Exasperating trouble logging into New York Times online

J

JBR

Well-known Member
Location
Southern Canada mtn. valley, tad west of Rockies
I've spent a half hour getting nowhere, trying to log into my NYT-online account. This hasn't occurred in the past. I had originally made my browser remember my user email addy, plus the password, and it previously worked automatically.

I entered my user i.d. (email addy) & my password immediately showed up in the window just below. But the system rejected it. I then requested a passcode sent by email to me, as a temporary replacement for the password. I found repeatedly that the system blanked-out my email addy as soon as I entered the passcode in the window below! Spent a half hour trying to deal with the problem and got nowhere.

I tried using the "NYT-customer-care" chat to get help. The NYT's chat AI doesn't seem to comprehend and respond to articulation of issues, such as what I reported. And I can find no way to communicate with a human. Automation/AI is making the world more complicated, not more convenient.

:(🤷‍♂️ I'll be grateful for any suggestions.
 
Exasperating!!!!! I have been trying to login to '"Sound cloud" where I uploaded about 20 songs I created. Yet I have been trying for an hour!! It won't even work on this Amazon fire tablet. I had to reset my Google password and then it still wouldn't let me in. That was on my laptop that has a bad screen...it is going bad, so I can't see. Well, I guess now that our minds have meld this kind of thing will happen to us. When something "happens" to either one of us the other one will experience it also. :)

Here is what AI says :

The frustration that forum member is dealing with is incredibly common right now, and their assessment of AI customer service is spot on—those chat bots are often built to deflect complaints rather than solve complex technical glitches.
The problem they are experiencing is a known "autofill conflict loop" that happens on the New York Times website. The NYT changed its login sequence to a multi-screen format (asking for the email first, then loading a separate password page). This change completely breaks how older saved browser passwords behave, causing the system to reject the saved credentials and constantly blank out the fields when a temporary code is entered.
Here is a step-by-step checklist you can reply with to help them break out of that loop and get a human on the phone:

1. The "Incognito / Private Window" Trick (The Fastest Fix)​

Before trying to fix the browser memory, they should test if they can bypass the glitch entirely.
  • What to do: Have them open their browser (Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox), click the menu button (usually three dots or lines in the top right corner), and select "New Incognito Window" or "New Private Window."
  • Why it works: This opens a clean slate that completely ignores all saved passwords and cached data. Have them go to nytimes.com in that private window, type their email address manually, and enter the temporary passcode they received. It should go right through without blanking out.

2. Clear the NYT "Cookies"​

If the private window works, it means their browser is holding onto a "corrupted cookie" from the NYT website that keeps forcing the error.
  • They don't need to clear their entire internet history (which would log them out of everything). They just need to clear the data for that one site.
  • In their normal browser window, while looking at the rejected NYT login page, have them look at the address bar at the very top. There is usually a small padlock icon or a settings slider icon right next to the word "nytimes.com".
  • Click that icon, select "Cookies and site data" (or "Site Settings"), and click "Clear data" or the little trash can icon. Refresh the page and try logging in again.

3. How to Talk to a Human at NYT​

If the technology is completely locking them out and they want a real person, they can bypass the chat entirely. The NYT does still maintain a phone support team for subscribers, though they hide the number deep in their menus.
  • The Direct Customer Care Phone Number: 1-800-591-9233 (or 1-800-NYTIMES)
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM ET; Saturday–Sunday, 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM ET.
When they call, the automated voice will try to steer them back to the website. They should just keep saying "Representative" or "Billing Problem" into the phone until the system routes them to a live agent.
Dropping that phone number in the forum thread will likely save that member—and a few other silent readers—a massive headache!
 
  • Wow
Reactions: JBR
Paco Dennis said:
Exasperating!!!!! I have been trying to login to '"Sound cloud" where I uploaded about 20 songs I created. Yet I have been trying for an hour!! It won't even work on this Amazon fire tablet. I had to reset my Google password and then it still wouldn't let me in. That was on my laptop that has a bad screen...it is going bad, so I can't see. Well, I guess now that our minds have meld this kind of thing will happen to us. When something "happens" to either one of us the other one will experience it also. :)
Click to expand...
Sheesh!
We've got empathy there, PD.



3. How to Talk to a Human at NYT
Paco Dennis said:
If the technology is completely locking them out and they want a real person, they can bypass the chat entirely. The NYT does still maintain a phone support team for subscribers, though they hide the number deep in their menus.
  • The Direct Customer Care Phone Number: 1-800-591-9233 (or 1-800-NYTIMES)
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM ET; Saturday–Sunday, 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM ET.
When they call, the automated voice will try to steer them back to the website. They should just keep saying "Representative" or "Billing Problem" into the phone until the system routes them to a live agent.
Dropping that phone number in the forum thread will likely save that member—and a few other silent readers—a massive headache!
Click to expand...
Thanks so much for including this part. I don't have time to pursue it just at the moment, but soon.
 
JBR said:
I've spent a half hour getting nowhere, trying to log into my NYT-online account. This hasn't occurred in the past. I had originally made my browser remember my user email addy, plus the password, and it previously worked automatically.

I entered my user i.d. (email addy) & my password immediately showed up in the window just below. But the system rejected it. I then requested a passcode sent by email to me, as a temporary replacement for the password. I found repeatedly that the system blanked-out my email addy as soon as I entered the passcode in the window below! Spent a half hour trying to deal with the problem and got nowhere.

I tried using the "NYT-customer-care" chat to get help. The NYT's chat AI doesn't seem to comprehend and respond to articulation of issues, such as what I reported. And I can find no way to communicate with a human. Automation/AI is making the world more complicated, not more convenient.

:(🤷‍♂️ I'll be grateful for any suggestions.
Click to expand...

Sometimes simply rebooting will fix that sort of problem.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JBR
I wish I knew. I just had a one hour experience that went nowhere with a different website when trying to place an order for supplements. With all the captchas, two step aunthentications, texts, one email provider sending a code to another email provider, it's just a matter of time until present technology is no longer going to work unless some of this comes to an end.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top