huge problems with AOL users..

[Pixelrage]

Hello, I'm having a very big problem where all AOL users are not getting their confirmation emails due to AOL's stupid & ridiculous spam filter. As a result, I have to check my site's inbox on a constant basis and personally email the confirmation link to each person (can't believe there are so many people still using AOL...)

AOL is the only service that has this problem, no other email service does it.

Is there any way to fix this? I asked the question on vBulletin's support forum and didn't get any reply. I was wondering if there was some kind of download on this site that might help combat this.

Thanks

[optrex]

no way to fix it. when you start to get into the technicalities of AOL you realise what a nightmare system they run. Why anyone ever uses them I dont know.

Best work around it to ban the use of aol email by putting @aol.com in the banning options of your admincp

hotmail and yahoo are similar, but at least they can check their spam box first.
ps you homepage is not working.

[Pixelrage]

Thanks for the reply. Is this something that all vB users are suffering through? I just wanted to make sure this really was an AOL issue, and not a server issue.

[flynnibus]

Check your mail logs for the error codes you get back from AOL. AOL's system does a variety of delays and other 'tatics'. If you can get on their whitelist (a whole other annoyance) you can get more reliable mail to them.

If users tag your messages as spam.. they can block you all together. Start here

http://postmaster.aol.com/

Get a feedback loop.. and then apply to get whitelisted.

[dirtycrow]

i banned aol accounts a long time ago. AOL reported my server as a spammer to my host cause my vbulletin set up would send out users their thread subscription emails.

add to that all my aol users have to open up an internet explorer to log into my site, something with the cookie settings will not allow AOLusers to log into the forums inside of AOL.

aol = fisher prices my first ISP.

[Pixelrage]

interesting info here...

When I looked up the Postmaster error for 554 (which is the error the bounce backs are getting), this is the description:

* 554 RTR:CH

http://postmaster.info.aol.com/errors/554rtrch.html

EXPLANATION:

Your IP address has generated AOL member complaints and your mail system may be compromised due to a virus or other security related issue.

SOLUTION:

Complaints:

When an AOL member clicks "this is spam" for a piece of email sent from one of your IPs, this is considered a "complaint". If you are having difficulty with the number of complaints you are receiving a feedback loop would benefit you. Once you have requested a feedback loop you will be notified when a member clicks "this is spam". See feedback loop for additional information.

Security:

Please contact your ISP or network administrator for assistance in securing your computer or network. Once you are confident the issue has been resolved please contact us to have the block removed.

Mind you, this is not only a brand new site, but a brand new server. It's impossible to have been flagged as spam. Even the very first AOL address who attempted to register had this problem. Way to go, AOL

Looks like I can't apply to the whitelist, as I don't send out a minimum of 100 emails per month.

[captainron19]

I had a problem with AOL on websites I use where I have online forms that generate an email to me via PHP.

I use AOL and for some time I was not getting the submitted forms done online.

I complained to AOL and it was discovered that the hosting company I use IPOWER Web hosts mutiple domains on the same IP

If one of those domains sends spam out and they are reported, AOL blocks the IP from sending mail and thus blocking multiple domains from being able to email AOL users

[Marco van Herwaarden]

That will happen with most Mail Providers. Most do block spammers based on server IP and if you are on a shared server and another client on the same server send out spam, then you have a problem.

Request your host to be moved to a different server.