How to fix "503 valid RCPT command must precede DATA" error
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503 valid RCPT command must precede DATA
We recently got this error when trying to send an email in Outlook. The culprit? Apparently this occurs when a server is expecting to receive mail before sending. This is usually results from server authentication priorities (for example, you attempt to send mail before your "spam filter" has finished its receiving process.)
Solutions to resolve the 503 RCPT error
- Pop before SMTP -- Run a check for new messages (F9 key in Outlook) before sending your message and restart and rerun your spam filter application. Your IP address is entered in a relayhosts file, allowing email to be sent from your address for up to half an hour.
- If the problem still persists check "my server requires authentication" to authenticate automatically. With this setting you can bypass the check above and send mail without having to "pop" your mail box first. You can also try changing the outgoing port from 25 to 26, since some ISP's block this port.
- One of our readers pointed out that it may help to remove apostrophes from your email account names.
- Finally, if using a mail screening utility such as Mail Washer, you may want to disable the "automatically check at intervals" setting and check mail manually. If the system checks mail while you are sending you may get this error.
If these don't work, check your mail server
If none of the above work we recommend contacting your hosting provider. Your mail services account needs to be set up properly (associated with the right user name, etc.). We encountered this exact problem when switching hosts once - the mail server configuration got goofed up, and none of the above solutions worked. In the interim (until settings are fixed by your hosting provider) you can adjust your outgoing mail server to reflect that which your ISP uses, which should let you send mail again through your local client (Outlook, but not from the server (Webmail)), until the problem is fixed.
503 Valid RCPT command must precede DATA
When I send an email to a specific domain, I get an error right away. This is what i get:
Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.
Subject: test
Sent: 10/22/2007 10:25 AM
The following recipient(s) cannot be reached:
'test@example.com' on 10/22/2007 10:25 AM
503 Valid RCPT command must precede DATA
...I changed the domain name for security purposes...
I Looked it up and all my settings on the Exchange server are ok. That domain is the only one i cant send to. I checked with the ISP and the PTR Record is ok. We also checked the MX record and that is Ok. When I send myself and email from the exchange server with the problem and i get the following error:
Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.
Subject: test
Sent: 10/22/2007 9:42 AM
The following recipient(s) could not be reached:
test@example.com on 10/22/2007 9:42 AM
There was a SMTP communication problem with the recipient's email server. Please contact your system administrator.
>
...I changed the domain name for secutiy purposes...
I have talked to Microsoft, they are blaming the ISP. I talked to the ISP and they blame Microsoft. So i need someone else's opinion and I need help to fix this issue. Your Help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Troubleshooting the 503 error
Hi there,
First off - you had forgotten to change your email address in the second example so I went ahead and did that for you.
The best way to diagnose this is to try and send to the email address from a different outgoing server. If you want I can try and send a test mail.
The fact that you're getting the error right away indicates the mail is never being sent to begin with. Assuming you've already tried the suggestions mentioned in our article, you may also want to check that the DNS records for the domain have propagated. This error also occurs when trying to send email to an account that is setup on the server but does not have an active DNS record.
I recommend you contact your hosting provider (not necessarily the same company as your ISP) - they should be able to check your server configuration and resolve the issue.
Valid RCPT command must precede DATA
we got this message on our email system and found it was because a recipient had an apostrophe in their account name. As it was an internal adressee we removed the apostrophe ie oneil not o'neil
we had 2 options
one, not to pick up the adressee from a drop down list that has account full name (including the offending apostrophe. Just type on the addressee manually.
or
two. Rename the email account without the apostrophe.
Apostrophes in name
Very interesting, hadn't heard of this one before. Thanks for the tip, I'm sure this will save a lot of our users a lot of headaches!
503 valid RCPT command must precede DATA
I have started to frequently get this error, when I try to send email from outlook 2003
The following recipient(s) could not be reached:
'xxxx@xxx.com' on 03/08/2007 10:48
503 valid RCPT command must precede DATA
This doesn't happen every time, but frequently. Do you know what the error means and what I can do to correct it?
Resolving Outlook's 503 error
Hi there,
Please take a look at our article above for some updated suggestions in helping you resolve the 503 error. You might also want to try removing apostrophe's from your email account names.
I am having the same error
I am having the same 503 error sending email to anyone with a - in the name like XXXX@T-mobile.com. I tried to send from our company server and earthlink with the same results.