SWTOR deleted some of my characters because of an "issue with character load"

Last month I decided to restart playing swtor after not playing for about 3 years. When I started playing I got in 3 in game messages that said " We have detected that this character has been affected by an issue on character load that resulted in the game needing to grant or return items to this character. Attached to this email you find the associated items. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused." I also received 3 blank messages from character has been deleted at the same time that had all of my companions gear but not the ones I equipped. For example I got all of jaesa's gear etc.. for each companion but nothing else. I called and talked to support about the problem and was told that it might be due to someone hacking in and that I should secure my account. But if someone did delete them why would I get in game messages from the swtor team and my companions (basic) gear? When I was told that they were deleted in 2014, it also didn't add up that I got these messages several years after the characters were deleted. I put in a lot of money into this game in the past and lately (until I realized my stuff was deleted anyways) which is why I want my stuff back. I know it's been awhile but I think it's ridiculous that I'd have to go through so much effort to get my stuff back after the swtor team deleted my characters, if that's even possible. 

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, 

Andrew