[epub] Problems with "spamming" complaints

[Azam Corry <subs@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

From: Azam Corry <subs@nowsell.com>


In a message dated 10/26/1999 9:46:53 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
david@emgroup.com writes:

>I'd be interested to hear if others have had problems with
>"spamming" complaints and how you handled it.  Those with
>completely opt-in lists, that is (not the "you posted on my FFA
>page, so now you're MINE" lists -- LOL).


Have I!

I run two "completely opt-in lists". About a month back my host
shut me down for spam complaints regarding my Biz Bits ezine. My
site was offline for 4 days before I managed to get it
reinstated.

If it's OK with Brian, to save time I'll just copy part of the
introduction from an edition of Biz Bits, which covers most
aspects of the episode:

<----start excerpt----->
Last Thursday, suddenly and completely without warning, my ISP
blocked all access to my domain! They sent me a standard letter
saying I was in violation of their terms of service by sending
spam - and get this... with Biz Bits!!

I couldn't believe it :-(

[cut for brevity]

...So began a series of long pleading letters, attempting to
prove as best I could that I am not, nor have I ever been a
"spammer".

In particular, I pointed out that:

"My lists are hosted by Topica with little direct intervention on
my part. I add the odd subscriber that sends their subscription
request to me personally by mistake and not to the Topica
address. I occasionally remove a subscriber if they are having
difficulty doing so themselves (which is very rare, since the
unsubscribe instructions are *clearly* displayed at the end of
*every* issue)."

and

"... (this) can be proved true through Topica's account logs (who
incidentally have a very strict anti-spam policy, yet see no
problems with my account and have in fact been very helpful..."

and

"Perhaps the complainant subscribed in error, thought they were
subscribing to another list, or simply forgot they had
subscribed. I have no idea. What I do know is that I am not
involved with spam in any shape or form."

I used everything in my arsenal I could think of to put me in a
positive light, including the use of my articles by several
'quality' publications, and some of your positive comments
regarding the quality of Biz Bits (thanks for those!). The
rationale being that spammers generally send out pure junk.

[cut for brevity]

...suddenly on Monday my account was reinstated! Thank God!

<-----end excerpt------>


I have heard of the same thing happening to other people online
(some quite well known), and it would be interesting to know the
policies various ISP's have in regard to spam complaints.

The most pertinent question would seem to be that of proof. Are
some ISP's becoming over zealous and ignoring the possibility
that the accused may in fact be innocent? (Which I was!)

In addition, as a result of all this I no longer add any
subscribers that send their request to me personally. I simply
reply with the subscription details, so that every single
subscriber has to deal directly Topica, with no intervention by
me.

On a final note, last week I received a 'thank you' letter from
my host for informing them of a spammer who's account they had
just terminated. However, I hadn't sent any such mail and had
never heard of the party concerned. I wrote back and told them
so, but they still seem to be of the impression I had. This now
leaves me wondering if my own unhappy experience may too have
involved a mix-up of addresses!


Azam Corry
==============================================================
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