I know I can simply not use it for a period of time and it will become
inactive and eventually be deleted, but that is not good enough as I
do not want to be actively ignoring anyone who emails me in the period
- and telling everyone I have a new email address is not an option as
there are always some people who may email me but who I won't really
want to talk to, but always reply to out of courtesy. Yahoo Mail has
an option to delete an email account at once, but I could not find a
similar one for Hotmail. Is there one, or would an email to Hotmail
support (whoever ?) work ? Or do I really have no alternative but to
wait and not use it ?

Hi wolvies-ga,

I found how to close your Hotmail account for you. You can close your
Hotmail account and stored email and addresses will be permanently
deleted and inbound mail will be refused. Here's how to do it:

Go to your hotmail account - log in, and once inside, click HELP. This
is located just to the right of the tabs: HOME - INBOX - COMPOSE -
CONTACTS - (OPTIONS) - (HELP).

Once the right side of your screen opens, you'll see some choices.
Ignore those choices. You'll notice that just under those choices is a
grey box titled:

"For help on MSN Hotmail:" 

--Type CLOSE into that text entry box and click GO.

--Then, on the resulting page, click "Close your Hotmail account" (2nd
choice)

Next, on the resulting page click this link:

"Go to the Close Account page and follow the instructions."

The resulting page says this:

..."By closing this account, you are marking your account inactive.
Stored e-mail and addresses will be permanently deleted and inbound
mail will be refused. Your .NET Passport will still function, and your
e-mail name will be reserved.

To re-activate your account, simply go to http://www.hotmail.com and
enter your Sign-In name and password. You will then be able to send
and receive e-mail using MSN Hotmail once again.

If your account stays 'inactive' for over a period of 90 days, it will
be permanently deleted. This delay is necessary to discourage users
from engaging in fraudulent activity. Additionally, due to the limited
number of names available, we may allow other users to sign up for and
use your current e-mail name after your account has been permanently
deleted..."

Under the above text is the option to "CLOSE MY ACCOUNT"

Click that and you're done.

Search strategy used:
I used my own hotmail account to find the instructions by going to
HELP.


Thanks for asking!
--Cynthia

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Request for Answer Clarification by wolvies-ga on 15 Mar 2003 11:36 PST

This is, of course, not a request for clarification but the promised
confirmation that your answer has worked. I followed one of missy's
suggestions in another question about getting a new paid email
account, and having confirmed that all is working right there now, I
have deleted my old Hotmail account. Thank you very much for your help
!

wolvies, lol

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Clarification of Answer by cynthia-ga on 17 Mar 2003 08:55 PST

Thanks wolvies-ga, I appreciate the update, and I'm glad it worked for you!

--Cynthia

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Clarification of Answer by cynthia-ga on 21 Mar 2003 13:15 PST

wolvies,

I forgot to thank you for the tip, I really do appreciate it, THANKS!!

--Cynthia

Thank you, I will let you know that it works when I complete the
transfer of data but I do not doubt that you are correct.