Take Down or Set Old Site to Private

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  perispheremedia · Member · May 3, 2026 at 10:44 pm

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  My client – http://sheilcatholiccenter.org/ – wants to have this old (not updated since 2012) student-created WordPress.com site taken down as it is creating confusion with their actual website.

  It is unknown what Northwestern University student created this site, and even if it were, it would be unlikely to be able to contact them.

  They can provide documentation that they are the organization in question, and I can loop in a contact from the client.

  Let me know how they can proceed.

  Thanks!

  Matt S.
  For Sheil Catholic Center

  The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

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  elcristofue · Staff · May 4, 2026 at 9:41 am

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  Hi @perispheremedia! Thanks for letting us know about this.
  
  Just to double check, are you looking to delete the site wearesheil.wordpress.com, right?

  If that’s the case, your client can complete our account recovery process using this guide to regain access to the site and then delete it:

  https://wordpress.com/support/account-recovery/verify-ownership/

  There you’ll find the types of information you can provide so we can verify ownership and help you regain access to the account.

  However, if that is not possible, there is also an option to request that the site be made private instead, which you can read about here:

  https://wordpress.com/support/account-recovery/verify-ownership/#if-ownership-cannot-be-established
  
  Please let us know if you have any questions or need any extra help, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

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  perispheremedia · Member · May 4, 2026 at 11:13 am

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  Thanks very much.

  The client does not have a login, or any record of the site creation. It was created by a long-departed student affliated with the organization.

  With account recovery, they do not have any of the required information (transaction ID, etc.). Should they still submit the form? If they do, is there something we can add to it – e.g. different organizational documentation, language from you/WordPress.com – so that it won’t get turned down.

  Similar, they can’t set the site to Private according to these instructions as they are not able to log in to the dashboard, as they don’t have accounts or any record of who does.

  Appreciate your guidance in how to get past the access/knowledge hurdle that seems to block both of these paths.

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  elcristofue · Staff · May 4, 2026 at 12:39 pm

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  Thanks for sharing that, @perispheremedia. In that case, they can email us directly at help@wordpress.com, and we’ll be happy to continue helping them from there.