Can I not retrieve verizon cloud backup (where my photos and contacts where saved) when i'm no longer a verizon customer?
If you are no longer a current account holder with Verizon you can't retrieve any information from your former and now not active device/cloud account.
That begs the question of where the data goes after deactivating an account.
I'm not sure on this one and I know other's on the forum can give you a correct answer. I was told they keep the information for 30 to 90 days (not sure) and then deleted unless a court order is filed. I hope someone on the forum will chime in on this to bring us to the same page.
I can see them keeping it for 30 days since the win-back dept allows re-connection sans ETF within that period of time.
