Verizon SMTP Process Change

[Nilsa_VZ]

Effective, November 15, 2016, the ability to change the "From" address or the ability to use a non-local "From" address on outgoing email has been removed.  This feature allowed customers to change the @Anonymous.net SENT email address to something different.  Example:  gina@somecompany.com instead of gina@verizon.net.

Security and protection of our customers' privacy are our main goals. Here is a copy of a customer notification which was sent out:

[user1234561]

Verizon,

This is ridiculous.  I only used your service because I could use the outgoing SMTP server for my mail.  Now I can't send any mail from my domain name.  VERY POOR SERVICE.  Also, you didn't even give us a heads up.  (That e-mail is **bleep** since it wasn't even sent to me.)

Please return access to us or let us know how to work around this reduction in service.

[marcw54]

Agreed. This is a ridiculous change that might force me to switch to gmail. I've had my own domain for mail forwarding for years, but this could be the end.

[user1234561]

Is anyone paying attention?  This is a HUGE issue.  I only use Verizon Fios because I've been able to use my own e-mail for the past 10 years.  Please fix this immediately!  I need to be able to send from my e-mail address, not verizons! 

[GregAv]

This is a very bad decision, unless you want to lose business customers.  Why not allow each account to whitelist at least one domain?  Was that not possible or just a little more work than they wanted to do?

Also, excellent idea to send the notification to my verizon.net email address.  I guess the dope who sent it did not realize that this change applies to lots of people who do not use their verizon.net email addreses.

I guess it's time to switch from FIOS 150/150.  I'm sure I can get some nice incentives to switch.

Greg

[emrecio]

So now, I can't send ANY email out as my domain that I pay for, or even personal domain from a third party. They block port 25/etc AND block the only valid method of sending email.

Further, the guy on the phone said "we don't block ports", I was like WHAT?!

[benerus]

When I spoke to customer service 2 days ago about this, they suggested that we switch to using our custom domain's smtp service.  I did that and it temporarily fixed the problem (hurray!) , but now I am starting to see returned email (boo!) because my custom domain is hosted virtually and does not have a permanent IP address.  Therefore many email services believe it could be spam.  Getting a permanent IP address would cost substantially more money - all because of a Verizon policy change!  In short we need to send email from a fixed IP address, we ARE ALREADY PAYING Verizon for the ability to send email, and Verizon SHOULD allow us to use our custom domains.  Verizon please reverse this decision ASAP!!

[benerus]

P.S. If this bothers you and since the techs are saying it was a corporate decision, you may wish to file a complaint with the FCC, which just takes 90 seconds via their web form:  https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us

The four reasons that I complained were (1) reduction in our email service capabilities without a reduction in price; (2) failure to give adequate notice since apparently many of us were surprised and our lives disrupted; (3) loss of net neutrality, since Verizon will no longer allow third-party domain names through its outgoing email servers and that is simply a type of data; and (4) anti-competitive / restraint of trade because Verizon is forcing customers to adopt a verizon.net domain for email usage, which makes it more difficult to switch Internet Service Providers.

Another post added a fifth point:  (5) this reduces our security because it makes us put our outgoing email through yet another server, e.g. GoDaddy or HostGator. 

Although I have been a satisfied Verizon customer (and shareholder) this particular decision is a bad one, and by applying pressure via regulators, we can hope that they will change.

[tns2]

I doubt the FCC will help.

Blocking spam is something they want.  And being able to use a non-verifiable email account is one way that spammers on Verizon were able to do their dirty work. 

Obviously those of you doing business have to work with your Email provider such as Verizon.

[bububu]

This, so called Verizon security, has severe brain deficiency.

Let me say it in simple words: You restrict legal authenticated users from sending their emails from their own domains through your smtp gateway, right?

What kind of service is it?

If you have problem with mass emails from hacked accounts than just block those account, not a rocket science to detect spam.

What is it Verizon?

Some marketing **bleep**head wants to force people to use your crappy email?

I'll make sure that this crap will get to the media. You'll have some noise.

[CUChE03]

I have a huge issue with this as well.  My contract is up in 30 days and am actively looking at alternatives because of this and other issues.  I have no want to use my verizon account address as my email.

[jalexander2]

This is beyond stupid.  I'm helping my 91 year old mother, who suddenly can't send any e-mail from the account she's been using for 10 years.  I'm remoted into her computer, and wasn't aware of this change - so I just wasted 45 minutes trying to "fix" this.

I'm going to strongly suggest she find another provider.  I will also mention this to my many customers (I'm a tech) and suggest they, too, switch.  This is NOT going to make anything "safer" or "efficient".  Having your own e-mail is about as basic in this day and age as you can get, and being able to send through any server, once you've put in the correct information, is vital.

Goodbye, Verizon.  At our own house, we were thinking of switching back to FIOS once our Cablevision contract runs out.  Absolutely no way we're going to do that now. 

[ThiaB]

Hi jalexander2,

Your issue has been escalated to a Verizon agent. Before the agent can begin assisting you, they will need to collect further information from you. Please go to your profile page for the forum and scroll down the page to an area titled "My Support Cases". You can reach your profile page by clicking on your name located above your post, or at the top right of this page.

Under "My Support Cases" you will find a link to the private board where you and the agent may exchange information. The title of your post is the link. This should be checked on a frequent basis, as the agent may be waiting for information from you before they can proceed with any actions. To ensure you know when they have responded to you, you may subscribe to the case. At the top right of your support case there is a gear icon which provides a drop down menu with support case options. Click that and choose "subscribe". Please keep all correspondence regarding your issue in the private support portal.

[jalexander2]

To heck with your company.  I've already set up my mother to go through another server. 

For anyone else who needs this information, you can use Google's public server.  Here are the instructions:
https://www.wpsitecare.com/gmail-smtp-settings/

As soon as possible, I will get my mother switched over to a company that has a basic understanding of customer service, security (I'm also an IT security pro), and isn't more interested in CYA than their customers welfare. 

[user1234561]

I'm glad using Gmail was an option for you but, for most of us, running our  mail through Google's SMTP defeats the purpose of even having your own mail.  We don't want our information data mined by Google. 

It really seems like Verizon doesn't care one bit about its customers.  This was a ridiculous move on their part and demonstrates questionable morals/ethics.  They've completely ripped me off as a customer.

Fix this.

[user1234561]

This is stil broken.  We need this functionality returned in order for our e-mail to work!

[user1234561]

Wake up Verizon!  This needs to be fixed ASAP!  Return our ability to send emails!

[k_kretz]

I'm just reading this and am stunned.  Your authenticated SMTP was already really bad and didn't support standards but if you told me you were going to make it *worse* somehow I wouldn't have believed you.

Stopping outbound e-mail other than to Verizon relays is good for preventing outbound spam, but then Verizon - AS AN ISP - has a responsibility to allow for people to send mail out.   Who uses their @verizon address for anything?  Please.

I generally like my FiOS but this is so stupid.

[emrecio]

They're getting rid of their Verizon.net email service anyways, so it's a moot point. What I did instead, I have user@example.com as my personal email address, is to create a gmail account, and add user@example.com as an "alternate" email. Google asked for the username/password for my example.com email server. As soon as I confirmed it, I could use smtp.gmail.com authorize with my primary gmail account, but leave my FROM as user@example.com in my client. Works like a charm! 

Check out the following links

How to configure google to use your own FROM and use them as SMTP server (required step, even if you don't have your own email server, but use your client (outlook, thunderbird) to send email as user@example.com): https://support.google.com/mail/answer/22370?hl=en

If you have your own email server (you must complete step one above too): https://www.howtoforge.com/tutorial/configure-postfix-to-use-gmail-as-a-mail-relay

[user1234561]

This is still broken...  I'm definitely finding another ISP when my contract is up.  This is ridiculous.  My family and I have not been able to send a single email for the last 10 months.  Why even bother with this company anymore.  Their customer service is the worst.