Loading Profile...
Can an inactive Twitter page/username be removed by request? Or even a request be sent to the current inactive owner?
I’m disapointed
69
people have this question
I have this question, too!
Tell me when someone answers.
The more people who ask this question, the more it gets noticed.
The more people who ask this question, the more it gets noticed.
The best answers from the company
-
Since inactive user name requests are such a popular thing, they now have their own address. I don't check this thread everyday, but judging by my replies tab, this is a popular request. Going forward, if you want to acquire an inactive user name, please send a request to:
username@twitter.com
It may take 3-5 days for you to get a response, since inactive user name requests come behind problem requests and bug reports in terms of priority, but we'll have someone looking at these daily. In your request, please include the following information:
*The user name you want
*Your existing user name, if you have one
*If you want to change your user name, or start a new account with the user name you're requesting.
Please note: Twitter Support will change your user name for you at the time of responding to the request so that the user name doesn't get taken by someone else. We will notify you by email when this happens.
Thanks!
Crystal
I’m happy for more efficiency!
The company and 5 other people say
this answers the question
-
We generally have a 9 month rule; if a profile has been inactive for more than 9 months, we release the user name. In cases where the account has never been updated, Twitter can write the owner of the user name about releasing it, but results vary.
The company and 4 other people say
this answers the question
The best answer from everyone
-
First I opened a help ticket in the old help system to get an inactive username. That sat with no response for over a month until twitter went to the new help system and the ticket disappeared.
I used the new help process to open a new ticket and got this response after about a week:
"Due to high ticket volume, Twitter Support is no longer releasing inactive user names unless in cases of trademark or copyright violation. We are working on releasing all inactive user names in the future, however, we will no longer manually release them on an individual basis."
Then I found this site and sent an email to the address that Crystal gave above and got this response:
"Due to high ticket volume, Twitter Support is unable to change usernames in cases of inactive accounts. Unless your user name issue involves Terms of Service violations, you'll have to wait until all inactive user names are released. We're working on a better long term solution for this."
This is all very unfortunate. I am well known many other places by the username "scrooks" which sits completely unused at twitter for more than a year, but now I can't claim it and am using the name "drthunder" instead. I guess I waited too long to make the request. I'm extremely bummed by this.
I’m totally bummed.
3 people say
this answers the question
-
Inappropriate?We generally have a 9 month rule; if a profile has been inactive for more than 9 months, we release the user name. In cases where the account has never been updated, Twitter can write the owner of the user name about releasing it, but results vary.
The company and 4 other people say
this answers the question
13 Comments Add a comment
This answers the question
-
Or submit the request through http://twitter.com/help -
I'm looking for the username "shiva" (see my other comment below). The account has been inactive for over a year now, and yet the account remains. I'm trying to re-brand myself across web2.0 tools and would love that name. Plz Plz do something.
-
Hi, there's a username: Rilee thathaven't update for over 9 month, will you release it?
-
Rilee, plus submit a help ticket at http://twitter.com/help to ask for the name.
-
how long have people had to wait for the username they wanted to be freed up?
-
Well, the account was inactive for about 9 months.. and about 15 days after I posted my second comment in this thread, I got my account!! I must also say, that I was pretty active on twitter.
-
@shiva -- that's good to hear and thanks for the reply. when you say you got your account, what do you mean by that, exactly? did your current account just change usernames automatically, did you just find the old account was deleted and you changed your name, did you find the old account to be deleted and you just signed up as it; what happened?
the one i am seeking hasn't posted in over a year. -
well, they replaced my username, which means that all the previous username's @replies, were not accessible.
-
Hi, there's a username "Tommy" that haven't update for over 9 month. I would like to use it. Could you please release it ?
-
Hi Tom. You'll need to submit a request through http://twitter.com/help or send an email request to support AT twitter DOT com
-
Hi Crystal my request number is : "330807" can you please look at it? - I've awaited reply from Twitter support for a month.
-
Hi Crystal, So how do we know how many months are left in inactivity? Ticket #109552
-
I have a client who is a prime candidate for a name request yet his tickets go deleted. The owner of the name tweeted 3 times in March to test his new IPhone and that's it. He hasn't done anything with the account 10 months and it just happens to be the name of a new Twitter Application that my clients company has spent a year developing. Now they will be trademarking the app name and could use some help getting this sorted out. We also tried sending to username@twitter.com which bounces undeliverable. Any help would be appreciated.
-
I have a client who is a prime candidate for a name request yet his tickets go deleted. The owner of the name tweeted 3 times in March to test his new IPhone and that's it. He hasn't done anything with the account 10 months and it just happens to be the name of a new Twitter Application that my clients company has spent a year developing. Now they will be trademarking the app name and could use some help getting this sorted out. We also tried sending to username@twitter.com which bounces undeliverable. Any help would be appreciated.
-
Inappropriate?How do we contact you if we want a login name freed faster... it's been 6 full months since his last update...
please help!
I’m sad
-
Inappropriate?An account name I would sure like to have sure looks inactive, never updated at least, is there some kind of "flag as inactive" process? -
Inappropriate?I need a the username "shiva" (my on-going effort to brand myself acros web 2.0 tools :) ), and I see that the account with that username has been inactive for over a year now. How do I raise a request for that name to be freed?! (my current username is shvelmur => impossible to pronounce (I know!))
I’m anxious
-
Inappropriate?E-mailed Twitter for a request for a account that is'nt updating for 11 months now.. Didn't heard anything... Would really love love to have that account
I’m frustrated
-
Inappropriate?11 months is nothing, I've seen accounts MUCH older than that, sitting dormant. It's ridiculous. I'm not about to register some long sentence for a username because that's basically all that's left to register on Twitter.
I’m frustrated
-
Inappropriate?I am aware of twitter's problem with scaling.. but they've gotta do something about this. I am sure, that by getting rid of accounts with no updates/activity, they can reduce the scaling problem (atleast to some extent).
Do let me know how I can request for a username that's been inactive since Feb 07!! Come on guys!
I’m frustrated
1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
-
shiva, you might be better off submitting a help request at http://twitter.com/help
-
Inappropriate?this does not bode well, since I am just starting this process. grrrrr.
I’m frustrated
1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
-
Chuck - a help request will get this done. I obtained an inactive username within max. of 10 days from submitting a help request.
-
1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
-
how long did it take for it to happen for you. also, what happened exactly?
-
Inappropriate?Hi, i'd like to register username "bandesz", which is taken, but was never updated. Is there a chance to get this name?
I’m hopeful
1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
-
Hi. Try submitting a support ticket to ask for the username at http://twitter.com/help
-
Inappropriate?I myself am interested in getting a username that hasn't updated yet (and randomly has one person following too). I heard about the 9 month rule when I shot an email to Twitter about this back in June. They replied and said the account was started a month ago (damnit - just missed it :-/) and said if the profile's inactive for 9 months, they can release it (An inactive account is when a person hasn't updated yet, right?). So it's been about 2 months so far since I emailed, 3 months since the username first started.. as long as the person doesn't update in the next 6 months (by Feb 2009 if my Math is correct), I'll be shooting an email to Twitter asking to grab their username.
I’m hopeful
1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
-
I just got an email from Twitter today saying they had received my request and I got a link to the support ticket. It took a few days to get to them I Guess. I was worried at first. I just updated that ticket, making note that for the username I want, the person still hasn't updated any information yet.
-
Inappropriate?i just sent in a request, too @ twitter.com/help. hoping it works!
I’m waiting with bated breath.
-
Inappropriate?I'm currently the owner of oldarmstrong and racecarjoe. Racecarjoe is my current Twitter account but I wanted to maintain a consistent brand across the web and change racecarjoe to oldarmstrong (still keeping my account). Of course, I would want to delete the oldarmstrong account. Can you folks at Twitter help me out? I've submitted a ticket already.
I’m slightly frustrated.
-
Inappropriate?Hi racecarjoe. You can do the name change this way:
1. Login to your "oldarmstrong" account. Go to http://twitter.com/account/settings and change your username to oldarmstrong_ (with an underscore). Logout of this account.
2. As quickly as possible, login to your "racecarjoe" account, go to http://twitter.com/account/settings, and change your username to "oldarmstrong". Logout again.
3. Log back into the first account (now with the underscore) and make sure to remove any devices that you may have added to http://twitter.com/devices. I also suggest that you change the email address to a throw-away email address so the email address that's tied to that account can be reused again elsewhere.
An alternative to deleting the account is to simply rename it "racecarjoe" (meaning, you just switched the usernames of the two accounts). This way, you can:
(a) still get any @replies that people may send to "racecarjoe"
(b) leave a final tweet on the "racecarjoe" account saying you're now only using "oldarmstrong"
A final note: when you change your username in Step 1 above, the username "oldarmstrong" becomes temporarily available and can be claimed by any user until you complete Step 2. For this reason, Step 2 needs to be performed as quickly as possible after Step 1.
I’m hoping this helps
1 person says
this answers the question
-
Inappropriate?mdy, thanks for the reply. I wanted to do all of the above that you explained. The problem is, I can't log into my oldarmstrong account. I had reset my password a few days ago but when I click on the link to reset my password, I get the technical error page with the robot graphics. So there's nothing I can do on the oldarmstrong account. Any ideas? This is why I was hoping the Twitter folks could do something on their end.
I’m confident this problem might get resolved.
1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
-
Ah! I didn't realize you had a password problem. I noticed from your reply above that you have already logged a ticket. That's the best course of action to take in cases like this. 8-)
-
Inappropriate?On a related note, I really wish YouTube had a system like this for grabbing old screen names too. I've been wanting a screen name for a while and that person hasn't logged in since April 2006. Now, you can't even email YouTube support anymore.
-
Inappropriate?i put in a request on august 12th but my tickets don't have any replies or resolve... can anyone in twitterland help?
I’m sad
15 Comments Add a comment
This answers the question
-
I hate to tell you this but it's probably going to take longer than two weeks for your ticket to get a response!
-
what is the 6 digit ticket number (don't include the letters please) or the user name in question?
-
313900 or 313807... just about the same. Thanks for your time.
-
Dear crystal, Mine ticket is 315969 and 310332(this didn't have any reply and has been removed), Thanks!
-
Mine is 315485. Its been only 10 days but I haven't heard a single word yet... Thanks.
-
Mine is 313339. Haven't heard anything on it. It was started August 12 2008, 04:48 PM, a few days after I first shot an email to Twitter. I did a follow up myself on it on August 13 2008, 05:28 AM, just giving an update that there was no activity yet for the username I was requesting.
-
@gocubsgo: merged requests into a single request, 313807, and replied: I need to know what the inactive user name is, it's not mentioned in your requests :)
-
@rilee: done! replied to your request, changed user name
-
@nils replied to your request, need more information from you.
-
@srizvi1 done! user name changed, replied to your request.
-
@crystal you're awesome! I got the username I wanted. YouTube, are you learning? (http://getsatisfaction.com/twitter/to...)
Could I also check on one more name request I had done back in June (this is my personal one, the one you just helped me out with was for my site). I think I still have a few more months to go, but it would be nice to just get an update that I am in fact being considered for this username if this user continues to have no activity on this account? the request number is: 269062. I'm looking to know at what date I should reach out to Twitter to get this name (hopefully this user doesn't decide to start using before then!) -
Hi crystal, any chance to get a follow up on my last comment? I just wanted to ask the status of one more request: 269062
-
generally, accounts are removed after 9 months of inactivity. sometimes they aren't though, in which case we have to remove them manually. It looks like this other user name has a few months yet before the account can be taken down. we may modify this in our shiny new terms of service, coming (hopefully!) soon.
-
Hey crystal, I thought I'd ask about this again. We're almost at 9 months and it seems there are new terms, but since I asked so long ago, maybe we could make an exception? I did the e-mail to username@twitter.com - here's the request id: 10981. So far, mhegge has responded and told me about the new terms, but as I said to him, since I asked so long ago, maybe we could still go through changing my username?
-
Hey crystal, I thought I'd ask about this again. We're almost at 9 months and it seems there are new terms, but since I asked so long ago, maybe we could make an exception? I did the e-mail to username@twitter.com - here's the request id: 10981. So far, mhegge has responded and told me about the new terms, but as I said to him, since I asked so long ago, maybe we could still go through changing my username?
-
Inappropriate?I just requested a name, I hope I can get it! -
Inappropriate?been a long time now... no updates whatsoever. gonna just stick with facebook; thanks anyway, twitter.
I’m indifferent
2 Comments Add a comment
This answers the question
-
can you send me an @reply with your ticket number? I'll look into it. send to @crystal, thanks!
-
just got the email... i updated my ticket just now. thanks. hope to see what happens.
-
Inappropriate?just sent a request for a username, hope to get a answer soon3 Comments Add a comment
This answers the question
-
how much time does it take actually ? my ticket number is 321853.
thx -
how much time does it take actually ? my ticket number is 321853.
thx -
Done!
-
Inappropriate?For those of you requesting user name changes that have already filed a support request, feel free to send me an @reply with the 6 digit request number. You can send to @crystal.
1 person says
this answers the question
10 Comments Add a comment
This answers the question
-
Crystal, I dunno how to send you an @reply on here......my ticket number is 318033. I hope you can help me
-
Hi Crystal, my ticket number is 320715. Thanks :)
-
peedy: done! (I meant that you can send me an @reply on Twitter, but this works too)
-
tom: replied to your ticket, just need a little bit more info
-
Done Crystal :) Thanks.
-
Done Crystal :) Thanks.
-
Crystal Rocks!
-
tom: done!
-
Crystal, I sent you an @reply, but thought I'd mention my request here too (320430). The username I want only has 2 tweets total and the last one was over a year and a half ago. I opened a previous support request (access key 310855zhddgx), but it was closed without any response being sent to me. Thanks for your help!
-
Hello Crystal, hope you can help me too, im also not sure about how to send you an @reply but my ticket number is 330304. The username I want has not been updated in over 15 months and want to register it as a new account, Kind Regards.
-
Inappropriate?Thanks to Crystal's help (http://getsatisfaction.com/twitter/to... ), my name change went through and I was able to change my twitter username from "currentsitename_biz" (since you can't use "dots") to just the my "currentsitename." This is awesome for our brand identity.
I had a question though: Right when a username change goes through, there's this short time period where both the new account and the old are working and mirroring each other. Now, a few days later, my old account is dead, but a part of me wants to secure it to lock in our site's identity.
I think ultimately, if you have a website that you want to have a twitter account for, you would like to have "sitename", "sitename_com" (or _net, or biz, etc.), and "sitenamecom."
That doesn't seem like a squatting practice does it? If it's understood that this iisn't a squatting practice to deprive new users of name choices, would it be possible to have these accounts mirror each other like they do temporarily after a name change goes through?
I’m happy either way - my name change went through
2 Comments Add a comment
This answers the question
-
In your shoes I would go ahead and create a new account that uses your old account's name. If someone else wants it, they can always request it through Twitter Support.
-
The brief account mirroring was actually a bug, which we fixed. Once we change your user name, the old name is free for anyone to take. If you delete an account, the user name is taken out of circulation.
If you want to create a new account with the old user name as mdy suggested, it's sometimes helpful to make a post pointing to the old account with the new user name. You can always remove unwanted accounts at later date, which will remove the user name from circulation for up to 6 months. -
Inappropriate?Thanks for getting back to my Crystal and MDY. I guess I'll go ahead and sign up the old, now-changd username again and just make a post pointing towards the new username.
Perhaps this could be a feature respect to consider? this "bug" you fixed is what I would like to permanently happen. Again, it would really be nice to have a "username" be able to be mirrorred by username_com and usernamecom (I can't think of any other alternatives).
I’m still happy my username got switched
2 Comments Add a comment
This answers the question
-
That's a good idea; right now there is no way to transfer or merge user data from one account/user ID to another. This would be an interesting way of facilitating that if necessary. I'll share that one with the team!
-
Excellent, please do share with them. Hopefully it's something you guys can implement one day. You said there's no way to do this, but it seems to me that the bug you fixed was doing just this so maybe that could just be controlled. Anyways, thank you for the response and thank you again for the username transfer. I rated you guys a 10 over here: http://getsatisfaction.com/companies. Well deserved.
-
This reply was removed on 10/10/08.
see the change log -
This comment was removed on 10/10/08.
see the change log -
Inappropriate?Not sure how long replies usually take but I requested an inactive username on September 24th. Request access key: 3235481 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
-
I replied to your request, Christene :)
-
Inappropriate?I made a request and did an @ reply to you, crystal, but I just thought I'd ping here too... the request number is 330936. Thanks so much in advance, you guys are so awesome and have created an amazing service!
I’m thankful
-
Inappropriate?Same situation here, crystal. My ticket is #327725, any help would be awesome. Thanks so much for doing all this!
I’m thankful
-
Inappropriate?Fwiw, Crystal appears to be on vacation, based on her recent tweets.
-
Inappropriate?Crystal, I want to use the username @fore, my ticket is 332533, can you check it, please? -
Inappropriate?Hey it's been way over 9 months and the name is still not available even though it's not being used my ticket# is 317104, help?
I’m frustrated
-
Inappropriate?Crystal, can you check on my request?
338065
Thanks! -
Inappropriate?Its a very late reply but I just wanted to say thanks as I was enable to claim an unused twitter ID successfully. Kindest Regards to all that helped.
-
Inappropriate?Crystal, can you check on my request: 342766. Thanks!
-
Inappropriate?Crystal, I also have two requests outstanding on this issue: #337763 & 337582. Thanks!
-
Inappropriate?Is anyone at Twitter even monitoring this thread anymore?
-
-
Inappropriate?Please see Crystal's reply above where she describes the recommended way to get the username that you want.
-
This reply was removed on 12/06/08.
see the change log -
Inappropriate?Crystal maybe you could help me?
I made two username requests: 341598 and 341605
Thanks!
-
Inappropriate?All of these user name changes have either been completed or replied to with a request for more information.
Thanks!
Crystal
1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
-
Awesome Crystal thanks!
-
1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
-
done!
-
Inappropriate?I filled out a support request but I haven't received any ticket number. My username is miguerum and I want to change it to miguelrios. The account was created but never used for a long time. Thanks!
I’m confident
1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
-
replied to you via twitter, so this one is done
-
Inappropriate?I would like to reclaim and old, inactive username. My support ticket is #346059.
Many thanks you in advance!
I’m thankful
2 Comments Add a comment
This answers the question
-
done, replied to request.
-
Thank you very much!
-
Inappropriate?Can you please look into ticket 341114? Thanks.3 Comments Add a comment
This answers the question
-
This comment was removed on 12/13/08.
see the change log -
This comment was removed on 12/13/08.
see the change log -
ToddPM, done. Susan, replied.
-
Inappropriate?Susan Petrone:
See What are @replies? to learn more - though that's only useful if you already have a Twitter account (which I suspect you don't).
I would have sent @crystal an @reply on your behalf - but I noticed that the account whose name you'd like was last updated on 6th. June 2008 (only 6 months ago), so it wouldn't count as inactive for another 3 months yet.
So you'll probably need to choose another name. Perhaps you could simply append "_", or "08" for the year, or maybe something like "PA", "NY" or "UK" that indicates your location.
You might conceivably be able to contact the owner of the other account on the unlikely chance that they'd contemplate a change of name - a change which inevitably causes inconvenience and confusion to both users (and to their contacts). Even an apparently infrequent tweeter may actually exchange frequent Direct Messages (DMs) with other Twitter users. -
Inappropriate?Hello crystal, I was hoping you could help me with a name change. Request: 344649. I am interested in the name @Kimberly (no t). It has not been used in 2 years. Thanks.2 Comments Add a comment
This answers the question
-
done!
-
Thank you crystal!
-
Inappropriate?Since inactive user name requests are such a popular thing, they now have their own address. I don't check this thread everyday, but judging by my replies tab, this is a popular request. Going forward, if you want to acquire an inactive user name, please send a request to:
username@twitter.com
It may take 3-5 days for you to get a response, since inactive user name requests come behind problem requests and bug reports in terms of priority, but we'll have someone looking at these daily. In your request, please include the following information:
*The user name you want
*Your existing user name, if you have one
*If you want to change your user name, or start a new account with the user name you're requesting.
Please note: Twitter Support will change your user name for you at the time of responding to the request so that the user name doesn't get taken by someone else. We will notify you by email when this happens.
Thanks!
Crystal
I’m happy for more efficiency!
The company and 5 other people say
this answers the question
1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
-
Huzzah! Thank you, crystal.
-
Inappropriate?Twitter did this for me a while back, someone was squatting on my user name and inactive for several months. Sent a quick email and within a week, it was transferred over to me. Thanks!
I’m thankful
-
2 Comments Add a comment
This answers the question
-
My Ticketnumber is #2749 can anyone look into it?
-
My Ticketnumber is #2749 can anyone look into it?
-
Inappropriate?I have submitted a support request (345007) and sent @crystal a reply. I'm trying to retrieve/recover a 20+ month inactive, never been used account for my business use (not to replace my personal twitter account)
I’m in a holding pattern
2 Comments Add a comment
This answers the question
-
Done.
-
Perfect-a-mundo. Many thanks Emee!
-
Inappropriate?hi Crystal,
My request is (Ticket #2861). I was hoping to move to an account that has been active for over 20 months.
Thanks.
Hans2 Comments Add a comment
This answers the question
-
hans, as far as I know, support tickets are six digits, not 4 digits...?
-
nope, the ticketnumbers from username@twitter.com are 4 digits :-)
Hans_M did you already receive a reaction? -
Inappropriate?Yeah I thought they were 6 digits too. I sent the request to "username@twitter.com" as Crystal had directed in the msg above. I received a confirmation email that the request had been received with Ticket #2861. Not sure if the ticket numbering system is different using this email rather than inquiries submitted via the twitter help page1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
-
Oh, this is good to know. Thanks for the info!
-
Inappropriate?hsl,
Thanks for the confirmation of the 4 digit numbers. I still haven't received a response. -
Inappropriate?I would like to reclaim and old, inactive username. My support ticket is #349983.
Thank you very much! -
Inappropriate?Hi, I sent a ticket #3881, but the status page says "You do not have access to request #3881. It may have been deleted." I never received a response. Has it been deleted? I wanted the username "atlasthon" for a group. Please help. Thanks.
-
This reply was removed on 01/06/09.
see the change log -
Inappropriate?tannerwoodford:
For your own security, I recommend that you re-post your original post in the formI would like to request the username 'asu' for an official Arizona State University twitter feed. Here is the request access key: 35236
(i.e. with just the 6 digits, NOT the letters, of your request access key. That's enough for Twitter Support, but too little for hackers).
Then you should delete your previous post (i.e. the post just above mine).
I’m happier to err on the side of caution.
-
Inappropriate?Still heard nothing, my request code is #2749 is there a twitter employee that can help me?
-
Inappropriate?I would like to request the username 'asu' for an official Arizona State University twitter feed. Here is the request access key: 35236
(thank you.)
I’m happy
-
-
Inappropriate?Mine is 5211.
Crystal, can you please take a look at it? Thanks in advanced.1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
-
I got mine... thanks to Twitter support. :)
-
Inappropriate?Hello Crystal,
My ticket is 2888. Let me know what you can do if anything.
It looks like the account was reset but I was not given access so not sure if someone else now has access or what happened.
Thanks in advance.1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
-
Thanks Twitter! The name has been setup and we are good to go.
-
Inappropriate?Hi there! I'm ticket 355014, with the same issue these other folks are having. Thanks in advance for your help!
I’m hopeful
-
Inappropriate?Hello, I've had my ticked unanswered since 21 of November, its number is 339936, and now I see that the ticket is closed, though the username I asked for is still taken.
P.S. I've also sent you and email at username@twitter.com.
I’m sad
-
Inappropriate?I have a ticket (336982), which I submitted on December 11 and which is now closed for public viewing. I'd love any help you can offer. Thanks!!
I’m crossing my fingers
-
Inappropriate?I emailed the address Crystal has given in her answer and got the following reply:
Due to high ticket volume, Twitter Support is no longer releasing inactive user names unless in cases of trademark or copyright violation. We are working on releasing all inactive user names in the future, however, we will no longer manually release them on an individual basis.
In short: Give up all hopes.
I’m frustrated
2 people say
this answers the question
-
Inappropriate?Well, that sucks. I would much rather be told "We'll do it, but it might take 10 months to get to your request." than "Forget it."
So does this mean that we just need to keep trying to create a new account with our desired username until we finally discover that it has been released?
I’m disppointed
1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
-
That's correct, they should put it in a queue instead of giving up immediately. I guess ZenDesk doesn't have a "postpone" option. That, or Twitter hasn't figured out how to use their help desk system (which is much more likely).
-
Inappropriate?does anybody now how to proceed if there ́s indeed a copyright / trademark violation?
-
Inappropriate?Note that an account now officially becomes "inactive" after only 6 months of neglect (until recently, Twitter's deadline was 9 months).
Tobias Huber :
Twitter's new Help Resources page on inactive user names includes several useful links concerning trademark violation, impersonation, copyright issues and user name squatting, and indicates the best way of contacting Twitter to resolve each of these issues.
1 person says
this answers the question
-
Inappropriate?First I opened a help ticket in the old help system to get an inactive username. That sat with no response for over a month until twitter went to the new help system and the ticket disappeared.
I used the new help process to open a new ticket and got this response after about a week:
"Due to high ticket volume, Twitter Support is no longer releasing inactive user names unless in cases of trademark or copyright violation. We are working on releasing all inactive user names in the future, however, we will no longer manually release them on an individual basis."
Then I found this site and sent an email to the address that Crystal gave above and got this response:
"Due to high ticket volume, Twitter Support is unable to change usernames in cases of inactive accounts. Unless your user name issue involves Terms of Service violations, you'll have to wait until all inactive user names are released. We're working on a better long term solution for this."
This is all very unfortunate. I am well known many other places by the username "scrooks" which sits completely unused at twitter for more than a year, but now I can't claim it and am using the name "drthunder" instead. I guess I waited too long to make the request. I'm extremely bummed by this.
I’m totally bummed.
3 people say
this answers the question
9 Comments Add a comment
This answers the question
-
I guess you could check that account's existence (maybe) daily, to catch the day when Twitter eventually releases a bunch of inactive accounts which includes the one whose name you'd like.
Or you might possibly try to acquire the name on the basis of Terms of Service issues - though that's probably a very long shot... -
A very nice person at twitter helped me out and switched my ID, but only because I had originally written in to ask so long ago. If you're asking now, don't get your hopes up. You rock, @delbius!!!
-
I had an old ticket too--how long ago is "so long ago"? My original request was Nov 12, 2008. (I know, not THAT long ago, but still under the old help system.)
-
I see, they've changed the rules privately but not publicly. That's nice.
-
I wouldn't say they changed the rules. Someone there took pity on me and grandfathered me in under the old rules because I asked before they took place. Jeeze, you guys sure can be exceptionally critical about a service for which you pay exactly nothing. There are real people behind this free service, not autonomous robots following a rule set.
-
There are real people behind the government, not autonomous robots following a rule set. Who cares if they use interrogation techniques beyond those permitted by the Army Field Manual? It they were robots following a "rule set", ok, but they're people, so the rules don't apply to them.
-
That's a juvenile straw man. I don't have a choice in my government (unless I leave for some other country), so of course we should speak up about it. We _are_ the government and the government is us, if you will. Twitter is provided as a free service, take it or leave it. Make suggestions, offer constructive criticism, but don't get your panties in a wad if they don't do something you want. Just go away if it bothers you that much. I'm done here, this conversation has gotten past the point where it really has a point. Have fun with the last word.
-
For a non juvenile strawman, see the topic about Ariel Waldman being harassed on Twitter and how she wanted them to obey their robotic "rule set" called the "terms of service" and get back to me. Or don't.
-
It looks like I was around a week too late to request my username changed to an inactive account's. I don't know why Twitter is being like this and not letting us get our desired names.
-
Inappropriate?I'm tired of this terrible argument about "free = no support". I guess it was OK for Twply to sell a large database of Twitter usernames and passwords because they weren't charging for their service? Also, I have my Twitter set to Japanese, so I get banner ads and hopefully that allows me to "complain" about the service because they're making money from my adviews.
I'm not alone in my opinion, just see this random commenter on mashable:
Just because something is free as one commenter stated, doesn’t mean one should not be upset with a company. Since all the time, money and effort people put into things like Linkedin, Facebook, Myspace and Twitter. Twitter also will someday add a paid option of some sort as a upgrade, I would bet my life on it.
Twitter is only free if your time is worthless.
I’m sad
-
1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
-
Read the other posts, they are no longer doing this.
-
Inappropriate?Well, the account mentioned here was occupied by a squatter just a couple of weeks ago, and that squatter had posted as recently as October 2008, so apparently Twitter is still turning over usernames to people. http://www.raphkoster.com/2009/01/26/...
I’m happy
1 Comment Add a comment
This answers the question
-
That article you link to severely lacks details. Maybe the request was old enough to have been grandfathered in?
-
4 Comments Add a comment
This answers the question
-
ups:
Which answer induces which error?
If you can be more specific, I may be able to point you towards a more useful (and less antiquated) answer. -
The "Best Answer" given by the official representative: http://getsatisfaction.com/twitter/to...
When following the instructions, there is a reply stating that they are no longer doing this. This was also commented in the latest posts. -
BLARGHADARG THEY'RE NOT ROBOTS FOLLOWING "RULES" THEY'RE HUMANS THE RULES DON'T APPLY TO THEM. - "scrooks"
-
Well, now. That's not exactly what I said, is it? I believe I said this:
"I wouldn't say they changed the rules. Someone there took pity on me and grandfathered me in under the old rules because I asked before they took place. Jeeze, you guys sure can be exceptionally critical about a service for which you pay exactly nothing. There are real people behind this free service, not autonomous robots following a rule set."
Meaning someone decided to be kind to me and grandfather me in. Kindness is a very human quality.
I think what you're really upset about is that "the kid who owns the ball gets to make the rules". :-) But you can always choose not to play with that kid.... -
This reply was removed on 02/18/09.
see the change log -
Look, I know this is a REALLY long thread, and it took quite a while to load for me, but the reply box is JUST underneath the most recent reply (and it's comments) which indicates that they are NO LONGER DOING THIS.
For the next person to reply
HEY, LOOK HERE. LOOK. LOOK HERE. THEY AREN'T DOING IT ANYMORE. -
Inappropriate?Ah, too bad I missed the boat on this one. -
Inappropriate?I would like to change my username, too.
When I open the page at twitter.com/username it gives me an error but when I whois it, it says "since Dec 2008". What does this mean?
Also, I heard that twitter would change the username if one owns the .com-domain. Is this true?
-
Inappropriate?What's happening about this Twitter? The account I want has been inactive since 2006! This is ridiculous, if you don't respond to username@ anymore and you're not automatically cleaning-up expired/inactive accounts; how do we approach reclaiming a username???
I’m frustrated
-
EMPLOYEE