Visitor using hotmail, gmail & yahoo email address

Sender: [email protected]

It is not for the MUA to set the Sender header. Get rid of it.

I receive an error from contact7 – IE a red “Failed to send your message…” and it doesn’t send.

It is more helpful if you can tell us why the message didn’t send. If you install this plugin, Postman SMTP, you can inspect the full error in the Email Log and post it here.

As for best practices:

• https://contactform7.com/faq/i-get-an-error-message-with-a-red-border-so-how-can-i-solve-this/
• https://www.codingmonkey.ca/my-contact-form-emails-are-not-being-sent-to-yahoo-hotmail-gmail/
• https://www.codingmonkey.ca/contact-form-emails-wont-send-with-my-visitors-email-address/

Thanks Jason for your reply.

I’ve seen the SENDER: solution in a few support calls which is why have it but the same issue occurs if it’s not specified.

Just to be clear the Contact form DOES NOT send the email or even appears to send it. When I hit the SUBMIT button after pretending to be a visitor -Contact7 displays an error at the bottom of the form that has a RED outline;

“Failed to send your message. Please try later or contact the administrator by another method.”

This ONLY happen when a @hotmail.com, @yahoo.com & @gmail.com is entered in the field where the contact form asks for “What is your email address” (This is the front end form)

If I change this address to something else – like litterlly [email protected] or even [email protected] Contact7 DOES send the form and the message is “Successfully sent”. Every other variable is exactly the same and the message is received OK in my inbox (as my address is specified in the backend)

It doesn’t matter the settings in the MAIL tab for Contact7. I have tried all the standard settings – [your-name] <[your-email]>, [email protected] etc etc.

Just to confirm this is not an “I didn’t receive my email” issue. Contact7 is displaying an error as soon as I hit submit ONLY when the visitor enters in a HOTMAIL, GMAIL or YAHOO address.

I have installed postman SMTP but there is NO log entry generated when the form is filled in (probably because the message does not even send). I have not configured postman SMTP though as this workaround is not a good solution (It really should work without installing another plugin and does work on another VPS server I manage).

For some reason Contact7 does not even attempt to send a form when the email address (entered on the form) ends in @hotmail.com, @gmail.com or @yahoo.com

As mentioned in my original post entering at hotmail, gmail or yahoo address on the frontend on another contact7 form hosted on another VPS server I manage works great – No error and message received OK.

I hope this explains the issue better.

When I hit the SUBMIT button after pretending to be a visitor -Contact7 displays an error at the bottom of the form that has a RED outline;

Which is why I gave the advice i did. And why I sent you to this link : I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE WITH A RED BORDER. SO, HOW CAN I SOLVE THIS?

I have installed postman SMTP but there is NO log entry generated when the form is filled in […] I have not configured postman SMTP though.

V1.6 of the plugin does not capture emails when it is not configured. So of course the log is empty. If you’re dead-set against configuring it, download the version 1.7 beta which will capture the SMTP error without requiring you to configure it.

For some reason Contact7 does not even attempt to send a form

That’s very unlikely, given that CF7 is reporting the results of sending the mail to you.

It really should work without installing another plugin

Perhaps. Yet, in this case, a necessary evil?

I understand your frustration and I believe this is your only troubleshooting option, unless you are capable of examining the SMTP server logs on your VPS and determining the error on your own.

Sorry Jason I forgot to add to my last post that I have been going through that document numerous times and tried everything. The only thing that worked was configuring the SMTP server and putting in a valid username and password.

The reason I am reluctant to go down this path is that I have many WP websites on that server (all with the same issue) and means I need to create a specific email for each domain and then install the Postman SMTP plugin for all the domains and configure all the settings etc.

The fact is that it only happens on on of my two servers, the other VPS works great when the visitor puts in a hotmail, yahoo, gmail email address. This indicates that there may be another solution other than installing the SMTP plugin.

I downloaded v 1.7 of postman SMTP but it needs PHP 5.4 and I have php 5.3.29 installed on my VPS.

However I have found the log file (exim_rejectlog) and here is the relevant entry – I hope this helps in finding out what is happening. I have changed the actual email address with something generic.

Thanks again Jason.
—————————————–

2015-11-04 07:32:28 1ZtiFj-0003Om-Ij F=<[email protected]> rejected by non-SMTP ACL: “SpamAssassin as cpaneleximscanner detected OUTGOING not smtp message as spam (6.2)”
Envelope-from: <[email protected]>
Envelope-to: <[email protected]>
P Received: from username by server.domain.com with local (Exim 4.86)
(envelope-from <[email protected]>)
id 1ZtiFj-0003Om-Ij
for [email protected]; Wed, 04 Nov 2015 07:32:23 +1100
T To: [email protected]
Subject: CONTACT FORM ENQUIRY from test test2
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2015 20:32:23 +0000
F From: WordPress <[email protected]>
I Message-ID: <[email protected]>
X-Priority: 3
X-Mailer: PHPMailer 5.2.10 (https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/)
R Reply-To: test test2 <[email protected]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
2015-11-04 07:51:42 1ZtiYK-00043b-TQ F=<[email protected]> rejected by non-SMTP ACL: “SpamAssassin as cpaneleximscanner detected OUTGOING not smtp message as spam (6.2)”
Envelope-from: <[email protected]>
Envelope-to: <[email protected]>
P Received: from username by server.domain.com with local (Exim 4.86)
(envelope-from <[email protected]>)
id 1ZtiYK-00043b-TQ
for [email protected]; Wed, 04 Nov 2015 07:51:36 +1100
T To: [email protected]
Subject: CONTACT FORM ENQUIRY from test test2
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2015 20:51:36 +0000
F From: WordPress <[email protected]>
I Message-ID: <[email protected]>
X-Priority: 3
X-Mailer: PHPMailer 5.2.10 (https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/)
R Reply-To: test test2 <[email protected]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Sorry Jason I forgot to add that I have gone over that document many times and nothing fixes the issue EXCEPT configuring the SMTP so that a valid email address, username, password & mail servers are specified.

The reason I am reluctant to go down this path is that I have MANY WP installs on this server and means I need to create a specific email for each one, install another plugin and then configure the plugin separately.

The fact that I have another VPS with WP installs that don’t have this problem and even if the visitor puts in a hotmail, yahoo or gmail address the email gets sent successfully and received OK. This indicates there may be another solution.

I downloaded Postman 1.7 but it needs PHP 5.4 and I only have 5.3.29 installed unfortunately.

HOWEVER, I did find the log file (exim_rejectlog) and below is the relevant entry after filling in the form. – I hope this helps in finding out what the issue is.

Thanks again Jason.

2015-11-04 07:32:28 1ZtiFj-0003Om-Ij F=<[email protected]> rejected by non-SMTP ACL: "SpamAssassin as cpaneleximscanner detected OUTGOING not smtp message as spam (6.2)"
Envelope-from: <[email protected]>
Envelope-to: <[email protected]>
P Received: from username by server.domain.com with local (Exim 4.86)
	(envelope-from <[email protected]>)
	id 1ZtiFj-0003Om-Ij
	for [email protected]; Wed, 04 Nov 2015 07:32:23 +1100
T To: [email protected]
  Subject: CONTACT FORM ENQUIRY from test test2
  Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2015 20:32:23 +0000
F From: WordPress <[email protected]>
I Message-ID: <[email protected]>
  X-Priority: 3
  X-Mailer: PHPMailer 5.2.10 (https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/)
R Reply-To: test test2 <[email protected]>
  MIME-Version: 1.0
  Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
  Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
2015-11-04 07:51:42 1ZtiYK-00043b-TQ F=<[email protected]> rejected by non-SMTP ACL: "SpamAssassin as cpaneleximscanner detected OUTGOING not smtp message as spam (6.2)"
Envelope-from: <[email protected]>
Envelope-to: <[email protected]>
P Received: from connect by server.domain.com with local (Exim 4.86)
	(envelope-from <[email protected]>)
	id 1ZtiYK-00043b-TQ
	for [email protected]; Wed, 04 Nov 2015 07:51:36 +1100
T To: [email protected]
  Subject: CONTACT FORM ENQUIRY from test test2
  Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2015 20:51:36 +0000
F From: WordPress <[email protected]>
I Message-ID: <[email protected]>
  X-Priority: 3
  X-Mailer: PHPMailer 5.2.10 (https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/)
R Reply-To: test test2 <[email protected]>
  MIME-Version: 1.0
  Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
  Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Sorry Jason I forgot to add that I have gone over that document many times and nothing fixes the issue EXCEPT configuring the SMTP so that a valid email address, username, password & mail servers are specified.

The reason I am reluctant to go down this path is that I have MANY WP installs on this server and means I need to create a specific email for each one, install another plugin and then configure the plugin separately.

The fact that I have another VPS with WP installs that don’t have this problem and even if the visitor puts in a hotmail, yahoo or gmail address the email gets sent successfully and received OK. This indicates there may be another solution.

I downloaded Postman 1.7 but it needs PHP 5.4 and I only have 5.3.29 installed unfortunately.

HOWEVER, I did find the log file (exim_rejectlog) and below is the relevant entry after filling in the form. – I hope this helps in finding out what the issue is.

Thanks again Jason.

2015-11-04 07:32:28 1ZtiFj-0003Om-Ij F=<[email protected]> rejected by non-SMTP ACL: “SpamAssassin as cpaneleximscanner detected OUTGOING not smtp message as spam (6.2)”
Envelope-from: <[email protected]>
Envelope-to: <[email protected]>
P Received: from username by server.domain.com with local (Exim 4.86)
(envelope-from <[email protected]>)
id 1ZtiFj-0003Om-Ij
for [email protected]; Wed, 04 Nov 2015 07:32:23 +1100
T To: [email protected]
Subject: CONTACT FORM ENQUIRY from test test2
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2015 20:32:23 +0000
F From: WordPress <[email protected]>
I Message-ID: <[email protected]>
X-Priority: 3
X-Mailer: PHPMailer 5.2.10 (https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/)
R Reply-To: test test2 <[email protected]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
2015-11-04 07:51:42 1ZtiYK-00043b-TQ F=<[email protected]> rejected by non-SMTP ACL: “SpamAssassin as cpaneleximscanner detected OUTGOING not smtp message as spam (6.2)”
Envelope-from: <[email protected]>
Envelope-to: <[email protected]>
P Received: from connect by server.domain.com with local (Exim 4.86)
(envelope-from <[email protected]>)
id 1ZtiYK-00043b-TQ
for [email protected]; Wed, 04 Nov 2015 07:51:36 +1100
T To: [email protected]
Subject: CONTACT FORM ENQUIRY from test test2
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2015 20:51:36 +0000
F From: WordPress <[email protected]>
I Message-ID: <[email protected]>
X-Priority: 3
X-Mailer: PHPMailer 5.2.10 (https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/)
R Reply-To: test test2 <[email protected]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Sorry Jason I forgot to add that I have gone over that document many times and nothing fixes the issue EXCEPT configuring the SMTP so that a valid email address, username, password & mail servers are specified.

The reason I am reluctant to go down this path is that I have MANY WP installs on this server and means I need to create a specific email for each one, install another plugin and then configure the plugin separately.

The fact that I have another VPS with WP installs that don’t have this problem and even if the visitor puts in a hotmail, yahoo or gmail address the email gets sent successfully and received OK. This indicates there may be another solution.

I downloaded Postman 1.7 but it needs PHP 5.4 and I only have 5.3.29 installed unfortunately.

HOWEVER, I did find the log file (exim_rejectlog).

After a few attempts of trying to paste the log info here it seems that it won’t accept the post. I will try to send it in another post.

Here is the info in the log file (I have replaced real email addresses / servers etc with generic info.

2015-11-04 07:32:28 1ZtiFj-0003Om-Ij F=<[email protected]> rejected by non-SMTP ACL: "SpamAssassin as cpaneleximscanner detected OUTGOING not smtp message as spam (6.2)"
Envelope-from: <[email protected]>
Envelope-to: <[email protected]>
P Received: from username by server.domain.com with local (Exim 4.86)
	(envelope-from <[email protected]>)
	id 1ZtiFj-0003Om-Ij
	for [email protected]; Wed, 04 Nov 2015 07:32:23 +1100
T To: [email protected]
  Subject: CONTACT FORM ENQUIRY from test test2
  Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2015 20:32:23 +0000
F From: WordPress <[email protected]>
I Message-ID: <[email protected]>
  X-Priority: 3
  X-Mailer: PHPMailer 5.2.10 (https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/)
R Reply-To: test test2 <[email protected]>
  MIME-Version: 1.0
  Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
  Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
2015-11-04 07:51:42 1ZtiYK-00043b-TQ F=<[email protected]> rejected by non-SMTP ACL: "SpamAssassin as cpaneleximscanner detected OUTGOING not smtp message as spam (6.2)"
Envelope-from: <[email protected]>
Envelope-to: <[email protected]>
P Received: from connect by server.domain.com with local (Exim 4.86)
	(envelope-from <[email protected]>)
	id 1ZtiYK-00043b-TQ
	for [email protected]; Wed, 04 Nov 2015 07:51:36 +1100
T To: [email protected]
  Subject: CONTACT FORM ENQUIRY from test test2
  Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2015 20:51:36 +0000
F From: WordPress <[email protected]>
I Message-ID: <[email protected]>
  X-Priority: 3
  X-Mailer: PHPMailer 5.2.10 (https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/)
R Reply-To: test test2 <[email protected]>
  MIME-Version: 1.0
  Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
  Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Here is the info in the log file (I have replaced real email addresses / servers etc with generic info.

`–2015-11-04 07:32:28 1ZtiFj-0003Om-Ij F=<[email protected]> rejected by non-SMTP ACL: “SpamAssassin as cpaneleximscanner detected OUTGOING not smtp message as spam (6.2)”
Envelope-from: <[email protected]>
Envelope-to: <[email protected]>
P Received: from username by server.domain.com with local (Exim 4.86)
(envelope-from <[email protected]>)
id 1ZtiFj-0003Om-Ij
for [email protected]; Wed, 04 Nov 2015 07:32:23 +1100
T To: [email protected]
Subject: CONTACT FORM ENQUIRY from test test2
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2015 20:32:23 +0000
F From: WordPress <[email protected]>
I Message-ID: <[email protected]>
X-Priority: 3
X-Mailer: PHPMailer 5.2.10 (https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/)
R Reply-To: test test2 <[email protected]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
‘

Here is the info in the log file (I have replaced real email addresses / servers etc with generic info.

`–2015-11-04 07:32:28 1ZtiFj-0003Om-Ij F=<[email protected]> rejected by non-SMTP ACL: “SpamAssassin as cpaneleximscanner detected
OUTGOING not smtp message as spam (6.2)”
–Envelope-from: <[email protected]>
–Envelope-to: <[email protected]>
–P Received: from username by server.domain.com with local (Exim 4.86)
–(envelope-from <[email protected]>)
–id 1ZtiFj-0003Om-Ij
–for [email protected]; Wed, 04 Nov 2015 07:32:23 +1100
–T To: [email protected]
–Subject: CONTACT FORM ENQUIRY from test test2
— Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2015 20:32:23 +0000
–F From: WordPress <[email protected]>
–I Message-ID: <[email protected]>
— X-Priority: 3
— X-Mailer: PHPMailer 5.2.10 (https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/)
–R Reply-To: test test2 <[email protected]>
— MIME-Version: 1.0
— Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
— Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
‘

The dashes (–) was placed in by me so this forum accepts it.

nothing fixes the issue EXCEPT configuring the SMTP so that a valid email address, username, password & mail servers are specified.

Well that’s great! So you found a solution.

I am reluctant to go down this path

Them’s the breaks, I guess.

I downloaded Postman 1.7 but it needs PHP 5.4 and I only have 5.3.29 installed unfortunately.

Ah dammit. Really? It must be the SendGrid API. They’re using namespaces. I’ll see if I can fix it.

SpamAssassin as cpaneleximscanner detected
OUTGOING not smtp message as spam (6.2)

So there’s your issue. Exim thinks you are spam.

I know you said you know all about best practices and you did everything right, but are you 100% sure this domain’s SPF record matches your mail servers IP address? You haven’t posted the domain so I can not check for you.

That, plus not authenticating, would be enough to trip SpamAssassin. It also seems to care that you didn’t use SMTP.

Hello Jason,

Yes, SpamAssassin seems to be the major contributor so I found a setting the config under “Exim Configuration Manager”

Scan outgoing messages for spam and reject based on defined Apache SpamAssassin? score (Minimum: 0.1; Maximum: 99.9) [?]

I changed this to “7” (instead of the default which I believe is “5”) and IT WORKED. I can now put in hotmail, yahoo, gmail addesses in the form and it successfully gets sent on ALL my WP installs – even with [your-name] <[your-email]> in the FROM field.

Maybe SpamAssassin increases the spam score (to 6.2 according to the logs) just because the visitors address is a @hotmail.com, @gmail.com , @yahoo.com and as it then comes in over the default spam score threshold (5) and thus rejects it.

Anyway changing it from the default of 5 to 7 did the trick and I REALLY appreciate your help on this.

Hopefully this might help others with a similar problem.

Actually putting [your-name] <[your-email]> might not be correct because it may still end up in the JUNK folder if the TO field in the backend is a hotmail etc account. – Differnet issue than above but thought I might clarify it.

I suppose the only solution for these setups is to install the SMTP plugin or specify “[email protected]” in the FROM field and get the recipient to WHITELIST the first email and mark it as NOT JUNK. This should be OK for all subsequent emails (I assume).

Anyway, Thanks again ??

One word of caution is now that you have configured your SMTP server to approve ‘spammy’ email, your IP / domain could begin to gain reputation as a spammy sender by gmail, hotmail, Yahoo etc, who are running the same tests as your SpamAssassin. This may eventually bite you in the ass!

Yes, I had thought of that and will monitor it. I know it’s a fine line. I have other filters in place for actually outgoing spam and if it ends up that MS or Google blocking me for these legit emails then will revert to SMTP plugin.