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Mailbox Full FAQ

When people email me they are receiving bounce messages stating that my "mailbox is full". Why is this happening?
This occurs when emails are not downloaded and removed from the incoming mail server for a period of time and during this time the incoming messages exceed the allocated disk space quota for your mailbox. When this happens, the incoming server sends bounce messages to the sending server and no further incoming messages are delivered to your mailbox until it is cleared.

I have been downloading my email regularly. How is it still possible for my mailbox to fill up?
When you configure the email account properties in your email program the default setting is normally for downloaded messages to be removed (deleted) from the server. This is the only setting we support. If you change this setting so that downloaded messages are left on the server, they will eventually exceed the mailbox quota and cause this issue. Please check your account properties (normally found under "Tools / Accounts" then clicking on the properties for the relevant account, then looking at the "advanced" tab) and ensure this setting is correct. The setting may be worded as "Leave downloaded messages on the server?" or similar, in which case it should be left un-checked.

How do I clear my mailbox once it is full?
Assuming the setting explained above is correctly set in the account properties of your email program, all you need to do is open your email program and download your messages. This will delete them from the server and clear your mailbox.

My mailbox fills up too quickly - sometimes before I have a chance to download mail. Can my quota please be increased?
Yes, simply contact us with this request and we will organise it for you.

What will happen to the messages that were bounced while my mailbox was full?
It depends on how the sending mail server(s) are configured. Under normal circumstances they should periodically attempt to resend each bounced message for a few days. Therefore, assuming the issue is detected and resolved within a day or two, most bounced messages will still filter through over the following hours or days. Of course, if you are expecting an urgent message it would be prudent to contact the sender and ask them to resend it manually.