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
11Marketer 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.

March 2022 - 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.

October 2024 - ForumEmailMarketing.net
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum shares that Orange.fr is known for strict email policies. They advise segmenting your email lists to ensure only engaged users receive emails and to closely monitor bounce rates and spam complaints specifically from Orange.fr domains.

April 2021 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from DNSQueries.com suggests double-checking your DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to make sure there are no mistakes. Even a small mistake could be the reason that Orange.fr is rejecting your emails.

November 2023 - DNSQueries.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit suggests that Orange.fr might be using aggressive spam filtering techniques. They recommend checking your sender reputation, ensuring proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and contacting Orange.fr support for whitelisting or to understand specific filtering rules.

September 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests that the brand using those IPs might be sending "lead generation" emails in a way that Orange is hitting the whole brand. Contacting <mailto:abuse@orange.fr|abuse@orange.fr> is recommended.

March 2025 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps.com suggests using their platform to monitor inbox placement across different ISPs, including Orange.fr. This helps identify deliverability issues specific to Orange.fr and troubleshoot accordingly.

August 2021 - GlockApps.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailClientHelp.com recommends subscribing to Orange.fr's feedback loop (if available) to receive reports on spam complaints from their users. This allows you to identify and remove problematic subscribers from your list.

October 2021 - EmailClientHelp.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mail-tester.com recommends using their tool to test email content for spam triggers. Improve your content's score to avoid being flagged by Orange.fr's spam filters.

October 2023 - Mail-tester.com
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks confirms that Orange.fr is responsive in English.

August 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from SenderScore.org suggests monitoring your sender reputation to identify potential issues that could cause throttling. A low sender score may lead Orange.fr to throttle your emails even if they are legitimate.

May 2021 - SenderScore.org

What the experts say
2Expert 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.

October 2022 - 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.

September 2022 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
4Technical 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.

October 2022 - 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.

July 2024 - DMARC.org
Technical article

Documentation from OpenSPF details that implementing a valid SPF record helps authenticate your sending server. Ensure your SPF record includes all sending sources and is correctly formatted to prevent Orange.fr from flagging your emails as potentially spoofed.

January 2023 - OpenSPF
Technical article

Documentation from IETF explains that email format compliance is crucial for deliverability. Ensure your emails adhere to RFC 5322 standards, including proper header formatting and content encoding, to avoid triggering spam filters at Orange.fr.

January 2024 - IETF