ICO
Subject access requests: one month.
Home / Meta appeal links
Meta appeal links for the UK.
What is specific to the UK: regulators, reporting lines and rights.
In the UK, the escalations are the ICO for data requests Meta ignores, Report Fraud (which replaced Action Fraud on 4 December 2025) for hacking and scams, and the Online Safety Act framework that Ofcom enforces, although Ofcom does not handle individual complaints. If the official route fails, Unbanz handles Instagram ($800) and Facebook ($900) cases, paid upfront with a 100% refund if it fails.
Report Fraud
Replaced Action Fraud, Dec 2025.
Online Safety Act
Ofcom regulates; no individual cases.
The Meta routes
The Meta routes themselves do not change by country: appeal from the notice you see at login (or in Accounts Center), use www.instagram.com/hacked/ or www.facebook.com/hacked for a takeover, and ask for ad account reviews in business.facebook.com/accountquality. The full list is in the Meta appeal links directory. What follows is only what differs here.
Who to report to in the UK
| Link | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/ | Raise the issue with Meta first; if it does not respond properly, complain to the ICO. |
| Report Fraud www.reportfraud.police.uk/ | The City of London Police service for fraud and cybercrime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, including hacked social media accounts. Phone 0300 123 2040. |
| Police Scotland www.scotland.police.uk/ | In Scotland, report fraud and hacking on 101 instead. |
| Report Harmful Content reportharmfulcontent.com/ | A national service run by SWGfL that helps when platforms do not act on harmful content you reported. |
| Revenge Porn Helpline / StopNCII stopncii.org/ | For intimate images shared or threatened without consent. |
Subject access request under UK GDPR
Under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 you can ask Meta for a copy of the personal data it holds about you, including records linked to an account decision. The normal deadline is one calendar month, extendable by two further months for complex requests. If the reply is missing or incomplete, the ICO is the next step. A SAR does not reinstate an account, but it can show what Meta relied on.
The Online Safety Act and Ofcom
Ofcom enforces the Online Safety Act 2023, which requires services such as Instagram and Facebook to run complaints procedures, including for users who think content was wrongly taken down. Ofcom does not decide individual cases, so it will not restore your account, but it collects complaints to spot systemic failures. Write to Meta through the in-app appeal first.
Common UK situations
- Hacked accounts used to run fake ticket or crypto offers to your followers. Get a Report Fraud reference before you appeal.
- Under-18 accounts placed into Teen Account settings and adults wrongly flagged as teens after an age check.
- Sole traders whose Instagram shop and ad account are restricted together.
Timing
The UK is on GMT in winter and BST in summer. Reviews run worldwide, so submission time does not matter; what matters is sending one complete appeal.
Want it handled for you?
Unbanz handles Instagram account recovery for a fixed $800, paid upfront by card, with a 100% refund if the case fails. Guaranteed 3–7 days from the day we start, with a 100% refund if it fails. We are independent, not Instagram, and we never ask for your password or login codes.
To start, send a screenshot of the full notice, the username or link, and your country to team@unbanz.com. See every fee on the pricing page.
Related
Meta appeal links directory, Account recovery by country.
About Unbanz
Unbanz (unbanz.com) is an independent service that helps people recover disabled, suspended and hacked Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat and Meta ad accounts, recover Facebook Pages and claim usernames. Fees are fixed and paid upfront, with a 100% refund if the case fails. Contact: team@unbanz.com. Not affiliated with Meta, TikTok, Snap or Google.
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QUICK ANSWERS
Good to know.
Is Action Fraud still the place to report?
No. Since 4 December 2025, Report Fraud has replaced Action Fraud in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.
How long does Meta have to answer a subject access request?
One month, extendable by up to two more months for complex requests.
Can Ofcom get my Instagram back?
No. Ofcom regulates systems and does not handle individual account cases.