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Why is Orange.fr throttling my legitimate emails and how can I resolve it?

Summary

Orange.fr employs strict filtering practices that can lead to throttling of legitimate emails. This can stem from various factors including poor sender reputation (potentially due to association with 'lead generation' email practices), sudden volume spikes, low engagement, deliverability problems with other providers, placement on reputation blocklists, problematic email content, incorrect email formatting, or authentication issues (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Resolving this involves contacting Orange.fr, monitoring engagement, gradually increasing sending volume, ensuring email format compliance, proper authentication, testing email content, and actively managing list hygiene.

Key findings

  • Strict Policies: Orange.fr and other French ISPs enforce stringent email filtering policies.
  • Reputation Impact: Poor sender reputation, possibly due to association with problematic sending practices, can trigger throttling.
  • Volume Sensitivity: Sudden spikes in email volume can lead to throttling.
  • Engagement Matters: Low engagement rates negatively impact deliverability to Orange.fr.
  • Authentication is Key: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is critical for avoiding throttling.
  • Format Matters: Incorrect email formatting as defined in RFC 5322 triggers spam filters.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Inclusion on reputation blocklists leads to throttling.

Key considerations

  • Contact Orange.fr: Initiate communication with Orange.fr support for whitelisting and insights into filtering rules.
  • Monitor Metrics: Track bounce rates, spam complaints, and engagement specific to Orange.fr domains.
  • Ramp-up Gradually: Increase sending volume incrementally to establish a solid sending reputation.
  • Ensure Compliance: Comply with RFC 5322 email formatting standards.
  • Verify Authentication: Confirm that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly configured.
  • Test Content: Use testing tools to identify and eliminate spam triggers within email content.
  • List Hygiene: Maintain a clean and engaged email list by removing inactive subscribers.
  • Monitor Reputation: Use reputation monitoring tools such as Google Postmaster Tools, Sender Score to review reputation issues.

What email marketers say

11 marketer opinions

Orange.fr is known to have strict email filtering policies, which can lead to the throttling of legitimate emails. Several factors can contribute to this, including a poor sender reputation, sudden spikes in email volume, problematic email content, or misconfigured authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Contacting Orange.fr support, closely monitoring engagement metrics, and adhering to best practices for email deliverability are recommended to resolve the issue.

Key opinions

  • Strict Filtering: Orange.fr employs aggressive spam filtering techniques.
  • Reputation Matters: A low sender reputation can lead to throttling, even for legitimate emails.
  • Volume Sensitivity: Sudden spikes in email volume can trigger throttling.
  • Content Analysis: Email content is scrutinized for spam triggers.
  • Authentication: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial.

Key considerations

  • Contact Orange.fr: Contact Orange.fr support for whitelisting or clarification on specific filtering rules.
  • Monitor Engagement: Closely monitor bounce rates, spam complaints, and engagement metrics specifically for Orange.fr domains.
  • Gradual Ramp-Up: Gradually increase sending volume to establish a consistent sending reputation.
  • Content Testing: Use tools like Mail-tester.com to analyze email content for potential spam triggers.
  • DNS Verification: Double-check DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) for any errors.
  • Feedback Loops: Subscribe to Orange.fr's feedback loop (if available) to identify and remove problematic subscribers.

Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Deliverability Blog suggests that throttling can occur when Orange.fr detects sudden spikes in email volume. They recommend gradually increasing sending volume over time to establish a consistent sending reputation with Orange.fr.

19 Jul 2023 - Email Deliverability Blog

Marketer view

Email marketer from ForumEmailMarketing.net shares that building and maintaining a good reputation is key to being accepted by Orange.fr. Consistently send valuable content and ensure good list hygiene.

12 Mar 2025 - ForumEmailMarketing.net

What the experts say

2 expert opinions

French ISPs, including Orange.fr, are known for their stringent filtering practices. Throttling of legitimate emails can result from broader deliverability problems, low engagement, or placement on reputation blocklists. Addressing these issues requires a focus on list hygiene, actively fostering engagement, ensuring proper email authentication, and diligently monitoring IP reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools.

Key opinions

  • Strict Filtering: Orange.fr and other French ISPs implement rigorous filtering.
  • Downstream Impact: Deliverability issues with other providers can affect Orange.fr delivery.
  • Reputation Blocklists: Placement on reputation blocklists contributes to throttling.

Key considerations

  • List Hygiene: Maintain a clean and engaged email list.
  • Engagement: Focus on strategies to boost recipient engagement with emails.
  • Authentication: Ensure proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
  • Reputation Monitoring: Monitor IP reputation using Google Postmaster Tools and other blocklist resources.

Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource suggests monitoring IP reputation through various reputation block lists as well as Google Postmaster Tools. This can provide insight into why Orange.fr may be throttling emails if the IP is present on one or more block lists.

13 Jul 2023 - Spam Resource

Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that many French ISPs, including Orange.fr, have strict filtering practices. She suggests that low engagement and deliverability issues to other providers can negatively impact delivery to Orange.fr. Focus on list hygiene, engagement, and authentication.

8 Apr 2023 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says

4 technical articles

Adhering to email authentication standards and proper formatting is crucial for avoiding throttling by Orange.fr. This includes compliance with RFC 5322 for email formatting, implementing valid SPF records to authenticate sending servers, DKIM signing to verify message integrity, and establishing a DMARC policy to control how receivers handle unauthenticated email.

Key findings

  • Format Compliance: Adherence to RFC 5322 email format is essential for deliverability.
  • SPF Authentication: Valid SPF records authenticate sending servers and prevent spoofing.
  • DKIM Verification: DKIM signing verifies message integrity and sender identity.
  • DMARC Policy: DMARC policies control handling of unauthenticated email.

Key considerations

  • RFC 5322 Compliance: Ensure emails adhere to RFC 5322 standards, including proper header formatting and content encoding.
  • SPF Implementation: Implement a valid SPF record that includes all sending sources and is correctly formatted.
  • DKIM Signing: Implement DKIM signing with a strong key and ensure it passes validation.
  • DMARC Policy Setup: Establish a DMARC policy to manage unauthenticated emails and protect your domain from unauthorized use.

Technical article

Documentation from DKIM.org states that DKIM signing your emails verifies the message integrity and sender identity. Implement DKIM signing with a strong key and ensure it passes validation at Orange.fr to improve deliverability.

1 Mar 2025 - DKIM.org

Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org says implementing a DMARC policy allows you to control how receiving mail servers handle emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks. A DMARC policy of 'p=reject' can prevent unauthorized use of your domain but must be implemented carefully to avoid blocking legitimate emails.

19 Jun 2024 - DMARC.org

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