Instead of unknown@hotmail.com I'd recommend unknown@example.com as example.com cannot actually be registered.

There is one more step to forgetting about an old account.

When you log into the Skype account on a computer you can see all other user names that have been logged in at any time.

To delete the user name and associated history files (I think), you need to find the folder location on your pc and delete the folders that have the user name you are ridding yourself of. Default location is:

C:\Documents and Settings\ ComputerUserName\Application Data\Skype

Good comments! I should have spent longer than my 2 call that 10 minutes on it. I didn't think about the user name and history on the PC at the time. It's a good point, although one I'd not want to send a novice after. Still good idea to go and wipe that Skype file. Note... that if you have more than one ID and you wipe this file.. you will lose all history etc. So be careful in there.

"To delete the user name and associated history files (I think), you need to find the folder location on your pc and delete the folders that have the user name you are ridding yourself of."

This only deletes your username on your computer (and so stops it showing as an alternative login) but it does not delete it from Skype's server or the search facility.

As you may have seen you can use your credit card for only ONE account. So if you only have one credit card and lost your password you can't fill your new account with skype minutes anymore. It's also impossible to delete your credit card in your account. So even if you have two credit cards and if all cards are already used fo your old account once you can't use them for your new account anymore.

That's why many people want to delete their old accounts.

I would like a way for Skype to delete unused names. I have tried a few names for myself or others only to find that they belong to somebody who has never used them. What a waste - even worse than domain name squatting because you can't get the name at any price!

Tom,
Thanks very much. I love this insight. Wouldn't have got it without the posting and the probing.

This is the type of dialogue Skype isn't having. I agree with the credit card problem. I had to go to a group account at home because of Skype's ridiculous credit card policies. It's one thing to overcome fraud. I understand all you really want to do is buy minutes on a credit card for a name you care about.

Pretty simple request really.

the summary is :

- anybody can create anytime any account on ui.skype.com

- the account creation requires no authentication

- there is no accountability since the accounts are aanonymous.

- there is no helpdesk possible/affordable for such a system.

- it's totally leaking but in it's kind probably the best around.

I have two (dumb) related questions:
1.How do you go about getting more than one Skype name - one for work and one for private? I have looked everywhere in help and cannot find anything. I have also downloaded the software again, but it still comes up with my Skype name.
2. Once you have two (or more) names, is there a way of switching between them?
Thanks in advance

Hey I found a way to delete the contact just so it doesn't apear when you launch skype. all you have to do is uninstall skype and at the very end when it comes up with a message saying someting about claring history and contacts just click yes. Now go and insall it again and when you launch it all of your saved log in's will be deleted so all you have to do is put in your username and password again and login and your contacts will still be there.

Where do you find application data in the cd drive? As far as i see its not vissable!

What is it with companies these days and not deleting accounts? Skype now seems to be doing an AOL on us. Once you get a screenname with AOL/AIM, you have it F-O-R-E-V-E-R muhahah and the same appears with Skype. Is it that these companies want to give the impression that they have far more active users than they really do? It has to be marketing as I haven't seen a proper explanation yet. It's a security risk in my opinion. It's all good and well to say to people to clear out their accounts and forget about them, but it's safer deleting them, so you never have to worry that you forgot to delete something and some hacker gets hold of it. It's like having a credit card lying around that you never use. The ones that you use often are also subject to misuse but at least you would be aware of it unlike one you had forgotton about.

I'm wondering if we can get around the one-card thing by transfering funds to a paypal account, which is free of charge but takes 3 days, and then using those funds to purchase Skype credit, so that Paypal wouldn't exactly be drawing money from the card itself? Has anyone tried this?

I AM TRYING TO DELETE THIS SKYPE
UNABLE TO REMOVE ICON KEEPS POPPING
UP.IT'S BECOMING A NUNCANCE. REMOVE
IT NOW PLEASE THANKS,DORIS BALAS

Try to email to "delete@skype.com" withyour skype name to delete.

Thanks