How can I delete my hotmail email account?

How can I delete a Hotmail email account ?

• 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 ?

• Answer:

  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