On some of the lists that I've been managing, I've occasionally
gotten some bounces from aol.com that say:

> Last error: 5.1.1 550 aolusername IS NOT ACCEPTING MAIL
> FROM THIS SENDER

That is, a subscriber will receive most mail from a list, but
when a particular sender sends mail, the emails from that sender
bounce for that particular subscriber. But I know that the
subscriber would never have knowingly set up a block for that
particular address (in my choir list, it was the choir
director's address that was getting bounced, and in a class
list, it was emails from the teacher, and the recipients
did not understand why AOL was refusing to accept the
mail from those addresses). Naturally, it may occur that
someone deliberately put up a block because even though they
wanted to receive list mail, they did not want mail from
a particular list member, but this was not the case here.


I've asked AOL.COM tech support for instructions on how you can
remove the block, and below is what they sent me. I thought I'd
share it in case others have similar problems with their lists. Note:
you need to send these instructions to the subscribers whose
addresses are bouncing -- they are the only ones that can fix it.


========== Instructions provided by AOL Tech Support ============
To determine and resolve the issue, please follow the steps below:

A. CHECK THE MAIL CONTROLS
B. CHECK THE SPAM FOLDER
C. ADD THE SENDER ON THE ADDRESS BOOK

A. CHECK THE MAIL CONTROLS
Please verify that the Mail Controls is not blocking the sender's
screen name, e-mail address or domain.

NOTE: You need to be signed on to a Master Screen Name or a Screen
Name on a General Access category to adjust the Mail Controls. A
Master Screen Name is the first screen name you created for this
account and any screen name you have assigned Master Screen Name
status at AOL Keyword: Names.

1. On the AOL toolbar, click the MAIL menu, then click BLOCK UNWANTED
MAIL. You can also go to AOL Keyword: Spam Controls.
2. Select the Screen Name you wish to adjust from the drop-menu at
the top of the Mail and Spam Controls window. For Screen Names on a
General Access category, you can only adjust the Mail Controls for
that Screen Name itself.
3. Click Customer Sender List link.
4. Select for the Screen Name, e-mail address, or domain that you
would like to unblock on the list of e-mail addresses you have
blocked, then click REMOVE.
5. Click SAVE.
6. Click SAVE on the Mail and Spam Controls window.

B. CHECK THE SPAM FOLDER
Check your Spam Folder to ensure your spam filters have not caught
any mail incorrectly.

1. On the AOL toolbar, click MAIL, then select SPAM FOLDER.
2. If you see any e-mail that came from the sender, select it, then
click THIS IS NOT SPAM. AOL will now look for similar mail and make
sure to place them in your inbox.

C. ADD THE SENDER ON THE ADDRESS BOOK
1. On the AOL toolbar, click MAIL, then select ADDRESS BOOK.
2. Click ADD.
3. Type the information under the Contact, Home, Work, or Details
tabs, and when you have finished, click SAVE.

================================================================

I hope this helps someone.

Francoise