Why am I seeing RoadRunner deferrals and rejections for reputable senders?

Summary

RoadRunner's email deliverability challenges, even for reputable senders, arise from a combination of strict filtering policies, technical issues, and sender practices. RoadRunner, like many ISPs, emphasizes email authentication, sender reputation, and list hygiene. Technical issues include temporary server unavailability (indicated by SMTP 4xx errors), MX record problems, and greylisting. Poor data collection, unpruned dead addresses, and a lack of clear opt-in can negatively impact deliverability. Senders should ensure proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), maintain clean and engaged lists by removing inactive subscribers and complainers, monitor and manage their sender reputation using tools like Sender Score, and participate in feedback loops to address spam complaints. Contacting Proofpoint, which RoadRunner uses for filtering, can also be beneficial.

Key findings

  • Strict Filtering: RoadRunner employs aggressive spam filters, causing deliverability challenges even for reputable senders.
  • Authentication is Key: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is critical for RoadRunner deliverability.
  • List Hygiene Matters: Maintaining a clean, engaged email list significantly impacts deliverability.
  • Reputation is Important: Sender reputation heavily influences RoadRunner's filtering decisions.
  • Technical Issues Exist: Technical issues like server unavailability and MX record problems contribute to deliverability issues.
  • Proofpoint Influence: RoadRunner utilizes Proofpoint for email filtering, making adherence to their guidelines important.

Key considerations

  • Implement Authentication: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly configured and validated.
  • Practice List Hygiene: Regularly clean email lists by removing inactive subscribers, suppressing complainers, and managing bounces.
  • Monitor Reputation: Actively monitor sender and domain reputation using tools like Sender Score and Reputation Authority.
  • Address Technical Issues: Investigate and resolve any technical issues, such as MX record problems and server unavailability.
  • Join Feedback Loops: Participate in feedback loops to identify and address spam complaints promptly.
  • Contact Proofpoint: Consider contacting Proofpoint for assistance with specific deliverability problems with RoadRunner.
  • Review Data Collection: Improve data collection practices to ensure clear opt-in and remove dead addresses.

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

RoadRunner (Spectrum) is known for strict email filtering, making deliverability challenging even for reputable senders. This is often due to aggressive spam filters, strict email authentication, and the residential nature of their user base. Issues stem from hitting spam traps, poor list hygiene, sudden volume increases, blacklisting, poor sender reputation, or content triggering filters. Solutions include contacting Proofpoint, which RoadRunner uses, proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), list segmentation and cleaning, warming up IP addresses, monitoring bounce rates, checking domain reputation, and adhering to Proofpoint's best practices.

Key opinions

  • Strict Filtering: RoadRunner employs aggressive spam filters, creating deliverability challenges.
  • Authentication Required: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for RoadRunner deliverability.
  • List Hygiene: Maintaining a clean and segmented email list is essential to avoid spam filters.
  • Reputation Matters: Sender and domain reputation significantly impact RoadRunner deliverability.
  • Proofpoint Influence: RoadRunner uses Proofpoint; adhering to their guidelines can improve deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Contact Proofpoint: Consider contacting Proofpoint for assistance with RoadRunner deliverability issues.
  • Implement Authentication: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly configured for your sending domain.
  • Clean Your List: Regularly clean and segment your email list to remove inactive subscribers and spam traps.
  • Monitor Reputation: Monitor your sender and domain reputation to identify and address any negative impacts.
  • Gradual Warm-Up: Gradually warm up new IP addresses to establish a positive sending reputation.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that they've had success by ensuring their sending domain has a clean reputation and warming up their IP address gradually. They also suggest monitoring bounce rates closely.

December 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet Blog shares that RoadRunner and other cable providers often have aggressive spam filters due to the residential nature of their user base. Senders should ensure proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), maintain low complaint rates, and segment their lists effectively.

October 2023 - Mailjet Blog
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks mentions contacting Proofpoint will help you. TWC is using Proofpoint and Cloudmark for their filtering decisions and these particular rate limits are part of what Proofpoint does.

October 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum suggests checking the domain's reputation using tools like Sender Score and ensuring the domain is not blacklisted. Also, properly configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.

July 2021 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum advises segmenting email lists and cleaning them regularly to remove invalid or inactive email addresses. This helps improve sender reputation and avoid spam filters.

August 2024 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendPulse Blog responds that deliverability issues with RoadRunner can stem from blacklisting, poor sender reputation, or content triggering spam filters. Monitoring sender reputation and using a dedicated IP address can help.

July 2021 - SendPulse Blog
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares the same experience and says that they've struggled with these cable-based email providers and a lack of a true postmaster to contact.

February 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow answers that ensuring your SPF record includes all IPs that send email from your domain, including third-party senders, is crucial for deliverability to RoadRunner. An incorrect SPF record can cause deferrals and rejections.

January 2025 - StackOverflow
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that they always have issues with RoadRunner even for those with good habits.

November 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Hippo Blog explains that RoadRunner (Spectrum) is known for having strict email filtering policies and can be challenging for even reputable senders. Common causes include hitting spam traps, poor list hygiene, or sudden increases in sending volume.

July 2022 - Email Hippo Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit mentions that RoadRunner uses Proofpoint for email filtering, so it's important to adhere to Proofpoint's best practices for email sending. He suggests reviewing Proofpoint's documentation.

November 2023 - Reddit

What the experts say
7Expert opinions

RoadRunner's email deferrals and rejections for reputable senders often stem from technical issues, sender reputation, and list management problems. '[internal]' bounces may indicate MX record issues. Rejections can signal specific blocks. Problems can be attributed to poor data collection, unpruned dead addresses, and signals indicating non-opt-in emails. RoadRunner prioritizes email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Maintaining a clean, engaged list by removing inactive users and complainers reduces bounce rates and complaints. Sender reputation significantly influences filtering, necessitating monitoring through tools like Sender Score. Participating in feedback loops helps identify and remove subscribers marking emails as spam.

Key opinions

  • Technical Bounces: '[internal]' bounces indicate MX record or server reachability issues.
  • Specific Sender Blocks: Rejections can be due to specific blocks against the sender.
  • Data Collection Problems: Poor data collection and management practices contribute to deliverability issues.
  • Authentication Importance: RoadRunner emphasizes proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
  • List Hygiene: Maintaining a clean and engaged email list is crucial.
  • Reputation Influence: Sender reputation significantly impacts RoadRunner's filtering decisions.
  • Feedback Loops: Feedback loops are essential for managing spam complaints.

Key considerations

  • Check MX Records: Verify that MX records are correctly configured and reachable.
  • Investigate Blocks: Investigate specific sender blocks and identify the cause.
  • Improve Data Collection: Enhance data collection and management practices to ensure opt-in and remove dead addresses.
  • Configure Authentication: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are properly configured and validated.
  • Clean Email List: Regularly clean the email list to remove inactive subscribers and suppress complainers.
  • Monitor Reputation: Monitor sender reputation using tools like Sender Score.
  • Join Feedback Loops: Participate in feedback loops to identify and address spam complaints.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests there are significant problems with that sender’s data collection and management. There are a lot of dead addresses that haven’t been pruned when the rr.com domains were deprecated years ago and there are a lot of other signals telling cloudmark that these emails are likely not opt-in.

October 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spamresource.com explains that RoadRunner, like many ISPs, places a strong emphasis on email authentication. Senders experiencing issues should ensure they have properly configured SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. They also advise checking for any misconfigurations or errors in these records.

February 2022 - Spamresource.com
Expert view

Expert from Wordtothewise.com explains that participating in feedback loops (FBLs) with ISPs like RoadRunner is essential for identifying and addressing spam complaints. FBLs provide senders with data on which subscribers are marking their emails as spam, allowing them to remove those subscribers from their lists.

August 2024 - Wordtothewise.com
Expert view

Expert from Spamresource.com responds that maintaining a clean and engaged email list is crucial for avoiding deliverability issues with RoadRunner. This includes regularly removing inactive subscribers and suppressing known complainers. Poor list hygiene can lead to higher bounce rates and spam complaints, negatively impacting sender reputation.

November 2021 - Spamresource.com
Expert view

Expert from Wordtothewise.com answers that RoadRunner's filtering is heavily influenced by sender reputation. Senders should monitor their IP and domain reputation using tools like Sender Score and Reputation Authority. Negative reputation can lead to deliverability problems, even for senders with good practices otherwise.

March 2022 - Wordtothewise.com
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that '[internal]' is a “fake” bounce created by the MTA. 'no mail servers for this domain could be reached' means there are no MXs for that domain or the MXs are pointing to domains / IPs that are not reachable.

July 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains the other rejection is a very specific block against that sender.

April 2022 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

RoadRunner deferrals and rejections can arise from various technical and policy-related factors. SMTP 4xx codes, like 421, indicate temporary service unavailability due to overload or maintenance. Deferrals can also result from network issues, server overload, or greylisting. Being blocklisted by services like Spamhaus can cause deliverability problems. Implementing DMARC helps control unauthenticated emails and prevent spoofing, enhancing deliverability. Following bulk sender best practices, including authentication, list management, and feedback loop monitoring, is crucial for all ISPs, including RoadRunner.

Key findings

  • Temporary Failures: SMTP 4xx codes (e.g., 421) indicate temporary service unavailability.
  • Deferral Causes: Deferrals occur due to network issues, server overload, or greylisting.
  • Blocklist Impact: Being listed on blocklists like Spamhaus causes deliverability issues.
  • DMARC Benefits: DMARC helps control unauthenticated emails and improves deliverability.
  • Bulk Sender Guidelines: Following bulk sender best practices is universally beneficial.

Key considerations

  • Check SMTP Codes: Investigate SMTP 4xx codes to understand the cause of temporary failures.
  • Address Network Issues: Resolve network issues and server overload problems causing deferrals.
  • Check Blocklists: Use tools like Spamhaus to check if your IP or domain is blocklisted.
  • Implement DMARC: Implement and configure DMARC to control email authentication.
  • Follow Best Practices: Adhere to bulk sender best practices, including authentication, list management, and feedback loop monitoring.
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft Docs explains that deferrals can occur when a receiving server is temporarily unable to accept mail. This can be due to network issues, server overload, or greylisting techniques employed by the recipient.

March 2023 - Microsoft Docs
Technical article

Documentation from Spamhaus explains that senders can use their blocklist lookup tool to check if their sending IP or domain is listed. Being on a blocklist can cause deliverability issues with various ISPs, including RoadRunner.

December 2022 - Spamhaus
Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org explains that implementing a DMARC policy can help control how email receivers handle unauthenticated emails from your domain. This can improve deliverability and prevent spoofing.

July 2022 - DMARC.org
Technical article

Documentation from RFC 5321 explains that 4xx SMTP codes indicate temporary failures and deferrals. The specific code '421' indicates that the service is unavailable, possibly due to a temporary overload or maintenance. This suggests a temporary issue on RoadRunner's side.

January 2025 - RFC 5321
Technical article

Documentation from Google's Gmail Help provides best practices for bulk email senders, which are generally applicable to all ISPs, including RoadRunner. This includes proper authentication, managing subscription lists, and monitoring feedback loops.

September 2022 - Gmail Help