Re-validate Email Address

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thecoalman
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Re-validate Email Address

Post by thecoalman »

One issue a site may encounter is invalid email accounts especially as it ages, if someone digs up a 20 year old topic with a lot of replies you could be sending out many emails that will bounce. This can lead to problems such as your domain/IP being added to block lists as it's common for spammers to send email to non existent accounts. Another issue is a member changes/loses their email address and never thinks to change their forum account, this leaves them with no way to reset password.

What I would propose is re-validation of the email account with admin set option of every X months. This should not prevent user from logging in or using the forum but would block all email notifications.

If the validation period has expired they get the last email notification, additional email notification explaining they will receive no more email notifications and need to re-validate with a link to re-validate. PM notification when re-validation is imminent and optional link in the UCP to send re-validation email.
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AmigoJack
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Re: Re-validate Email Address

Post by AmigoJack »

thecoalman wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 12:35 amre-validation of the email account with admin set option of every X months
It should take into account if the user himself has changed (and thus revalidated) his e-mail address in the last X months already - both things must be back in the past, not only one.

From my experience this would also penalize longtime members who are capable of maintaining either their associated address, or their e-mail account to begin with, simply using the same as they did 15 years ago when registering.

There are several reasons for e-mails to bounce (account unknown, inbox full, sender on blacklist...) and I just put those members into the group "muted" (which turns off sending e-mail for any occasion). It goes along with an automated PM explaining this and that, and that if they change their e-mail address they're automatically lifted from that group, gaining back the e-mail as notification medium. Or they should simply reply (which then goes to the Administrator group). If possible, one should have a topic/post on the board that is also accessible to guests where all this is explained and which actions can or must be taken, so cannot-login-anymore noobs can at least read that.
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thecoalman
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Re: Re-validate Email Address

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AmigoJack wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 1:31 pm From my experience this would also penalize longtime members who are capable of maintaining either their associated address, or their e-mail account to begin with, simply using the same as they did 15 years ago when registering.
It's a minor inconvenience, this could be something set to many months or even years. That said you could offer option to simply ignore active users or just an option in the UCP to self validate without actually sending email. The primary objective of this is an automated process to weed out notifications that are being sent to older and inactive accounts. There should be minimal impact to active users, as I already noted you would not prevent someone form logging in and using the forum.


There are several reasons for e-mails to bounce (account unknown, inbox full, sender on blacklist...)
I'm aware there is different reasons but the bulk of the returns I get are for non existent accounts, I suspect most of the full inbox returns are from abandoned email accounts. I have only been on one list I'm aware of and that was quite an ordeal as it was specialized list that didn't even apply to the email I was sending to begin with. I don't want to be on anymore. ;)
and I just put those members into the group "muted" (which turns off sending e-mail for any occasion). It goes along with an automated PM explaining this and that, and that if they change their e-mail address they're automatically lifted from that group, gaining back the e-mail as notification medium
I'm doing something similar but it's a PITA to manage. Ideally you would process returned email server side and update the users notifications. It's something I have explored but probably not doable for 99% of phpBB administrators even with support for it.
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Re: Re-validate Email Address

Post by ocheaccounts »

I support this suggestion
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Re: Re-validate Email Address

Post by Holger »

thecoalman wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 2:15 pm
There are several reasons for e-mails to bounce (account unknown, inbox full, sender on blacklist...)
I'm aware there is different reasons but the bulk of the returns I get are for non existent accounts, I suspect most of the full inbox returns are from abandoned email accounts. I have only been on one list I'm aware of and that was quite an ordeal as it was specialized list that didn't even apply to the email I was sending to begin with. I don't want to be on anymore. ;)
For me it is half half
Half of the bounces are because the addresses are no longer valid.
The other half bounces because the mailboxes are full.

I am using a custom code where I (in the ACP) can flag an account for using an invalid emailaddress. I flag them "manually" when I get a bounce, happens 5-10 times a day on my site (111k users).
Until the emailaddress is changed the user cannot use some vital functions of my site. And people trying to PM that member get a hint that the recipient might not read the PM due to an invalid address (no email notification possible).

The idea offered here in this topic might annoy long time members, but I support the direction!
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Re: Re-validate Email Address

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Holger wrote: Mon Jan 24, 2022 3:17 pm The idea offered here in this topic might annoy long time members, but I support the direction!
As I mentioned in the topic you can simply have a button in the UCP to reactivate the notifications or even a notification on the first page they load asking if [email protected] is still your email address. Whatever works to make it easy for active users.

Like you I was manually doing this a for a while but it's too much work.
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Re: Re-validate Email Address

Post by Holger »

thecoalman wrote: Mon Jan 24, 2022 3:25 pmAs I mentioned in the topic you can simply have a button in the UCP to reactivate the notifications or even a notification on the first page they load asking if [email protected] is still your email address. Whatever works to make it easy for active users.
Sorry, I did not notice that! That is a good idea!

Yes, like I am doing it now it is a lot of work, but it also keeps you in touch with your community ;-)
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