12 words, usually that would be Electrum or blockchain.info since there also is an option for you to receive your 12-word mnemonics on both, the difference is that in blockchain.info you are given a wallet identifier to decrypt your wallet. Have you tried downloading Electrum and see whether you'll come up with anything? Also, try blockchain.info and see whether it will work or not.
He did have an email from blockchain.info (I know it is not electrum), but he cannot get in with the 12 words on the attempts he said he made. He said he tried recovering the password there with the 12 words but it does not work.
Any ideas as to why the 12 words wouldn't work? Thank you.