Subscription newsletter banned for AOL users

Haven't a clue what to do

[Busynut]

Hi Folks,
I have a graphics web site on a shared hosting account. I recently (in Nov) started a small mail list - it's by voluntary subscription only and the user must confirm their subscription by clicking a link in the confirmation email that's sent. This is a TINY announcement only list (under 50 at the moment!). Since the last issue was mailed in December the web server I WAS on crashed and I had to relocate my site to another server (same host).

A couple days ago I finally got around to sending out the January issue. Well, today I got several mailer-daemon failure notices - all of them are from the AOL users who subscribed to my list. The message is:

The information presently available to AOL indicates that your server is being used to transmit unsolicited bulk e-mail to AOL. Based on AOL's Unsolicited Bulk E-mail policy at [aol.com...]
AOL cannot accept further e-mail transactions from your server or your domain. Please have your ISP/ASP contact AOL to resolve the issue at 703.265.4670.

I'm flabbergasted. I don't know what to do. I cannot believe that my itty-bitty newsletter is responsible for this - how could it, since this is an opt-in list? And why didn't this happen last month also? The only difference is I'm on a different server than last month.

I haven't called the phone number yet because it's a weekend - plus I'd like to get a better understanding of this. Can someone give me some advice?

[pendanticist]

Busynut,

You might want to read the Terms of Service [webmasterworld.com] and remove that link.

No press releases, newsletters, web pages, or copyrighted content may be inserted into WebmasterWorld posts. Minor fair use excerpts of less than one paragraph (4 sentences) may be used if the content is publically available on the internet. All other forms of inserted content from press releases, newsletters, web pages, or any other copyrighted content placed into messages will be removed without exception. A link to the content is acceptable and appropriate.

Pendanticist.

[msr986]

I don't think you can get a better understanding of this until you call them Monday. Only AOL knows why you were banned!

[amznVibe]

I've been told that you can't do more than 50 blind carbon copies to AOL from one server at a time without getting cut off. Maybe you can have your server send individual non BCC messages if this is the case?

[chiyo]

Are you sure every one of your subscribers remembers signing up, and they were sign-ups direct with your site and not third parties. A few people complaining may cause this.

[john316]

You have to get in touch with AOL security, they have a "white list", if you are not on it, you are very restricted.

BTW, don't hold your breathe.

[Busynut]

msr986, amznVibe, chiyo, john316,
Thank you for your replies. My newsletter uses a script which requires a person to sign up at my website; they get a confirmation email and they must verify their wish to subscribe by clicking the database-generated link in that email. Once they've done that, the script sends me an email that someone has subscribed - and I've kept all of the notices. So, yes, each one has voluntarily subscribed. It's new so I've only sent 3 small mailings so far - each one has a link to follow to unsubscribe, plus I tell them if they have any problem they can always send an email to me directly. Btw, amznVibe, the whole list is under 50, and the number of AOLers is less than 10! That's partly why I'm so surprised. When I think about how much spam I receive from AOL.... :(

So I guess I don't understand why someone who has subscribed and also has alternative methods to unsub would complain? If, in fact, they did? Since the AOL message said that my "server is being used... " is it possible that the problem originated with someone else on the same server? I had hoped someone else may have encountered this before. I do intend to call the AOL number given.

Pendanticist, thanks but I have read the TOS and if I've done something inappropriate perhaps a moderator could clarify this for me? The link to the AOL page is all public info. :)

[pendanticist]

Pendanticist, thanks but I have read the TOS and if I've done something inappropriate perhaps a moderator could clarify this for me?

I don't need a mod to tell me when I've made a mistake. :o

Pendanticist.

[Busynut]

Update:
I've been able to verify there was at least one spamming website (perhaps more than one) on the same shared server as my site. The offending sites seem to be gone now but the damage was done and the IP is being blocked. I don't know how long it takes to get "unblocked" - I'm now awaiting word from my host. I've been penalized because a spammer was on the same server. Either I get moved to another server or I guess I have to start searching for a new host (again).

[GaryK]

>>AOL cannot accept further e-mail transactions from your server or your domain.

If you're sending e-mail using your domain name, as in mail.mydomain.com, then changing hosts may not do any good.

[Busynut]

Geesh... I hadn't even thought of that. GaryK thank you for pointing that out. This is so incredibly unfair... I'm going to have to follow up with AOL to find out if changing servers/hosts will change anything with them. Still waiting for a reply from my host.

So what is the lesson from this? I HATE spam and have had no part in it, but now I'm apparently perceived as guilty by association (on a shared server). How does one prevent this from happening? I mean, since it appears I need to start shopping for a new host... how do I go about finding out if my (new) host has servers which have been/are spam havens?

Sorry, but I feel violated by this. I didn't do anything wrong yet here I am being penalized.