SMTP down?

sharpstick
Newbie

 Sometime since last night, A problem with the SMTP server must have happened. I can't send email. I get a password error.  Same with my wife's account. I have rebooted, tried three different Windows computers using Thunderbird and went to the verizon webmail page.

 I am properly logged in, can receive email, but cannot send. Webmail says "cann not send mail for unknown reason"

 I contacted verizon on a chat window but the agent was unable to help. Does anyone know if there is a known SMTP issue, or if there is a network status webpage?

 Location: Tampa FL

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33 Replies
eljefe2
Master - Level 1

No problem sending email from here on Long Island.

Do you have the SMTP port set to 465 in Thunderbird? 

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sharpstick
Newbie

Yes, I do. I also changed my server name to outgoing, as the website says.  I did talk to a customer service person later and was told that yes, there is an outage.  It would be nice if they had a network status page, like some services do.

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eljefe2
Master - Level 1

Not sure what you mean by changing your server name to outgoing.  I have my outgoing mail (SMTP) server set to smtp.verizon.net   That setting is confirmed here:

https://www.verizon.com/support/residential/internet/fiosinternet/email/setup+and+use/questionsone/8...

But if Verizon has acknowledge an outgate, let's hope it doesn't take long for them to correct the problem.

Good luck.

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larrye
Enthusiast - Level 2

It sure is! And that's exactly the same thing I told my Verizon support rep (who didn't even know about the outage at 10AM EST this morning, btw) - why is there no outage status page? And it's now 2:30PM EST. How long does it take them to fix an SMTP server outage, for gosh sakes?

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WaltN
Enthusiast - Level 3

Today, 1/13/16, sending mail is painfully slow.  I am using Thunderbird as my mail client.  It was OK yesterday.  I tried this on two different computers running two different versions of Tbird.  Both have same problem.  Suspect a Verizon issue as I can't find anything else that changed.  I'm in Southern PA.  Anyone else seeing this?

BoardSailor
Enthusiast - Level 3

I've been having the same problem since the afternoon of 12 January PST, thats more than 24 hours ago.  I'm in Los Angeles with Verizon DSL.  Verizon web mail works just fine over the Internet, but Thunderbird takes at least 30 seconds or more to send the simplist message.  Download / Upload speeds are normal for Internet connections.

To the best of my knowledge, my Thunderbird configuration has not been changed though an automatic update for at least a week. so I don;t think it is a Thunderbird issue. I've used Thunderbird as mail client on Verizon DSL  for several years without problems until now.   Could it be related to the Verizon AOL switch-over?

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larrye
Enthusiast - Level 2

IT's not a Thunderbird issue and don't let them try to tell you it is! There are SMTP server issues.

Traxless
Enthusiast - Level 2

Same issue in North Fort Worth.  Technical support was not helpful.  Sometimes ... oh nevermind.

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wdg_pgh
Newbie

Yeah, and one of their chat gurus wasted an hour of my time yesterday and finally told me I should call Thunderbird support.  According to him, since I could send emails OK on webmail there must not be a problem with the server.  Not only does Verizon not tell us that they have a known problem, they don't even tell their own support people.  Now it's Thursday morning and the problem still isn't fixed.

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tns2
Community Leader
Community Leader

IT was not everywhere.  Probably some of the servers were down.  Anyone confirm still having problems?

I don't normally monitor my outbox, so it might have been slow, but definitely I was sending email in FL.

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larrye
Enthusiast - Level 2

Yes, still having it after close to 30 hours

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larrye
Enthusiast - Level 2

Correction, it has now finally been fixed.

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WaltN
Enthusiast - Level 3

Today, 1/14/16, it's fine again.  I did absolutely nothing.  Gotta love Verizon.

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wdg_pgh
Newbie

Well, I'm still getting failures here in Pittsburgh.

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gunrunnerjohn
Newbie

I'm having the same issue in SE-PA, the Verizon SMTP servers are dead!

EDIT: FWIW, they indeed did try to convince me it was my problem. 🙂

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wdg_pgh
Newbie

OK, I just discovered that my smtp settings in Thunderbird had been changed somehow.  I assume that it happened because of the tech support "chat" session yesterday (the guy checked them and said they were good, but what I just found is not what I saw before).  Now that I have set them back, things seem to be working.  If you are still having trouble, try checking your outgoing server settings in your email client.  Mine is now set for Port 465, Connection security SSL/TLS, and Authentication method "Normal password."

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starrin
Contributor - Level 3

I started the week here in Virginia Beach with slow connection via SMTP.  Thursday nite about 6:30 it was no connection via SMTP.  Have had to send anything I want out via Verizon Web Mail, which doesn't support me.  I file lots of messages to lots of people.  Have email client to work (normally) well with Verizon smtp, so something has changed  -  but not by me.

Instead of the Verizon run around, is there any way I can send email via a different server, or otherwise shift?  Seems to me that if I shift to Gmail, etc. that  still have to go through verizon to get there

Any thoughts?

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larrye
Enthusiast - Level 2

You shouldn't have to go through an SMTP server for gmail or webmail ... if you use a web-based interface. An SMTP server is only needed for an email client like Thunderbird or Outlook. Check your SMTP settings https://www.verizon.com/support/residential/internet/fiosinternet/email/setup+and+use/questionsone/8... . Don't know any way to avoid going through support if the settings are ok. Just force them to inquire as to any outages before you expend time with them troubleshooting your own computer.

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starrin
Contributor - Level 3

Thanks for your suggestions.  Was away from the computer this afternoon and when I returned around 4:30 everything was suddenly well  -  PTL.  I would thank Verizon for theijr efforts. but since it was not their problem, I can only assume they did nothing to correct it

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larrye
Enthusiast - Level 2

And now, more than 24 hours later, Verizon still can't manage to quickly correct an SMTP server issue. Very sad and in this day and age, very poor support. I called again last night ... after the support rep who answered tried to convince me that the outage was over and wanted to go through debugging steps with me (and I refused) ... and also tried to convince me that if I can use my Verizon webmail, the SMTP server is ok (Webmail doesn't use SMTP) ... she finally admitted that the outage is still in progress and there is no known resolution estimate. Clueless.

This area continues to be a significant weakness of the Verizon offerings. The FIOS TV is great, and normally the internet performance is also great. But in the area of High Availability and outage support, they are simply awful. An SMTP server issue ... whether server or network related ... should not take days to resolve. And to call in to support and have this kind of lack of knowledge and coordination is shameful.