Inactive Usernames

[b-strong]

My daughter (15) wants to sign up under one of her nicknames (Suzo or Suz) but both usernames are taken. One person only logged 2 caches last year, and the other never validated her 2002 account. Do inactive usernames ever become available again? Should we try to contact these users through the site? Or can old accounts ever be deleted if a person is no longer interested (whether by them, or by the site managers)? I guess that would mess up the logs on all of the caches they've found, wouldn't it?! She's trying to decide on another username that she'd want to keep long-term, in case there's no way to have one of the top choices. She's already found several caches with caching members of the family, but hasn't been able to log her finds yet, and she'd like to send out a travel bug of her own.

 

b-strong

[+Jhwk]

I would try contacting the "owner" first, to see if you can raise them. Just because they don't log their finds here doesn't mean they aren't caching. Some hunt but don't log online...

[+GIDEON-X]

This may work for your daughter............ add a period (.) or some such to the end of the name, a space may also work. Suzo. Suz. ..... Suzo , Suz ,...........hope this helps..........

[+Markwell]

But even if the other user ISN'T using their name, no one else can take it. You can't change a user name any more.

[+briansnat]

If an account has any activity on it, there is no chance of getting it.

 

I'm not sure how the new policy of not being able to switch user names affects it, but at one time, if there was an inactive user name with no finds, hides or any other activity, you could write to contact@geocaching.com and they would make it available for you.

[+briansnat]

You can also try stuff like Suz0 ... or maybe try something like Suzo_Suz

[+Jango & Boba Fett]

If an account has any activity on it, there is no chance of getting it.

 

I'm not sure how the new policy of not being able to switch user names affects it, but at one time, if there was an inactive user name with no finds, hides or any other activity, you could write to contact@geocaching.com and they would make it available for you.

My dad had this problem in April this year where an inactive account already existed with his nickname (well his grandkids nickname for him). He phoned Groundspeak at +1 206.302.7721 and it all got sorted out in a couple of hours.