I've had a hotmail account for years, (I only have one e-mail address). Within the last six months I had a Chinese company get into the account and send unsolicited mails to everyone on my contact list. Then my contact list was deleted, I had already changed my password. Two weeks ago I was locked out of my account. I answered my personal security questions, but was told they were the wrong answers. I gave microsoft more details about my account but I still can't get back into it.

I'm really pi55ed off with the whole thing, and now want to set up a new account with another provider.

I've been told gmail is ok, anyone got any experience with them?

Thank's

I've had Gmail for 5 years and have had no problems. They did have a big glitch a few weeks ago where about 100,000 customers lost all their contacts and stored mail but gmail had tape backups and were able to eventually restore them.

Gmail also offers a decent document and spreadsheet as part of the account.

You may want to scan your computer for a virus ... and yes GMAIL is probably the way to go.

You probably clicked on a link in an email. One of those offering "great products I saw in China". That happened to me.

I had a friend who actually went to China looking for products to sell so I thought the email from him was genuine. I clicked on the link and within 2 or 3 days all the contacts disappeared, everyone received spam emails from me. I have so many email accounts I just closed that one and told all my friends not to use it.

Your account has been hijacked;only Hotmail itself can return it to you - be patient and persistent.Gmail? - they have the same problems;

my account with gmail was hijacked;how ?- logger program in cafe.

One can not be to demanding as a "cheap charlie free customer".Try www.fastmail.com.au or www.hushmail.com.

However,I think,that you should stick with hotmail - you are used to it!changing habbits can be painfull or impossible!

Thanks for your advice everyone. I've bitten the bullet and opened a gmail account, but I think I'll also hedge my bets and get myself another hotmail account.