Me Vs Microsoft and I WIN..Sorta
I promise this will be the last post in the continuing saga of little me Vs Hotmail/Microsoft. If you haven’t already, take a few minutes to read chapter 1 and chapter 2 (and DIGG it if you didnt already).
In our last installment I had just sent an email to the Hotmail support team threatening to start a campaign to tell all 11,000 active members of GrownUpGeek.com and every single one of the 10,000 daily non-members that visit each day to stop using Hotmail and switch to any of the other free email services.
Shortly after I sent that email I got a response from one of the engineers that had helped me with this same problem several months ago. He apologized again and confirmed that Hotmail had removed the filter that had been (incorrectly, for whatever reason) placed on my IP. I was grateful that I finally got a personal response and that again they had corrected the issue, but now I was looking for a more permanent solution. So with that in mind, I fired-off this little email basically restating my threat to start a revolt against Hotmail with my members if I did not get a permanent solution:
— Original Message —
From : “Randy Brown”
Sent : Friday, October 05, 2007 7:16:28 PM UTC
To : “Microsoft Customer Support”
Subject : Re: SRX106ID – Sender Information FormHi again removed for his/her protection:
This morning mail is finally being delivered, and for that I thank you.
What can be done to ensure that your system does not incorrectly flag my server again and start black-holing my mail? every 90 days this happens despite the fact THAT NEVER ONCE HAS ANYTHING EVEN REMOTELY SPAM-ISH HAS EVER BEEN EMITTED FROM MY SERVER… I know that in the past you have mentioned other IP’s in my IP block being spammers, but I really dont care about them as they have nothing to do with me. I have also read the recommendations on separating my email servers, etc, and I dont plan on doing that either – as far as I am concerned this is your problem, not mine – and i punctuate that with the fact that never, ever, ever, ONCE has spam ever been sent from my server/ip since I have owned it. I have also read the recommendations of paying to get on your whitelist, and I will refrain from even giving my response on that (the word “protection” comes to mind). My attitude might be different if i was actually sending spam, or anything unsolicited, but since i never have, I feel that Microsoft’s multi-million dollar super-spam detection system should be able to tell the difference between a system that does send spam and a system that does not.
In my email (below) i mentioned that I would be forced to actively recommend to all of my website members and visitors that they switch to other free email services, and I swear-to-Bill that if this happens again, i will not even bother reporting the issue to you – i will just start my campaign to encourage everyone that comes to my website to use any free email service other than Hotmail – and as I’m sure Microsoft knows, there are several others to choose from. My website has over 10,000 active members and gets an additional ~10,000 non-member visitors per day – and trust me, I will ensure that they all get the message loud and clear. I prefer not to go to this length, and I would rather that Microsoft fix whatever issues you have with my server instead. Can you please do whatever you can to make sure this never happens again? A also understand that if you are able to do anything and then you actually DO find me sending unsolicited email that you would understandably un-do anything done up to that point.
If your only response is to follow the recommendations, many of which I have either already done, or refuse to do, then don’t bother.
thanks for your support up to this point.
Randy Brown
and here is the response which I received a few hours later:
—– Original Message —–
From: Microsoft Customer Support
To: Randy Brown
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 3:47 PM
Subject: RE: SRX105ID – Sender Information FormRandy,
As you know I am an advocate for customers that are in compliance with our “Technical Standards”, RFC Standards and are active in the Technical Community. As well I know (from being a member on your site) that you do a lot for people. Rest assured I am extending the same level of attention to your issue.
I am researching a possible “absolute” resolution to your issue but I beg for your patience as this is an undertaking that will take some time.
I will assure you though that I will be keeping you up to date as to the progress I am making. I ask that any issues you do see to directly e-mail me here at removed@microsoft.com if you do see any issues that I can help with.
I will have a full reply together later on this evening.
Thank You Again,
name removed
Windows Live Email Delivery and Filter Support Team
So now I feel that we’re making progress. I’m getting personal attention from a member of the Hotmail/Live filter team (damn, he’s even member at GrownUpGeek.com!), and he appears to be doing everything in his power to get the permanent fix that I’ve demanded. – There have been a few other emails back and forth with him, and mail is still being delivered.
Why I consider myself the winner in this battle..Sorta:
So far this time around everything has gone exactly the way it did all the previous times with the only difference being the slightly nastier email messages and threats that I sent. This time though, I get the last word – I have the power. If Microsoft/Hotmail’s system screws up again and filters my IP, that’s it.. I don’t report it, I don’t complain, I don’t make anymore blog posts.. I very simply convince every member and every visitor to GrownUpGeek.com that it’s a good idea to stop using Hotmail and start using any one of the other free email systems out there and Microsoft looses.
To others suffering from this same “550 Your e-mail was rejected for policy reasons on this gateway.” bounce messages, I can only recommend that you do not give up. Make sure you meet all of Microsoft’s technical standards and guidelines for spam and email delivery (here), and keep bothering them. Be polite, be professional, but remain firm.
Kudos to you! Love it when the little guy wins
Sounds like the guy really wants to help too which is good.
G-Man
Considering the dude is begging for your patience, I say let him off this time.
You think that is bad?
Microsoft live has this new so call hundred million dollar filter that takes legetimate email from valid servers run by non-spammers, and gives false message delivery statuses:
65.54.244.168_accepted_message./Remote_host_said:_250___Queued_mail_for_delivery/
That says, hotmail accepted my email, and it will be queued for delivery. I check my hotmail account everyday for the next week? Not a single email. I tried the test 50 times during that week trying to find the problem. Seems like delivery to AOL and Google is perfectly fine. It is just HotMail’s problem.
Now, why can’t they just take the email and put it in the Junk Mail folder for me, instead of just throwing it away without me even seeing it. I have a major problem with that.
Evidently their mail server accepts your message, tells your server everything is okay, and then tosses it in their blackhole, never to be seen by anyone again.
Amazing!
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