Account restricted, can't identify the cause, and stuck in a support loop. Need help getting a human review

[arzen1kos]

🏷️ Discussion Type

Question

💬 Feature/Topic Area

Issues

Body

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping someone from GitHub staff or the community can point me in the right direction.

My account (@arzenikos) was restricted for alleged violations of the Terms of Service, specifically the Actions section of the Additional Product Terms (using Actions for interaction with third-party sites, incentivized activity, or general computing). I take that seriously, and I want to fix it. The problem is that I genuinely don't know which repository or workflow is the cause, and support hasn't told me.

Here is where I'm stuck:

1. The reinstatement/appeal form requires me to be logged in, which I can't do because the account is suspended.
2. I submitted a support ticket and received a general reply saying the ToS was violated and the restriction would not be lifted. It did not name the repository or workflow involved.
3. The reply said I can't respond to it and must open a new ticket.
4. When I tried to open a new ticket, I was blocked for having submitted too many requests.

So I can't identify the problem, can't remove it, can't reply to the existing ticket, and can't open another one.

Why this matters: all of my repositories are on this account, and I'm currently job hunting. I'm not asking for special treatment, just for a real review and a path to resolution.

What I'm willing to do:

• Delete or disable all GitHub Actions workflows on my account
• Remove any flagged repo immediately once I know which one it is
• Use Actions only for building, testing, and deploying my own code going forward

What I'm asking for:

• A way to get my case reviewed by a person, or
• At minimum, the name of the flagged repo/workflow, or
• Failing that, access to export my repositories and data

If you're a GitHub staff member, I'd be grateful if you could look into this or tell me the right escalation path. If you're a community member who has been through something similar, I'd appreciate any advice on what worked for you.

Thank you for reading.

Arsenie
@arzenikos

[nipun-1234]

Hi Arsenie,

Sorry you're dealing with this situation. Being unable to access your repositories or submit another appeal must be frustrating, especially while job hunting.

I would recommend checking GitHub's official account-restriction and appeal guidance and continuing through the official support channels. In your next request, include your existing support ticket number, explain that the appeal form requires access to your suspended account, and mention that the ticket limit is preventing you from submitting a follow-up.

You could also ask GitHub Support whether there is an alternative way to appeal the decision or request an export of your repositories and personal data.

I would avoid deleting everything or making other irreversible changes until you have clarified the situation, if possible. Keep copies of your existing support correspondence and any relevant evidence.

Unfortunately, community members cannot access GitHub's internal enforcement records or identify the specific workflow that triggered the restriction. Only GitHub can confirm those details.

I hope you're able to get a proper review and recover access to your work. Good luck!

[queenofcorgis]

Hi there,

Suspended accounts can usually still reach the support contact form via our Unable to Sign In form. They don't need to be logged in. They can pick "Account restriction/appeal" and submit with the email tied to the account.