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MissB

(15,805 posts) Tue Jan 22, 2019, 05:25 PM Jan 2019

Weird gmail issue

I was an early adopter of Gmail and was able to use my name as my email address - i.e. jane.doe@gmail.com

At some point after that, another jane doe signed up and her email is janedoe@gmail.com

Every now and then I’ll get an email meant for her. Usually it will be because the email was entered wrong - they put in the period between jane and doe.

But today I got one and it looks like the email is he other jane doe’s. It’s like they sent me a copy without listing me as a cc. The email is for janedoe@gmail.com but I have it in my inbox. Wth? Not sure how to fix it. I’m more worried about any of my emails that may be going to her.

7 replies

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Highlight:

Weird gmail issue (Original Post) MissB Jan 2019 OP

Good question Sanity Claws Jan 2019 #1

So I think what happened MissB Jan 2019 #6

Yes, the other Jane is getting your email jberryhill Jan 2019 #2

Stop worrying about the period in your Gmail address -- Google says it doesn't matter SoCalNative Jan 2019 #3

And yet I get her email. I know her email. MissB Jan 2019 #4

This happens to me sometimes (another person with my name)... targetpractice Jan 2019 #7

That's mismanagement by Google. defacto7 Jan 2019 #5

Sanity Claws

(21,846 posts)

1. Good question

Reply to MissB (Original post)

Tue Jan 22, 2019, 05:26 PM

Jan 2019

I have a similar issue and look forward to seeing the responses to your OP.

MissB

(15,805 posts)

6. So I think what happened

Reply to Sanity Claws (Reply #1)

Tue Jan 22, 2019, 08:11 PM

Jan 2019

Is that she nicknamed her account and thinks that she will get email because of that. Regardless of dots, it’s still my email address.

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)

2. Yes, the other Jane is getting your email

Reply to MissB (Original post)

Tue Jan 22, 2019, 05:31 PM

Jan 2019

I know, because I get email intended for the gmail address of various "dotted" names corresponding to my "undotted" name.

A lot of mail systems are not set up to properly handle email addresses with dots in the address field, and so they strip them out.

There is no way to "fix" it other than to contact that person and work out a protocol, as I have with two of my frequent variant addressees.

SoCalNative

(4,613 posts)

3. Stop worrying about the period in your Gmail address -- Google says it doesn't matter

Reply to MissB (Original post)

Tue Jan 22, 2019, 05:32 PM

Jan 2019

My personal email address is my name at gmail.com. Most of the time, it looks like this: kif.leswing@gmail.com.

But if I end up giving you kifleswing@gmail.com, don't worry. I'll still get the email.

In fact, if you're a Gmail user, the periods in your email address don't matter at all. Gmail completely ignores them. You can add or remove as many periods as you'd like.

Here's how Google explains it on a help page:

If someone accidentally adds dots to your address when emailing you, you'll still get that email. For example, if your email is johnsmith@gmail.com, you own all dotted versions of your address...

https://www.businessinsider.com/why-google-says-period-in-gmail-address-doesnt-matter-2018-2

MissB

(15,805 posts)

4. And yet I get her email. I know her email.

Reply to SoCalNative (Reply #3)

Tue Jan 22, 2019, 05:37 PM

Jan 2019

Because it’s the exact same as mine but she left out the dot

Examples: I’ve gotten an insurance quote meant for her. I also got a realtor’s evaluation of her property. And I’ve gotten reminders from her dentist.

targetpractice

(4,919 posts)

7. This happens to me sometimes (another person with my name)...

Reply to MissB (Reply #4)

Tue Jan 22, 2019, 11:32 PM

Jan 2019

It's because her email address is jane.doe@hotmail.com or jane.doe@yahoo.com, etc... The sender sent the email to @gmail.com by mistake (the wrong service) because it is so popular... I've gotten quotes for construction work, and other stuff meant for the other person out there with my name.

Google ignores the period... emails to jane.doe@gmail.com and janedoe@gmail.com all go to the same user account. Try sending to yourself with and without the period. You will get both emails.

defacto7

(13,485 posts)

5. That's mismanagement by Google.

Reply to SoCalNative (Reply #3)

Tue Jan 22, 2019, 05:51 PM

Jan 2019

It's totally unnecessary to ignore the dot. My mail servers allow the choice of the dot or not allowing them to be separate addresses. It's safer for the user and increases the number of available addesses. Why ignore any safe character that doesn't affect the server? It's a specific choice google has made for some unnecessary reason.

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