Bitcoin Forum

PLEASE ASSIST

On 13th of March 2014, I created a Blockchain virtual wallet. When creating the wallet, I was given a 12 word passphrase which can be used to access my wallet. I was not asked to provide an email address or password. I was instructed by the website that the 12 word passphrase is all that was required to access my wallet. I recorded the passphrase both on paper and electronically, checking and double-checking I recorded it correctly. I also recorded my bitcoin address (the 34 letter alphanumeric code). After successfully purchasing bitcoins from a reputable broker, I then transferred my bitcoins to my virtual Blockchain wallet. I then logged in/logged out a number of times to ensure the bitcoins was in the wallet.

3 years later, I tried to access my wallet. First thing I realised was the login process had changed. I now required a username and password, and wallet ID. The recovery process of obtaining my wallet ID was not accepting my 12 word passphrase. I emailed support advising of the situation and they provided me the legacy passphrase website; https://blockchain.info/wallet/forgot-password?guid=
I tried my passphrase again, checking and double-checking I’ve input it correctly, however I kept receiving this error: “URIError: URI malformed”.. I originally thought maybe I recorded it incorrectly, so then tried altering the words slightly using common misspellings or similar words (did this for hours!!!). I then work out that the website can detect incorrect words, misspelt words or altered words! So I’m 100% certain my passphrase is correct. I have tried google chrome, safari and explorer. I note that explorer gives a different error: “URIError: The URI to be decoded is not a valid encoding”.

I contacted support again. They asked me for a one week window in which my account was created, and the password I used when creating the account. I was not asked for a password when originally creating my account in 2014, so I provided what passwords I used back then in case my memory of the account creating process is incorrect. Again, I hit a road block from support as they’re unable to obtain my wallet!

I know my bitcoins are in my wallet (I have the bitcoin address recorded), however I can’t access my wallet! I have checked the bitcoin address a number of times, and I know the bitcoins have not left my wallet! Has anyone here had a similar experience with Blockchain? Is it really that difficult for them to retrieve a wallet ID when providing everything including the bitcoin address? Is there something else I can do to retrieve my bitcoins? It is not a small amount of bitcoins, so I’m trying my best to recover it (and receiving little help from Blockchain support!!). Should I be at loss because the website which stored my wallet changed the login process? It’s extremely frustrating and they are now simply brushing off my requests for further help! Thank you all for your help in advance!

Is there seed custom made? If they are following BIP39 or something and the passphrase is actually correct, you shouldn't find issues importing them. So, first ask them what they were using back in 2014.

Many blockchain users encountered this issue since blockchain.info updated their wallet way back. And I've search also that on 2014 many users same like you got their seed but they're different because they have 17 phrases instead of 12 or 15. But if that wallet is Bip39 then you can recover those bitcoins you have in that wallet, so as what OmegaStarScream said, you have to ask them first.

Thank you for your help - really appreciate it. I've messaged the support team (again) to ask if the seed was custom made.

By chance, would anyone here have a link to a use which experienced a similar issue? I'm at a point where I will happily share some of my Bitcoins as a reward to anyone that can help me access my coins. Does anyone here know of a reliable service that can help? Thanks again!

If I were you, while you are waiting for the blockchain.info's reply may be you should at least try to recover your bitcoin by yourself. I don't think if blockchain on that year using already Bip39, so try to recover your coins using Electrum desktop wallet, File/New or Restore/(Enter name)/next/Standard wallet/I already have a seed then paste your seed there. Or you can go here here (https://iancoleman.github.io/bip39/) to recover Bip39 wallet and try to follow this steps (http://bl4nkcode.info/bitcoin/how_to_export_blockchain_wallet_private_key).   

I'm pretty sure that blockchain.info uses BIP39 for their recovery phrase. This is a nice tutorial of how to export your blockchain.info wallet into omniwallet but the process is the same, you just get the private key and import it into another wallet. The article is here: https://github.com/OmniLayer/omniwallet/wiki/Exporting-Private-Key-from-Blockchain.info-and-Importing-to-Omniwallet.org

There's an easier option, i'm not sure if it works though. Go download copay and try to insert the BIP39 mnemonics there. I use their wallet and there is an option to import the mnemonics directly to recover old wallets.

He can't connect to his account, so how he is going to export the private keys on the first place. He probably should wait for their answer so we could help him from there.

What do you mean?

He has the recovery phrase which means that he can basically import it to any bitcoin wallet that is able to accept BIP39 recovery seeds. The tool that bl4nkcode gave can be used to get the addresses and their respective private keys.

Or OP can use mycelium, copay or any other wallet to import the recovery phrase as well and access the wallet. The seeds that blockchain.info uses are pretty much universally used.

I'm talking about the first part where you said he should export the private keys and are you sure that blockchain was using BIP39 back in 2014? I believe they only started using it recently when they upgraded to HD.

Thank you all!!! Downloanded and installed electrum and it worked perfectly as instructed!

Word of warning - DO NOT TRUST Blockchain.info... After pleading with the support team for months to help me, they told me a number of times my coins are lost.. Completely useless and very untrustworthy company!!

Probably a good thing they're so useless - bitcoins have gone up a fair bit since trying to access them! Thank you all!!

That's great to hear, not all people who encountered these problems from their old blockchain wallet recovers their funds. So all you need to do since you are using a desktop wallet, make sure that your computer is out of malware or else.
And I guess this topic/thread must be close already ;)

Good for you, I haven't experienced that error "URIError: URI malformed" with blockchain but I've experiencing a lot of problems with them when it comes to accessing to my account. Just shift now to desktop wallet and always try to check up your wallet if it is still working then. Because base on your story, you didn't login to your account for 3 years.