Undelivered emails

[Coldicote]

I endeavour to run a local Neighbourhood Watch scheme that involves sending out 54 emails usually two or three times a month. I've been doing this for several years, but on the last two occasions 4 out of the 54 emails have been returned undelivered for various reasons - 'user unknown in virtual mailbox', 'recipient address rejected', 'No such user here', 'invalid recipient'. Can anyone please suggest why this is happening and what I might do about it?

[boxtops]

It's usually because of an error in the email address - I often find that people put the dots in the wrong place, or put one in when there shouldn't be one.

[AlBags]

Or people that changed their ISP or email address!

[Coldicote]

Thank you for your thoughts on this. I have Outlook Express 6 and use a 'group' system sending emails, so don't have to copy or write addresses every time (just put the group name on the blind copy line). I've checked the addresses and can't find anything wrong. So far two of the four individuals concerned tell me they have not changed their email address. There are only four bounces - the same four each time. My ISP is Orange whose system returns the undelivered mail, so maybe I'll have to ask them why it's happening.

[squarebear]

Some email senders can be funny if you send out bulk emails (but 54 should be ok). Try sending the 4 you are having trouble with a separate mailshot and see if that works.

[Coldicote]

Thanks squarebear. I'll give it a go in the morning. Must get some shut-eye now.

[SeaJayPea]

I had exactly the same problem earlier this year, in my case with Outlook. Realised eventually that I was trying to send to too many addresses on one mail. I broke the list into two, so that you might have 30 addresses in one group and 24 in another, and haven't had a problem since. Looks like squarebear may be spot on.

[Coldicote]

Squarebear and Seajay... I have my 54 addressees divided into four groups (13, 17, 16 and 8) and send them out as four separate emails - for years there has been no problem. Three of the undelivered are in the 16 group and one in the 17 group. I'll do more experimenting along the lines Methyl suggests. With Orange ISP I have to keep any one mailing to 19 or less; if 20 or more it identifies me as a spammer and doesn't send them all! (Most of the information I circulate is advice from various sources on security, scams and local occurrences.)

[AlBags]

Outlook Express does not use the WAB natively, but it can 'use' it.
Outlook Express does not use the Outlook Address book either.
Outlook Express email address book can be selectively saved into individual groups, which can be used for distribution purposes.

To be honest .. most of you would be better off with Thunderbird.

[AlBags]

(The Outlook Express single email limit is 50 addresses)

[Coldicote]

Thank you AlBags. I've sent a single email separately to the four addresses concerned and they all resulted in a response saying undelivered. The auto-replies were all headed:-
This is the mail system at host mwinf5d27.orange.fr.
Not much help, but it looks as though Orange doesn't like them for some reason.

[squarebear]

There is no limit to the number of recipients in Outlook Express. It's your ISP which sets the limit.

[Coldicote]

Still struggling!! Undelivered mail is returned to me thus -
"This is the mail system at host mwinf5d27.orange.fr.
I am sorry to have to inform you that your message could not be delivered to one or more recipients. It is attached below. For further assistance, please send mail to postmaster. If you do so, please include this problem report. You can delete your own text from the attached returned message."

How am I supposed to find the Postmaster? I've searched Orange's help pages and also tried the Reply feature but that is returned indicating 'Recipient overquota'.

[squarebear]

"Recipient overquota" indicates that whoever you are sending your email to has a full inbox. Hence they are "over" their "quota". You will have to wait until they empty some mail or phone them up to tell them.

[Coldicote]

I managed to contact the people concerned by other means. One's address had been blocked because spammers were using it; two had changed their email addresses and not let me know; the fourth is still a mystery. Thank you all for your replies.

[AlBags]

Limit is around 50 for 'most' ISP's .. Beyond that you are likely to get problems.
Maximum number of accounts . . 32
Maximum 'reliable' file/DBX size 2Gb.

[AlBags]

Undeliverable are either full inbox on webmail, changed address, address incorrect. You choose!