Another gmail issue but not the same as others (I think)

[#1]

My emails to gmail.com addresses are rejected randomly, with the following error message:

"This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.     

Delivery to the following recipients failed permanently:

   * placeholder@gmail.com

Reason: A message that you sent to the following recipient could not be delivered due to a permanent error. ** The remote server ?? responded with: ** placeholder@gmail.com ??:?? This message was created automatically by mail delivery software on the server ."

This happens when sending from my PC with Outlook client and from my iPad.  Messages sometimes get through, but not always.

I am sending from my own domain, ported into Plusnet.  My domain is hosted by Fasthosts.

This seems to be a different error message from the issues reported elsewhere, which seem to be about authentication.  

An additional problem, which may or may not be related, is that my incoming messages are sometimes rejected, I think always when they are BCC or from a mailing list.  I've always assumed this is due to zealous Plusnet spam filters, but I mention it just in case it is related to the outgoing message issue outlined above.

Can anyone throw light on what is going wrong?

Many thanks

David

[#2]

I am sending from my own domain, ported into Plusnet.  My domain is hosted by Fasthosts.

I'm not clear what you mean by 'ported' ?

I guess the domain is 'registered' by Fasthosts BUT is it hosted there or at Plusnet ?

[#3]

Sorry, I was unclear.

The domain is registered with Fasthosts, with the DNS set to:

• ns1.force9.net
• ns2.force9.net

I don't know what the correct term is, but my mailboxes are held by Plusnet, ie I log into Plusnet to manage my email.

I hope this is clearer - apologies for lack of technical knowledge.

David

[#4]

No need to apologise, I just needed to be sure what the situation was so that the correct advice could be given.

In that case , it looks like you have a legacy account with the domain actually hosted by Plusnet , in which case this should work

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For Plusnet hosted domains, SPF configuration is facilitated by the addition of a TXT record in the domain's DNS settings. Plusnet's DNS configuration tool for hosted domains does not permit the creation of TXT records. However, there is an unsupported "facilitation" which will create an SPF record for a hosted domain.

On the basis that your account ALREADY has a hosted domain, go to Manage Account -> Manage Your Domains -> Configure domain name ... and create an "Additional DNS records (Advanced)" as follows...

For the avoidance of doubt: leave the left side blank, exactly as shown.

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NB It will take up to 6 hrs for the SPF record to be available

Whilst your error message doesnt explicitly site authentication, my guess is that its bad reporteing by the email client, so try creating the SPF first and see if the problem is resolved. If not then we can look a bit deeper...

[#5]

Thank you.  Been away for a day or tow but have now implemented your suggestion.  Will confirm in due course if it solves the problem.