. : August 27, 2015 : .

How to get delisted from Microsoft block list

Summary:

Step 1 – forward the “Undelivered Mail Returned to Sender” email to delist@messaging.microsoft.com

Step 2 – wait

Step 3 – wait check email to make sure you got a response from Microsoft Customer Support with a ticket number and a lie that they’ll get back to you within 24 hours

Step 4 – wait some more – at least 24 hours

Step 5 – call (800)-865-9408 and get put on hold

Step 6 – wait

Background:

I recently created a web app that runs on domain that I do not control. I requested that the controller of said domain create an MX record for the server(s) running the app. Ya know… because people forget their passwords, and need to reset them somehow, like by getting a “click here to reset your password” email. And, if you don’t have an MX record and a proper FQDN, etc. your password reset email goes straight to the junk folder or gets blocked entirely.

Anyway, after 2 support tickets and about 3 million emails, I finally got the IT guy(s) to set it up for me. I used MxToolbox to make sure I had everything set up correctly. I sent email to my gmail account, and it was working flawlessly. Then I tried sending email to a Microsoft 365 account…

BLOCKED!

While I was waiting for the MX record to get set up, I had been testing the app. At some point my server’s IP address had been put on Microsoft’s naughty list. I don’t blame them – with no MX record the emails being sent from that server look super spammy to their algorithms, and they were coming through quite regularly.

Making things right

Each email I sent from the server received an “Undelivered Mail Returned to Sender” email. It contained instructions to forward it to delist@messaging.microsoft.com. So, I did.

I got an automated response that basically said, “Thanks, here’s a ticket number, someone will respond to you within 24 hours.” So I waited… for 3 days.

Then I poked around on the Interwebz and found a phone number to call (800)-865-9408. I called, and punched the numbers till I got to a human named Jordan. Jordan tells me, “I can’t fix this, but I’ll transfer you to the department that can. There’s one call in front of you, do you mind being on hold for 5-10 minutes?”

One hour and 25 minutes later, I just cannot listen to soprano saxophone music anymore

I use my mobile phone to call the number while still on hold with my desk phone. I punch numbers till I get someone named Romel. I tell him my ticket number, he says, “I see you are on a call with a different phone number”. I say, “Yes, yes I am. I just want to know how much longer this will take. Is there enough time for a bathroom break BECAUSE I’M ABOUT TO PEE MY PANTS!”

Romel exercises good customer support and pretends to sympathize with me. Then he puts me on hold for 20 minutes, during which time I get an email saying that someone reviewed the IP address, and unblocked the server. He comes back on the line, I thank him and tell him they aren’t paying him enough. Then I hang up (both phones).

Good news, and bad news

The good news is after a few hours, the emails were no longer blocked. The bad news is, they were going straight to junk folders.

`\_(ツ)_/

It’s always something…