Shortcut: WP:CHU/A

The username change and usurpation processes are complicated and tedious; accordingly, several editors have agreed to do some of the requisite footwork to keep the processes organized and efficient. Those offering assistance should familiarise themselves with Changing usernames guidelines as a decent idea of the factors bureaucrats look at when deciding whether to grant requests.

These tasks require a modicum of trust. If a bureaucrat must double-check an editor's statements, that editor's assistance is not useful. Errors resulting from carelessness or misunderstanding of policy are often easily corrected, but are nevertheless frustrating because the demands of the position are few. No such issues, or any of deliberate misconduct, have yet arisen; should one occur, a bureaucrat will probably ask that the editor discontinue his contributions to these pages.

Tasks

Normal renames

• Check, and make note if the requested account exists. If it does, but qualifies for usurpation, add {{CHU|usurp|username}}. If the requested account does not qualify, add {{CHU|taken|username}}.
• Ensure that the requested username complies with the username policy, if not: {{CHU|inappropriate}} or, for promotional requests specifically: {{CHU|promotional}}.
• If the requesting editor wishes to make the first letter lowercase, make note that the MediaWiki software automatically capitalises the first letter: {{CHU|autocap}}.
• If the request is seeking to modify underscores/spaces, make note that the software treats underscores and spaces the same: {{CHU|underscore}}.
• Only add notes on requests when something mentioned above occurs. Notes are not needed on fully compliant requests.

Usurpations

• Check whether or not the requested account has edits or log entries (with the exception of user creation). If there are edits, add {{CUU|contribs=yes}}. If there are logs, {{CUU|logs=yes}}. Occasionally, bureaucrats have made concessions when the edits are very few and only to userspace; make note of these. Also, when harmonising usernames cross-project, too few edits by the requesting account, and occasionally edits by the requested account, are disregarded.
• Check the number of edits by the requesting editor. Too few edits is a bar to usurpation. There is not, however, a defined amount. Noting less than 400 edits is often beneficial.
• Check the creation date of the requested username; if it is newer than six months, add {{CUU|new=yes}}.
• Check the blocklog of the requesting editor. If there are recent or a significant number of blocks, make note of them. This also applies to Arbitration Committee sanctions.
• Check the talk page of the requested username for a notice. If there is not one there, add {{subst:usurpation requested}}. Consider making note of for whom the request was made.
• Check the e-mail of the requested username. If it exists, send the e-mail shown below.
• Ensure that the request is placed under the correct date heading; the correct date is determined by when the target account was notified, not when the request was placed. The correct date header format is

== Month Day, Year==

''Requests left here will be filled no earlier than [eight days later].''

• If the requested username does not exist, move it to WP:CHU and format with that template.
• Administrators — check for deleted edits by the requested name. If they do not exist, modify the template to read {{CUU|dcontribs=no}}, if they do, {{CUU|dcontribs=yes}}.

Both pages

• Fix malformed requests to fit with {{subst:Renameuser}} or {{subst:usurp}}.
• Make note if the rename to take place was requested by the editor in question. If not, add {{CHU|notused|username}}.
• Move new requests to the bottom of the page.
• In addition, please watchlist the talk page here (Wikipedia talk:Changing username/Assistance) to be notified of policy and process changes.
• When commenting, remember to make all relevant notes at once, and avoid useless conversation. A bureaucrat has commented that these clutter up the page, and are detrimental.

Authority

Non-bureaucrats who comment on these pages do not have the authority to accept or decline requests. This authority lies only with a bureaucrat.

Email

If the requested account in a usurpation request has enabled email. It is suggested that the following message (or similar) be sent to inform them of the request:

Hello [username],

You registered an account on Wikipedia, but haven't made any edits using that account. Another editor has requested that it be usurped — in other words, they wish to take over this username and use it as their own. If you have no objection to them doing so, just do nothing and your account will usurped in 7 days, allowing this user to use the name from then onwards. You would of course be able to create a new account at any time. If you want to request a particular username that isn't presently taken instead of being renamed to a generic one, please go to your talk page and request that.

If you do object to the user usurping your account, just say you object on your talk page or make any edit to Wikipedia (as accounts that have made edits cannot be usurped).

Don't hesitate to ask me any questions you may have. Thank you for taking the time to read this message.

[Your username]