Why the need for first and last names when you create a new mailbox?

Theodoric · 24-10-2009, 15:34

When you create a new mailbox, as well as the name of the mailbox the process insists that you enter a first name and last name and won't let you proceed without doing so. The exact words used are:

2. Choose the first name and last name of the user's mailbox. This information will be used for the mailbox profile.

Pardon my ignorance, but what exactly does this mean? I've just given the the mailbox a name in Step 1. Mailboxes don't have first and last names, they just have a single name. You can satisfy it by entering any old rubbish, but what exactly is the point of it? And where exactly can I find this mailbox profile - I can't see any obvious sign of it?

I've got to admit that I'm baffled by this.

Peter_ · 24-10-2009, 15:59

The reason for this is that you are then supposed to log back in using the new email address and click on Household Accounts and when the page opens up showing only this email address you then click on My Profile on the left in red and set up a user profile for this persons email address, this to help if they forget their password.

Try it it does work but it shows the Primary account details by default which you have to change if required.

So putting in any old rubbish will prevent you from retrieving a forgotten password easily if not the actual account holder, its their for a reason.

Theodoric · 24-10-2009, 16:45

Thanks for the info. If only the VirginMedia site had been as informative.

I shall go back and follow through the details.

Peter_ · 24-10-2009, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theodoric

Thanks for the info. If only the VirginMedia site had been as informative.

I shall go back and follow through the details.

You are the first person I have known to actually ask your question even though it was easy to answer, a better description on the site would help though.

25-10-2009, 17:58

Its also for customers using webmail .. give the email a sent from name

Peter_ · 25-10-2009, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quiet_news

Its also for customers using webmail .. give the email a sent from name

Another item of information missing from the site, what a surprise.

Theodoric · 27-10-2009, 15:25

I have been trying out a few things but there still seem to be a some questions.

Firstly, if I log in as the new email at SelfCare login then it is not possible to click on Household Accounts as it says, "Ask your account holder to log in to make changes to household accounts." However, with a bit of experimenting, I found that if you click on Change My Password then a link to My Profile appears on the left of the screen. Alternatively, clicking on Update My Secret Question takes you directly to My Profile. Putting the link to My Profile on the opening page would have been much clearer. Anyway, I now see where the first and last names are stored. However, I would suggest that the process asks for "first name and last name of the mailbox's user" rather than "first name and last name of the user's mailbox". It would make things much clearer.

Secondly, I have not found a way to make these first and last names help in retrieving a forgotten password if the the user is not the account holder. I went through the steps of saying that I had forgotten my password but when I entered the new email's name in the Username box it said, "Not main account holder. Please ask household account holder to log in." In which case surely passwords can then be changed without knowing the names put into the profile of the new email box. In other words, I am still not clear what the practical purpose is of having to enter these first and last names when creating any address bar the primary address.