Sigh. Cannot connect via Gmail "blacklisted IP Address"
Tonight, emails to my Blueyonder address stopped coming through my Gmail app.
To connect I use VM's POP3 settings which they seem happy to keep messing about with. Now I am getting: "Authentication error. Server returned error "[AUTH] Temporarily blacklisted IP Address - try again later"
I've tried with/without VPN. I've tried through mobile hotspot. I've tried getting a new password via Manage email app password process. I've tried both my B/Y and Gmail email addresses.
Any ideas?
FIXED!!!!!
Don't use the O2 ID you used previously without issue, use 'email app password' instead! This policy has clearly changed. TL;DR at bottom
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No thanks to Virgin Media who are next to useless. Also no thanks to their over-engineered password/account journeys of which there are many, numerous and varied, created by someone probably with a beaming smile at VM towers who thinks customers' lives revolve around VM but is unfamiliar to almost all of their customers of which VM plays a small part. Someone at VM has massively effed up. A senior manager should hang their head in shame and find an alternative career because he/she has made a complete hash of this. Talk about pain points.It boils down to understanding the difference between O2ID, account recovery code and manage email app password. The first is what I had used to access my emails using POP3 in Gmail.
The last two generate a random set of words. VM, typically, does not explain the purpose of each of these. I don't know who is in charge of comms at VM but they should seek an alternative career too. I think a lot of people at that level should and leave servicing customers to people who actually knowing what they're doing. Clueless is a word I would use to describe them.
Previously, in the POP3 settings in Gmail I used my new O2 ID username, which is ***@gmail.com^.
^ For some reason I wasn't allowed to use my blueyonder address when I was forced to create this new O2 ID without any warning (another VM customer service FAIL). The password in the Gmail POP3 settings was also my new O2 ID password.
During the course of this issue I had also lost access to my VM account and Blueyonder email. So ensued a 40 minute call to a lovely lady called "Jane" who was incredibly patient but ultimately couldn't help me. I could get into my account but could not reset the password - the authority for her and people like her to be able to perform this invaluable service for customers had been removed by someone at VM - another FAIL.
After ending the call I was able to get back into my account and reset my password. First small victory. I could log in to my Blueyonder account and see my emails. But I still had to fix the POP3 connection from Gmail.
I tried the Home / Account settings / Identity and Security settings / 'Security settings' tab then select 'Account recovery code' . This generates a string of words. I tried that in Gmail with both my BY and Gmail username. Nope.
TL;DR
I then went Home / Account settings / Identity and Security settings / 'ID settings' tab' / Manage your products / Manage email app password / Get new password.
This generates a string of words too. But the important bit: note which address appears under 'Email address' near the top - this may NOT be the same email address as your new O2 ID email username!! This happened to be my BY email address. I tried this in Gmail and voila!
Final word
If you're in charge of transformation, or the O2 ID rollout, or customer support at Virgin Media you really should go a million miles away from IT and/or any customer facing role. Seek an alternative career. Please.
I am now beginning the process of creating a new full-name email address (either at Gmail if I can find a way or hosted on a private domain) and replacing the use of my BY email address. For too long I have been shackled to this abysmal company. I can only advise everyone else to do the same - it is clear VM/O2 want to ditch email support.
