Hotmail Closure

Advice - The Story

Hotmail is not closing.
But it is changing it's name to Windows Live Mail. More info.

If you use an email address that ends with @hotmail.com, @hotmail.co.uk or @msn.com then your email service is run by MSN Hotmail. It has become apparent that emails circulate within (and sometime outside) the MSN Hotmail system that relate to the closure of Hotmail Accounts in the near future due to limits on servers available or names left for email addresses. These messages are all false. Hotmail is not closing. These messages often ask to be forwarded in order for the account being used to be saved from the closure. The MSN Anti Spam Policy (link) which is referenced clearly in Section 3 of the MSN Service Agreement (link) (to which all users must be in agreement to use the service) states that:

In addition, e-mail sent, or caused to be sent, to or through the MSN Services may not: ...

contain false or misleading information in the subject line or otherwise contain false or misleading content;

MSN Hotmail never need to contact customers in this way. As also outlined in the MSN Service Agreement if it is decided that the service will be stopped then MSN are able to suspend the service indefinately without and prior warning. This is Section 8 (link):

We may change the Service or delete features at any time and for any reason. We may cancel or suspend your Service at any time. Our cancellation or suspension may be without cause and/or without notice.

So if Hotmail wanted to close accounts, they wouldn't have to warn you. The emails (or forwards) which have been referred to relating to the closure of MSN Hotmail accounts are false. This is summarised by the following statement from a Hotmail Employee (note):

- Hotmail does not forward messages to you (example: "From" line contains "FW").
- Hotmail never sends you chain letters.

The fact that they are false means that forwarding them is is a violation of the MSN Service Agreement, and this is invariably the action that is requested in the message to save your account. So ironically forwarding these messages (if reported) could lead to account closure even when the user was specifically acting to try to save their account. For this reason it must be stressed very clearly:

Do NOT forward messages that spread misinformation such as account closure

There are further very serious privacy consequences to forwarding mail of this variety, as messages with large volumes of addresses can easily end up in spammers hands. These are best explained on BreakThisChain.org (link).

Note - This is a quotation from an email received from Customer Support Representative Anna Marie O on March 21st 2006. View the whole email exchange in the story section.