Verizon Discovers The Cost Of Being Too Aggressive In Blocking Spam
from the what,-you-wanted-to-email-someone-in-Europe? dept
In late 2004 Verizon got fed up with dealing with spam for its DSL customers, and implemented a massive blocklist, that seemed to block a ton of email from outside the country -- with no way to get around the list. People who used their Verizon email address to communicate with colleagues in Europe, for example, suddenly were unable to do so. It was surprising that an ISP as large as Verizon would go with such an unsophisticated anti-spam solution -- and not have any way around it (their official response when informed of complaints was that people should use make a phone call if it was really important, rather than relying on email). Enough people were annoyed that a law firm jumped on the opportunity and put together a class action suit. The two sides have agreed to a basic settlement, so that Verizon DSL customers could be entitled to a one-time payout of $49 for the inconvenience. The lawyers, on the other hand, would walk away with $1.4 million. Seems like quite a windfall for the law firm, though this could make other ISPs a bit more careful in going overboard in their spam filtering. Brian McWilliams, who posted this news, thinks its unfair to blame the ISPs for simply trying to block spam -- but it's really a question of expectations. Most of all, people expect to be able to get their legitimate emails -- and being too aggressive on blocking, without a way to account for errors is clearly going beyond what most people's expectations are for the service. The fear is that this payout causes other ISPs to be too timid in fighting spam -- but, as long as they make sure there's a way around the filter, it seems like they should be fine.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
US needs to take a leadership role
If we are going to demand hegemony in the leadership of the internet it's time to do something useful with it. There are multiple ways to stop intl spam - it's time to implement one at a national level, and countries that don't play by those rules get pulled from ICANN. Period.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
ATT
I've tried support, which bounces me to a few different departments before I just get disconnected. My rep (since we are an ATT phone and DSL customer) can't seem to find anything about it, and thier web site doesn't do much either.
One person told me to contact my email provider but I told him the server beside me didn't know what to do either.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
ISP Mail
Free e-mail services almost never block mail, they just put it in your junk/bulk/spam boxes. Also, they don't block from people on your contact list. Also, you won't have to change your e-mail if you want to switch ISPs.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
spam
I get real sick of this "We're going to treat all of our customers like they are stupid" mentality that some ISPs have, if people cant protect their computer screw them, don't screw the guys who know what's going on by blocking the stuff they want.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: spam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Spam blocking
I personally think the user should be able to make a choice on how strong the filter should be for his or her needs. If this is not possible then let the user purchase/download anti spamware and let the mail flow free through the ISP.
ISP`s think it is important to offer these types of services. But it is very hard to please everyone. I don`t ask my mail carrier to go through my mail and throw away any mail he/she thinks is junk then take him to court when he throws something away I wanted. Com`On do it yourself, don`t rely on someone else to do your dirty work. Find a way yourself to manage your own email!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Everyone wants to play Monopoly and be the next Mi
The problem was monopoly practices - Verizon using the power of their multiple communication services to force their customers to use Verizon's more expensive phone lines instead of their already paid for, less expensive Verizon email. Ever try to attach a photo or PDF to a phone call, or cc: multiple recipients in a phone call? What a hoax, Verizon, nice spin on why they shut off cheap "long distance" emails in favor of comparatively expensive phone calls! Hahahahah. I almost believe them. Almost.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Gotta love helping the stupid
People need to learn how to use a saw before they operate it, those that don't end up in the hospital. The internet should be the same way, if you can't use it, you get shocked with 20,000 Volts :D
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
It seems like a perfectly legitimate class action. Lots of people harmed - each get what they (via class rep and attorney) and Verizon agree is 'owed' them. If there are only 100,000 members of the class, that's $4.5 mil to the class members. If any individual member of the class disagrees they can opt out. Meanwhile, it seems like the attorney gets the 'windfall' - but the attorney's done all the work and fronted all the bills. (for those that don't know, it is common practice for attorneys to pay the costs of class actions because often it is not possible or practical for the class rep to front that entire bill). And he (they) are just getting their fee for their services (contingency at 30%). If the class action had failed the law firm would have been out tens, possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees and time. It's a simple risk/reward and no different from any other contingency fee arrangement.
I'm disappointed that you guys would sink to simple lawyer bashing for easy kicks when you've shown a moderate legal sophistication on these issues in the past. I can understand the cynicism, but at least provide a basis if you think it's justified. Rather than just "oh look another class action where the lawyer's the only one getting rich."
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Lawyers and 30%
I figure I could show how my business plans might have netted me at least 3 mil, so we may get close to that if you win.
and I'll give you 50% if you take the case. comment to me at blog, or email markbnj at excite dot com
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I agree with Jeff
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Comcast
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
trial by combat
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Let them block the spam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
RE: Good Intentions vs Tyranny
Think of it this way, if you went to a hamburger joint and found out that they didn't have ketchup -- not because they thought its sodium levels were too high (benevolence) or because they liked watching their customers choke down dry burgers and didn't like ketchup themselves (tyrannical) -- but because it was difficult to keep the bottles full and their food servers didn't like to hassle with them before the left for the night, you'd probably feel slighted and may not choose to go back there again. The bottom line is: if you own a burger joint, you have to deal with the ketchup bottles or find another way to dispense ketchup -- you can't just choose to not offer it.
I believe the 21st Century is becoming the Age of Lowered Expectations (just like the SNL routine). Everywhere you go, someone or some company is offering us less than what we want and think we deserve, but just enough to make do, so we suck it up and lower our expectations to meet their offerings. Soon, we stop expecting/wanting as much so that we aren't constantly disappointed. Consequently, we end up with retail counter help that can't make change and insist on finishing their personal conversations with co-workers before helping us; school systems that don't really teach our children to reason and develop their personal skills but will help them to pass mandated tests which keep the school's funding from drying up; and politicians who make us feel fearful and put-upon so that we will vote for them to "protect" us rather than inspiring us to share in their vision to build a better future (e.g. FDR's New Deal or JFK's Space Program). Everywhere you look, you're getting less out of life and accepting it as the best you can do.
In the end, you'll find that most companies are just trying to make as much money as possible while expending as few resources as possible -- it's the true nature of capitalism. If consumers don't insist on higher quality and better standards, quality and standards will certainly slip to the lowest acceptable level. We are, in effect, exchanging the promise of a better tomorrow for the simplicity of a standardized mediocrity which costs less support and is far less enjoyable and inspiring. Welcome to the Age of Lowered Expectations.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Typos
Anyway, as for spam; we're all supposed to be adults, so we should handle it ourselves.
As for lawyers; a necessary evil, but still an evil.
Exhibt one, a joke:
2 lawyers jump off of a 10 story building...which one lands first?
Answer- who cares :-)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Typos
Does that qualify as too fast?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Bellsouth
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
If I miss a job offer from Germany,
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
email blocking
things as you the customer wants them to Change
service provider at end of contract, & use free web based email. This goes for any company you are paying for.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Verizon Spam Blocking - Still Idiots
In the last month, they have blocked spam from my partnering company, my own dedicated server and my host helpdesk.
The scary thing is are they blocking emails from potential clients? Given how little mail I have had in the last 3 days - probably.
That is not stupid?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Spam filter full block
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Verizon also blocking US emails
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I never dreamed!
We called Verizon tech support yesterday and were told that Verizon is not blocking email from Europe, that their spam-blocking tool has been offline for over a month. (Now, I know why they gave me that time frame.)
I had the neighbor ask friends in Europe to send her an email and cc me at three accounts: my Verizon address, my domain on a Web host, and gmail. Two sent, about 10 hours ago from .fr and 6 hours ago from .nl. Email arrived at my Web host and at gmail. Nothing on Verizon.... No blocks from Europe? Right.
I never dreamed that Verizon would have such a draconian blocking policy. Now, I feel awful for recommending Verizon to our neighbor! She's retired and just wants to keep in touch with friends and family around the world.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Verizon blocks more than just countries
We have been blocked before by several different isp's but usually after submitting their "white-list" form that most isp's have, the block is lifted.
Not Verizon though!... we have called (India) repeatedly, sent emails to their so called "abuse@verizon.com" and sent countless white-list forms....Nothing is heard back except, your not blocked. And we hear that if we are lucky to even get a response.
Unless we start demanding that our clients that have Verizon accounts call them to see why they can't get mail from us......
Its dam near impossible to get de-listed w/ Verizon, correction...it is immposible to get de-listed!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Verizon/Hotmail
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
iSearch on password helpVerizon blocking email fro
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Verizon Spam Block
My husband who is self employed, could lose his job from this. Filing a complaint with white pages does not work.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]