Backtracking from verification meta tag to the correct Google account is difficult

[MaryDoherty]

A Google verification meta tag was created and implemented on a site that I am now responsible for (I took over an SEO project after a long lapse), but no one seems to know what Google account was used to create the meta tag in the first place.

I'm finding it very difficult to backtrack from verification meta tag to the Google account, and all the online help is for those having trouble moving forward with the verification.

Any suggestions or advice?

[john4math]

I'd just delete that verification meta tag, and from a new Google account, generate a new verification meta tag to add (if that's how you want to verify).  If you already have verified an account you have access to, just delete the meta tag.  Who knows who that's giving Google Webmaster Tools access to... if you hear from someone after you remove it, I guess you'll find out.

[MaryDoherty]

I'm going to add a new meta tag today, but I'd really like to see the last year's worth of data. It's hard to gauge site performance now without it.

[RyanKent]

If you have any idea of what the email address used to create the google account was, then this page can help: http://www.google.com/support/dartsignin/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=114766