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How To Make ISP Reps Happy

Posted by Annalivia Friday, January 15, 2010

Include all pertinent information:

*IPs
*Error messages or detailed description of symptoms
*Headers and bounce if you have it..and if you don't:
*Sender & Recipient/Date/time/time zone for an example of problem/missing mail
*When the problem began.
*What you have done to solve the problem.
*What kind of mail the IP is sending - or should be sending!
*Do your troubleshooting. Don't make me ask you to do the basics, or have to do it for you.
*If you can't get mail *from* AOL, send a test from an AOL account and include the results, and give it enough time to time out and send you a bounce.
*If you're an Exchange admin, don't expect me to make sense of your insanely configured MTA by sending me screen shots of the admin console.


This is not pointed at ESPs in particular. In fact, what provoked this was a corporate IP. It is a huge waste of everyone's time when I'm asked to lift a block on an IP, I look at the complaints and see that clearly it was compromised...and have to send an email asking if it was fixed. 90% of the time, it was fixed before the ticket was opened. Say so the first time! The less guesswork I have to do, the faster I can solve a problem and the faster I can move on to the next one.

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About Me

I'm Annalivia Ford, long time anti-spam expert. I've been in the profession of blocking the bad guys and helping to translate ISP requirements into language that senders can understand for nearly a decade now, though I got into fighting spam as an amateur 15 years ago. I now work for IBM, wrangling outbound email and doing my best to keep things sane.

About this blog: I started it when I worked for AOL, and since my departure from there I have been remiss about regular updates (part of the issue stems from my agreement with my current employer). I will continue to post here now and then and meanwhile I hope the archives continue to be useful and entertaining.

I do not in any way intend to speak for my employer, past or present. The content of this blog is either opinions that are strictly mine, general observations, or information that is already in the public domain.

Have you got a question? Perhaps an idea for a blog post? How about a million dollars to give to Barry? Feeling ranty? Or just want to say hello? Please Email me!

ID YOU FIND A TYPO?? PLEASE TELL ME! I'm serious.

In the banner is one of my dogs, Daisy. She's a tireless hunter. If you know me, you'll have heard about her! She keeps me company during work, and fondly imagines herself to be Very Helpful.