How to change new account email to an old deactivaded account email

My current paid account is using an old out dated email. I tried changing to my current email but apparently that was being used for an unpaid account and I was unable to. So I de activated that account. But when I try to go and change my paid account email to that email now it still says it is already in use. I tried signing in with to that account just to be sure and it tells me it is deactivated.  How can I use this current email????