We've just received a reply to our latest query:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for contacting Xtra.

The email reply you have received from AOL advises of a new type of block that AOL has introduced.

As most spam today is generated by worm or virus infected computers, AOL will be placing a temporary block on the IP addresses that generate a high volume of spam. This is done by AOL to protect their customers from spam.

An IP address is something assigned to you each time you connect to the Internet. If the IP you have been assigned has recently been used by another Xtra customer who was infected by a virus or worm generating spam it may have been temporarily blocked by AOL.

This is most likely cause of any email you send to an AOL address being blocked.

We recommend that you do the following to ensure that you are no longer affected by the AOL block:

(1) If you are a Broadband customer, you will need to restart your Broadband modem/router. If you are on a dialup connection, disconnect from the Internet and reconnect after 15 mins before attempting to send email to AOL again.

(2) If you are using Outlook, Outlook Express or some other mail program check your mail settings are set to use smtp.xtra.co.nz for outgoing email.

Instructions on how to check Outlook Express settings can be found at
http://www.xtra.co.nz/help/0,,4132-561066,00.html
For other common mail applications please check
http://www.xtra.co.nz/help/0,,4132-859002,00.html

(3) We strongly recommend that you update and run your anti-virus software.


If this still continues, please contact the helpdesk.

For more help and support, please visit: http://xtrahelp.co.nz


We've been sending messages to our contacts via other friends so hopefully nothing has been missed but it's a clumsy way to organise a tour of musicians! We're off in about 2 weeks - some have left their homes already!
Robyn