When I try and change my gamertag it tells me that they are currently taken but when I look ...

The GT likely exists with spaces in it. For example GAMER TAG would be the same as G A M E R T A G and gamertag. So you would not be able to use it since it is already in use.

[quote user="John S117 Sll"]Saying the gamertag is taken when I try to type it in, but I also try to put in in my profile and it says its an illegal text but its my last name?[/quote]

There's probably no harm in telling us what gamertag you're trying to change to, since the system is telling you that it is taken. Maybe we'll be able to tell you which version is taken, or whether it is in fact triggering the content filter (despite
being your surname).

I don't know if prohibited text in a gamertag change request triggers an actual "text not allowed" message or the generic "gamertag is taken" error. But keep in mind that gamertags cannot differ only by spaces: because you are
John S117 Sll, I could not change to JohnS117Sll (without spaces)-- the system would tell me that the gamertag is taken.

[quote user="Running Pubs"]I am trying to change my gamertag to something different. But when i go to change my gamertag, it says the gamertag I want i "already taken"

But when i go to send a message to the gamertag, it says it doesn't exist on XBOX LIVE. [/quote]

If the name change attempt tells you the gamertag is taken, it is taken. What's probably happening is that there's a difference in the spacing: I can't change to
RunningPubs because you are Running Pubs (with a space), but trying to send a message to
RunningPubs would fail because that variation isn't the one in use.

(I suppose you're trying to "purchase" a gamertag change, but these questions usually go in "Managing My Account", where there's a sticky post covering exactly this issue.)

[quote user="A N T E X v"]Ok i wanna change my gamertag and it says its already in use but when i add the gamertag it says no one is using it[/quote]

"Adding the gamertag" tells you very little, because it doesn't account for spaces in the gamertag. If you try to change to a tag and the system says it is taken, it is taken.



What do I mean by spaces? You are "A N T E X v", so I can't have "ANTEXv". An attempted change will tell me that the second one is taken, even though I can't send a friend request to it.

Hi Bobbyaga. Thank you for your response.

No. Nobody has taken my gamertag. The change gamertag option tells me that the gamertag I am attempting to change to is not allowed and to try again.