We have implemented an account linking system to put those extra characters on other accounts that belong to you.
The waiting time at the moment is simply due to discussions for the linking still taking place, we haven't 100% confirmed every single thing related to it, even if it is as basic as a simple input box for account name, click link, set which characters get moved, done.
We like to think about every aspect of systems we implement, concerns, security, fallback, so on.
As such, no eta, rest assured all characters "in limbo" are safe