Email settings issue - just started today

[#1]

The settings I've used till now are:

Incoming  imap.free-online.net and outgoing relay.free-online.net.  They seemed to work until today.

When I looked today they were showing as mail.username.co.uk for both for Outlook .... that probably makes more sense to you than me. On my android phone they are still imap and relay as mentioned above.

From what I've been reading there are some server migrations going on so maybe things may sort themselves out. OK if you know what you are doing ... I'm a bit past that stage  😀

[#2]

@MisterW So after I thought everything was working using curl.exe tests I find, (removed my userID and password)

I have used both mailbox@accountname.free-online.co.uk or accountname+mailbox

accountname@accountname.free-online.co.uk or accountname

smtps and smtp also fail in the same way

curl.exe -v smtp://relay.free-online.net:587

554 avasout-ptp-003 smtp ESMTP server not available (blacklisted by local policy)
* closing connection #0
curl: (67) Login denied

curl.exe -v imap://imap.free-online.net

A003 OK LIST completed
* Connection #0 to host imap.free-online.net left intact

imaps also successfully connect

Seeing nothing is really working I am not checking Outlook, Thunderbird or k9-mail app

[#3]

@NickiQ 

When I looked today they were showing as mail.username.co.uk for both for Outlook ..

thats outlook trying to guess the server name. You have to set it manually. Although from other posts it looks like there are other problems

[#4]

@Dan_the_Van  I don't think changing username will  have any effect!

It looks like the problem has morphed into a  'blacklisted by local policy' which will cause a failure even if the credentials are correct

[#5]

I've tried resetting the incoming and outgoing mail servers using the advanced option repair settings but it changes them back to mail.username.co.uk  ... seems I'm not getting anywhere unfortunately.

[#6]

TBH I've never used outlook but my guess is that it's resetting the server because it's failing to connect  due to the 554 blacklisted problem

[#7]

I've looked on MXTool box and it states "DMARC Record Published Failed" for my domain.

As "DMARC dramatically improves on SPF and DKIM" and I can't have DKIM on the domain I'm not going to be able to move forward on sending to gmail accounts. Looks like I should stop using PN for emails. All too complicated these days. I've used my PN domain/email for 25 years, time to move on.

Thank you for all your help.

[#8]

@MisterW 

For completeness I used both username formats.

This is really disappointing as this is the second attempt to migrate to new servers, with the same result, it's been broken.

Something like this should have gone through Alpha and Beta testing which on current evidence didn't happen.

[#9]

@Dan_the_Van 

@NickiQ 

Just clutching at straws here but does changing the outgoing server to relay.plus.net work by any chance ?

I'm never sure whether the servers are common to some of the brands and if so , which ones ?

It may not accept your free online credentials but it just might....

[#10]

@MisterW 

If I recall all Plusnet branded mail servers had unique IP Addresses.

I did check same Login denied message 

[#11]

@NickiQ 

Looks like I should stop using PN for emails. All too complicated these days. I've used my PN domain/email for 25 years, time to move on.

Thank you for all your help

if you're seriously considering moving your email then take a look at Mythic Beasts https://www.mythic-beasts.com/hosting

Costs £20/yr for email only plus £7/yr domain registration. Unlimited mailboxes & aliases subject to 2GB disc space. Supports SPF & DKIM

I've used them for about 3 yes now and have 3 domains and about 10 mailboxes on the mail only product

[#12]

@Dan_the_Van  I wasn't sure but it was worth a try...

[#13]

@MisterW 

Ok changed outgoing to relay.plus.net - yes outgoing email from PN server did get delivered to my gmail account. And I also managed to return it to my PN account. But now Outlook has changed itself back to mail.username.co.uk.   Aarrgghhh!  

Thank you for the glimmer of hope!

[#14]

@MisterW 

can I ask as I'm not all that clued up these days, if I went back to using something other than Outlook (I wouldn't miss it tbh) am I likely to have the same issues with the blacklisting. I used to use Mozilla Thunderbird - it seemed easier back then 😆

[#15]

@Dan_the_Van

Here are the previous IPs for relay.free-online.net:
212.159.8.105
212.159.9.105
Could you check with these? I’m not able to check things out at the moment as I’m on my iPhone (limited tools available in iOS).