Problem with Yahoo Mail UK

Noreen · May 28, 2009, 11:10:16

I've been trying to change my email contact address for Yahoo to use. I recently noticed that it was still f2s.

I changed it to an IDNet address and that has to be verified. So they sent me an email to the new address which contained a link to go to verify. That takes me to a Yahoo sign-in page, when I sign in I receive a message saying that the verification email was out of date as it's only valid for 5 days (note that I tried to verify immediately after receipt) and that a new verification email will be sent. This then produces the same result. I've gone round in this circle numerous times now.

I am currently in contact with Yahoo Mail UK Support and having a devil of a job getting them to understand what's happening. For instance they said that it could be my ISP's spam filter stopping me getting the email.

I am now awaiting my third email from them. I've said that the problem must be at Yahoo's end, anybody got any ideas?

Rik · May 28, 2009, 11:16:52

Have you looked at the headers, Noreen? They may explain what's going on. Copy the header, and paste it in at:

http://www.levinecentral.com/mail%5Fparse/default.aspx

it will analyse it for you, and will highlight any issues.

Noreen · May 28, 2009, 11:23:02

No I haven't, Rik. Can you explain a bit further?

Rik · May 28, 2009, 11:29:53

Which email client do you use?

Noreen · May 28, 2009, 11:30:41

Windows Mail.

Rik · May 28, 2009, 11:31:37

Ah, never used that one. Is there an option anywhere to examine the header? (In Outlook, it's called Options...)

Sebby · May 28, 2009, 11:33:00

This might help. Once that's done, I believe you right-click on the message and select Properties.

Noreen · May 28, 2009, 11:37:03

I can look at the "properties" with no problem. What I meant was could you explain further about how that site was likely to help me.

Rik · May 28, 2009, 11:39:19

If you paste the header into the site, it will analyse it and report any anomalies. If that doesn't help, PM me the header (so you don't have to worry about erasing bits) and I'll take a look.

Noreen · May 28, 2009, 11:43:20

OK, I'll get on the roundabout again.

Rik · May 28, 2009, 11:44:28

Time for tea, said Zebedee.

Noreen · May 28, 2009, 11:48:29

About to send the header to you, Rik.

Rik · May 28, 2009, 11:49:04

OK, about to read it.

Noreen · May 28, 2009, 12:00:02

Thanks for your message, Rik. I've just clicked on the link in that email and after signing in I got the same message.

[attachment deleted by admin]

Rik · May 28, 2009, 12:05:35

That's plain daft - let me just re-read the header... brb

Rik · May 28, 2009, 12:08:47

OK, I've double checked it. The dates are the same, there was a 6 second delay at Yahoo for spam checking, a 127 second delay at IDNet for the grey-list check, then a 2 second delivery time, total of 2m 15s. There has to be a bug at Yahoo in the link somehow.

Sebby · May 28, 2009, 12:10:39

I'm sure it is, but is the date and time correct on your computer, Noreen?

Noreen · May 28, 2009, 12:11:41

Quote from: Sebby on May 28, 2009, 12:10:39
I'm sure it is, but is the date and time correct on your computer, Noreen?

Yes.

Sebby · May 28, 2009, 12:12:17

Has to be a Yahoo problem, then. You'll have to let them know.

Noreen · May 28, 2009, 12:16:36

This is the latest email that I had from them.

QuoteThanks for writing to Yahoo! UKIE Customer Care.
We apologise that you have had difficulty verifying your alternate email
address. The verification process is in full working order, but it has
come to our attention that some email providers are preventing proper
receipt of our verification emails. Your email service may be using a
filter that interprets the verification email as spam. You may need to
use a different email address as the alternate.

Please let me know if you still need help.

I replied to that, explaining the problem again and am awaiting a reply.

Ray · May 28, 2009, 12:22:01

I've just successfully verified a new email address on my Yahoo account using Outlook 2007, wonder if the problem is something to do with Windows live mail?

Noreen · May 28, 2009, 12:31:05

I think that at least one problem is that they don't seem to understand what's happening. I've managed to delete the f2s address and made Yahoo my main contact address (just for now) and deleted and then re-entered my IDNet address but it has to be verified. I've emptied my temp folder and can't think of anything else to try.

Rik · May 28, 2009, 12:32:27

See your PMs...

Noreen · May 28, 2009, 14:15:55

Solved it!

I highlighted the 4 line verification link in the Yahoo email, copied it into the address bar and it worked straight away. So the answer was NOT to click on the link as instructed but cut and paste. Hurrah!

Sebby · May 28, 2009, 14:16:45

Glad it's sorted.

Noreen · May 28, 2009, 14:19:34

Just realised that the email actually says "visit" the link, I would have assumed that meant click on it but perhaps I was wrong.

Sebby · May 28, 2009, 14:24:58

Sometimes where the URL spans several lines, or contains certain characters, email applications don't do the link correctly.

Rik · May 28, 2009, 14:37:27

How odd.

Noreen · May 28, 2009, 17:23:15

On the other hand perhaps I didn't solve it, I've just received this email.

QuoteHello Noreen,

Thanks for writing to Yahoo! UKIE Customer Care.

I apologise for any inconvenience this has caused you. Please be assured
that we are aware of this problem and hope to have it fixed promptly.
We appreciate you reporting it to us and thank you for your patience and
understanding.

Regards,

ALice
Customer Care - Yahoo! UK & Ireland

And I'd recently emailed them saying that I sorted the problem.

Rik · May 28, 2009, 17:27:30

Fancy having the surname Lice.

Noreen · May 29, 2009, 17:28:42

Latest email received this afternoon, so I don't really know how it was sorted out but presume that it was them.

QuoteHello Noreen,

Thanks for writing to Yahoo! UKIE Customer Care.

We're happy to hear that the issue has been resolved and that your use
of your Yahoo! account has been restored. If you have any other issues
that arise in the future, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Regards,

Joseph

Customer Care - Yahoo! UK & Ireland

Rik · May 29, 2009, 17:29:29

It looks like it.