to me, but it isn’t):
4. That will finally put you on a contact form that will allow you to submit your question to customer service. You can even attach a file if needed, such as a screenshot of the problem:
What happens then? Well, LinkedIn isn’t known for their customer service — nice enough people once you get to someone, but they’re massively understaffed and overloaded. If you don’t get the response you need, here are some additional ways to try to escalate your issue:
1. According to ContactHelp.com, LinkedIn’s phone number is 650-687-3600, then press 5 to reach a live person. Based on the comments, though, good luck actually talking to technical support.
2. Try customerservice@linkedin.com or customer_service@linkedin.com.
3. Try @linkedin or @mariosundar on Twitter. There’s also a list of LinkedIn employees on Twitter.
4. Try community support. If something’s actually broken, that won’t help, but if it’s just a matter of figuring out how to do something, or if it even can be done, other LinkedIn users are pretty helpful. Try GetSatisfaction.com or the Using LinkedIn category on LinkedIn Answers.
Good luck!
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:43 am
Thanks so much for addressing the issue both here and on Twitter. It seems that they have obfuscated the process somewhat recently because I remember once getting in touch with them before and I don’t recall it being this backward.
I love LI, but like you I get so frustrated at how it is run and the lack of innovation from the user standpoint. Like many web companies, the lion’s share of the innovation comes in adding more functionality and “wow” than in shoring up what already exists.
December 3rd, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Scott,
It’s an odd situation… I touched on it a couple weeks ago when a reader was asking how to deal with a potentially fraudulent situation on the site.
In addition to the almost hidden page, I found that the “User Agreement” includes instructions on how to contact LinkedIn about content / legal issues.
The information is in the “LinkedIn Shenanigans – Identity Theft, Business Fraud, and Lying About Work History” article.
http://www.linkedinpersonaltrainer.com/archives/linkedin-shenanigans-identity-theft-business-fraud-and-lying-about-work-history/
steve
–
Steven Tylock
The LinkedIn Personal Trainer
http://www.linkedinpersonaltrainer.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/stevetylock