My files are missing. How can I recover them?

Do you mean that the contractor has left? I have spoken to him and he has not knowingly done so. Had he left, I would still expect to be able to see the files/ folders or at least a history of their creation/ deletion etc. but all is empty (bar one file detailed below).

In /share  Recent, files and folders are all empty. There is one file in Links but that is one I shared today just to check it was the correct dropbox. The sub contractor received the invite and can see the file.

Hey Simon Ruffles, what does your events page show? Any events related to that folder?

Simon Ruffles wrote:

Do you mean that the contractor has left?

No, sorry for not being clear, the Shared Folder has been left as the message says on Events - either you or both of you. 

Hi Hannah. There are just 6 events relating to the file created Friday and shared with my contractor today. Nothing before that.

If I change the search criteria to show Thursday 12 June (all events) I see a message that "You have no activity yet", despite this not being a new account.

Understood but if the contractor left, the content would surely remain?

Simon Ruffles wrote:

I see a message that "You have no activity yet", despite this not being a new account.

That would indicate that this is, in fact, a new account, or an account that has been reactivated after previously being idle for more than a year. When was the last time you signed in to this account?

Rich, I can't be sure but I believe the contractor was in there a few weeks ago and saw data.

If the account was idle and reactivated, would the event history be wiped? I can go back 2-3 years and see no history.

Finally, I don't believe this is a new new account, as, when I hover over the share icon, I can see 16 email addresses already used which links to my use of it previously. This list includes the sub contractor. 

Hi again, Simon.

Is it possible that your contractor logged in to a different account when they saw the files?

Can you ask them which email address they used and compare it to the one you're using to sign in?

Hannah, We have managed to find the original invite from 2018 which shows the correct account is based at this email address. Existing email addresses associated with the account seem to confirm that.

Simon Ruffles wrote:

If the account was idle and reactivated, would the event history be wiped?

Yes. If you hadn't signed in to the account in the last year, the account would have been disabled and the content deleted. Signing back in would reactivate the account but there would be no files or event history.