Scott,

> Note that different spam databases list IPs for different 
> reasons.  For 
> example, everyone is in the NOFALSENEGATIVES spam database (used for 
> testing), and almost everyone is listed in XBL (which lists large 
> ISPs).  In the 1990s, spam databases were primarily about open 
> relays.  Today, they are not.

Understood.  I know that some lists are more important than others.
 
> Who is "them" and "they"?  The IP you are posting from is 
> only listed in 
> BLARSBL, which isn't important.

"Them" and "They" refer to our datacenter, sorry for the confusion.

Anyway, you're assuming that I'm sending mail to this list through the same 
blacklisted server; this is a false assumption.  We have a separate mail server in our 
office, and all our outgoing mail is handled by that box.  We needed Microsoft 
Exchange in-office for Outlook and custom application integration, so we use that 
server for all of our office messaging.

> You would likely need to ask someone you know to do this.  A 
> low cost or 
> free mailserver will likely get abused very quickly.

I guess I should re-phrase this... I'm not looking for a free, open mail server that 
anybody could use without any human interaction first.  It would be ridiculous to 
think that there's an "open relay" service out there, and that I would consider using 
it, because open relays are the heart of spam and blacklisting problems to begin with. 
 What I mean to say is, we are looking for some one or some entity willing to consider 
providing a mail relay (perhaps on an existing mail server) for us at no charge (or a 
super-low monthly rate) on a temporary basis, after speaking with me, perhaps 
discussing our outgoing mail traffic stats, and more, as a friendly gesture.  In a 
sense, I *am* sort of asking "someone I know"... I know the iMail community, and 
consider myself a member of it (perhaps it's a reach, but I thought of you folks 
first). 

And more importantly, to coin a phrase, "You don't know unless you ask."  If my asking 
for free (or super-cheap) temporary assistance offends anyone, I'm sorry, but I have 
been both the recipient and provider of charitable actions in the past, and those 
actions always began with the question "can you help?".
 
> But the more important question is why you need to do this?  
> Most likely, 
> either [1] you have been sending spam (intentionally or not), 
> [2] you have 
> security problems, or [3] are in a list that isn't important. 
>  It is very 
> rare for someone to be listed in spam databases without 
> falling into one of 
> those 3 categories.

At first, I was worried about this comment, as if I'm trying to pull a fast one or 
something, but I'm guessing it was meant only to help.  I have already expressed the 
"why"... twice now.  Only one of your "most likely" scenarios is actually valid at 
this point - some of the blacklists ARE unimportant.

I can tell you this -- I know for a fact our IP range (but not our individual server) 
is blacklisted and blocked... not just by the normal blacklist channels, but by 
individual ISPs.  For just one example, we've been unable to send to rr.com for at 
least two weeks.  That's a big chuck of our client's recipients right there.  They use 
several blacklists to derive their choice to block us.  Our requests to be delisted on 
an individual basis have gone unanswered, but I know that is standard policy for many 
of these blacklists... they want to hear from our datacenter.  The problem is, THEY 
(OUR DATACENTER) actually has contacted those running the blacklists or the individual 
ISPs, and they will not take action to remove the listing.  They are either too busy 
handling requests in a timely fashion (I think two weeks is a little too long), or 
they are choosing to ignore the requests for whatever reason.

To fully counter your "most likely" assertions, 

[1] We are not, nor have we ever, sent spam or allowed our (SMALL) client base to send 
spam -- we know ALL of our clients personally, and NONE of them have ever considered 
email marketing in the form of SPAM.  Most of them don't even have anything in 
particular to market... they are specialized businesses or local non-profits.

[2]  We do NOT have security problems.  We undertake stringent weekly security 
reviews, including reviews of all server logs, network traffic statistics, and 
firewall tests.  Nobody's using us as an open relay, I can promise that.

[3]  We're in enough blacklists (or just the right ones), individual or third-party, 
to have significant problems with message bounces of legit mail to legit boxes.

Sorry for the length.  I didn't want this to take this direction; I only wanted to 
find someone to help.

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