Hi everyone,
I’m creating this post to share a deeply frustrating experience I’ve had with OpenAI’s account deletion policy, specifically regarding the inability to reuse an original email address. I’m hoping to see if others have faced similar issues and to discuss the impact of these rigid policies.
Here’s what happened to me:
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Accidental Deletion: Around mid-April 2025, my original OpenAI account (associated with my primary email address) was accidentally deleted by my young child. At the time, I was an active paying ChatGPT Plus subscriber and had unused API credits.
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Immediate Support Contact: I realized the mistake almost immediately and contacted OpenAI support right away, explaining the situation and requesting account restoration. I emphasized it was an accident and offered to provide any proof needed to verify my identity as the sole owner.
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Policy Roadblock: Despite my pleas, support repeatedly stated that due to strict policies, account deletion is irreversible, and my original email address is now permanently banned from being used for any OpenAI account. No exceptions could be made, even for a verifiable accident.
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Forced Alias: Since I rely on the service daily, I followed their suggestion to create a new account using my original email with a “+openai” alias added. This works, but it’s inconvenient and not my primary identifier.
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Loss of Value: As expected, the remaining Plus subscription time and API credits from the original account were lost, as transferring balances is also against policy.
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Apple ID Subscription Conflict: The problems continued. I manage subscriptions via my Apple ID. When I tried to subscribe the new alias account to Plus, Apple blocked it, stating my Apple ID was still linked to the Plus subscription of the old, deleted account. OpenAI support acknowledged this but said I’d have to resolve it with Apple first and then subscribe via the OpenAI website, not through Apple again. This felt like shifting the burden entirely onto me for a problem stemming from their inflexible deletion policy.
My Frustrations & Questions:
This whole ordeal has been incredibly frustrating. The inability to reuse my own primary email after a verifiable accident seems excessively punitive. It raises questions about whether these policies truly serve user protection or simply procedural rigidity for OpenAI. The fact that my Apple ID remains linked to the “deleted” account also suggests the data separation isn’t as absolute as implied.
I have escalated this by sending a formal complaint to OpenAI’s Privacy Department but haven’t received a response yet.
Has anyone else experienced this permanent email ban after an accidental deletion? How did you cope with the inconvenience or related issues like the Apple ID conflict? Do you also feel this policy needs reconsideration for such cases?
I believe user feedback is important, and perhaps if more people share their experiences, OpenAI might reconsider the fairness and practicality of this specific policy aspect.
Thanks for reading.