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Contributor

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20 Messages

Thursday, December 9th, 2021 10:25 PM

Closed

Cannot send email... (0x800CCC0F) Connection to server interrupted - or - (0x800CCC67) ESMTP server temporarily not available message

I am a former xfinity subscriber that kept my comcast.net email address.  I access my email through Microsoft Outlook 365 on Windows 10 via a POP3 connection.  My wife who has an identical laptop configuration is experiencing these same problems on her machine.  About 3 months ago out of the blue, we started to get one of the subject error messages when we attempt to send messages; however, the errors oddly only begin to occur around 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. and then persist through the rest of the day when you attempt to send email.  Receiving mail during all hours works without a problem. 

The next morning without me intervening in any way, I can again send and receive email until I get into the 8-10 am window when the send errors start reappearing.  This process repeats itself day-after-day.  

I can login into xfinity's website and send mail from my xfinity webmail account during times when I'm getting the send errors on my laptop.  I also run into similar problems from my android phone that runs a Samsung email app.  During the same times I can't send email from my laptop, I can't send email from my phone either.  

When I get one of the two send errors above, the emails will just stay in my outbox all day long as outlook continues to try to send them.  Yet, then at some point during the late-night hours, something must be reset on xfinity's end of things, I'm able to reconnect to the server, and the emails will send - without me doing anything on my end.  

 

I've called Comcast numerous times on this issue during the past 3 months and they insist the problem is on my end.  I'm convinced the problem is on theirs.  My theory is that as a current nonsubscriber, I am likely routed through different server infrastructure.  As more and more people like myself have cut the cord with Comcast, demands on this secondary infrastructure have increased, and Comcast is refusing to invest to upgrade it since we are nonpaying customers.  So, I'm beginning to doubt that there is a fix for this except to abandon my twenty-two year old comcast.net email.  

Any thoughts from anyone on this?  And suggestions on who where would be a good place to move to (e.g., gmail)?

Contributor

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20 Messages

3 years ago

I began this threat on Dec. 9th.  Last month I posted that my email send issues have miraculously been resolved.  This is true today - I nor my wife have had one email send error since my posting on 12/24.  I have since set all of my computer and wifi settings back to where they were when the problems began (including Outlook sleep mode settings), and I can do nothing to recreate the send error.  I have done no Windows or Office 365 updates to my computer either. So, at the end of the end of the day, I don't know how the problem managed to auto-correct itself.  I would hope if Comcast made some changes on my account and knew others were experiencing the same problem, that they would apply the fix more broadly across their system.  

Frequent Visitor

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13 Messages

3 years ago

I congratulate you!  And, I agree that surely Comcast knows how others might solve this.  I've had it sporadically for many months -- it lasts for days at a time, then goes away, then returns some weeks later.  Usually, just as I reach wits end and decide to abandon Comcast for gmail, it goes away.  I'll keep searching and tweaking.  Thanks for the response.

Visitor

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1 Message

3 years ago

We have had the same problems for at least six months - sending mail from our Outlook Comcast accounts blocked, generating errors for many hours, then temporarily working until it stops again. I spent many hours looking up this problem, and considerable time on the phone to Comcast to no avail. I have a Windows10 laptop, an iPhone, and my wife has a MacBook Air and an iPhone.  Our home ISP is FIOS, and we have a summer house with a Comcast ISP. One additional piece of information - if I am out-of-town and using my Outlook Comcast email, both my Outlook Comcast email account works fine, and so does my wife's (back at home) Then when I come home, it starts flaking out again.

I have lost patience, and started using a workaround, which is an xxx@ icloud email address, and am slowly phasing out my comcast email account.

Visitor

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15 Messages

@zuzzer​  I wonder -- are all these users Verizon customers?  I am.  Thanks for the input.

Visitor

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15 Messages

I see if I turn my wifi off on my mobile, email flows fine on my mobile, but as soon as I connect back to the wifi the problem starts again.  Until 7:00pm that is.

Visitor

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3 Messages

I have read this string and one other user_521d8c started.  I too am experiencing this condition.  Two laptops, two phones ( Xfinity iPhone which use the Wi-Fi to make calls ). We too are previous Xfinity customers who kept our mail addresses.  However, I don't think that has influence.  We had 2 Xfinity accounts in two states. One of them remains fully activated with mail, tv, phone and wireless. I tired sending mail form that accounts e-mail address using my outlook and that too was blocked.  I am leaning towards the too many non-credential attempts.   One added situation.  We are snowbirds.  In the summer we are on Xfinity ISP direct using our own router. 25+ years, no issues.   In the winter we are now on HTC South Carolina hardware and ISP.  The problem showed up after being in our winter residence and not right away, several months later. The winter house has a lot of devices connected to the Wi-Fi. Oven, lights, heating, security, printers, Firesticks and probably one or two I missed.  I am thinking; all this electronic gear on the network is triggering a sent signal that does not have the correct credentials.  How does one find the culprit and turn it off.  I  like my phone operated devices and don't want to turn them all off.

user_521d8c  If I could buy you a case of your favorite adult beverage I would.  Your work on all of this is outstanding and we all know time consuming.  Thank you.  And thank you to the Xfinity folks that are staying with this. I really don't want to have to drop my email address of 25+ years.

Visitor

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15 Messages

3 years ago

I just got off the phone with Amy in Xfinity Support - Security Level 2 @ [Edited: "Personal Information"].  She said she could not help me because I no longer have an account.  I asked to speak to a manager.  Amy said that the manager is in a meeting and would have to call me back.  I asked her who will be calling me and she said it would be one of two women and she could not give out a name.  I also asked for a case number and she said that since she cannot do any work on it, there is none.

Again, this looks like a runaround designed to stop / punish people when they leave the service.

(edited)

Visitor

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15 Messages

3 years ago

So it's 11:29 PM and I'm sending emails like crazy with no issues.  Tomorrow morning, I'm SURE it will be back to the same old problem.

Visitor

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15 Messages

3 years ago

And verified --- 8:24 AM, cannot send emails again.  COMCAST FIX THIS!

Visitor

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3 Messages

3 years ago

We are Outbox locked today as well.  Not bad we got four good days with no lock out.  7PM better get here fast.  I have a bunch of stuff that needs sending.

Visitor

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15 Messages

@user_769f39​ So are you on FIOS?  Does this fix itself at 7:00pm?  It's 6:45 for me now...

Visitor

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15 Messages

6:57 - Send/Receive error -
Task ------- Sending' reported error (0x800CCC67) : '  The server responded: our server unexpectedly terminated the connection. Possible causes include server problems, network problems, or a long period of inactivity.'

6:59 -- Send/Receive error - 


Task '--------- - Sending' reported error (0x800CCC67) : '  The server responded: ?21 resomta-a1p-077053.sys.comcast.net resomta-a1p-077053.sys.comcast.net Excessive failed authentication, ESMTP server temporarily not available'

7:00 --  Email sent!

Gold Problem Solver

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26.3K Messages

3 years ago

... it kicks off at 7:00 with no input from me.

In https://forums.xfinity.com/conversations/email/cannot-send-email-0x800ccc0f-connection-to-server-interrupted-or-0x800ccc67-esmtp-server-temporarily-not-available-message/61b28270f06968168603033a?commentId=61c38fb7af4f9801ee5e85dd employee @XfinityCSAEmail stated that the failed authentication block resets at the same time each day. So the fact that you see your email sending start working at a particular time of day is consistent with that.

What seems odd to me is that nearly all the users having this problem appear to be using non-Comcast ISPs to connect to Comcast's mail servers. I suspect Comcast hasn't gotten all the way to the bottom of this yet.

Visitor

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15 Messages

@BruceW​ And, because we are non Comcast users anymore they do not seem to want to offer any real support.  This is EXTREMELY frustrating because I use email all day long from my computer.  Now I have to use my phone during the day.  I do not have access to the webmail page during the day.

Official Employee

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1K Messages

@BruceW​ 

I've checked into it and it has no relevancy. Failed authentication whether it be from within the comcast IP space or not is treated the same. The only thing we would not be able to test is whether external network providers treat comcast IP spaces differently and restrict/limit/block access to our IPs. We would also be unable to test for network integrity which can also cause the issue where the email client just disconnects in the middle of a transaction. Like for example in the referenced above, the server never went out, but the outlook error is indicating either "network problems, or a long period of inactivity" and then shortly after "(0x800CCC67) : '  The server responded: ?21 resomta-a1p-077053.sys.comcast.net resomta-a1p-077053.sys.comcast.net Excessive failed authentication, ESMTP server temporarily not available' ". That indicates exactly as written that either the network connection is unstable and causing faults and/or the email client itself is having issues and idling too long which realistically the two are mutually exclusive and both external to Comcast servers or email services. One way to test it is to try a different network, if it works on one but not the other, there is either an issue with the strength/stability of the connection or network related issues (firewall, modem, router, etc.).

I am an Official Xfinity Employee.
Official Employees are from multiple teams within Xfinity: CARE, Product, Leadership.
We ask that you post publicly so people with similar questions may benefit from the conversation.
Was your question answered? Please, mark a reply as the Accepted Answer.tick

Visitor

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7 Messages

@XfinityCSAEmail​ All the users who have experienced these problems seem to have different computers - cell phones - operating systems - ISPs and email programs.  All report the same problems.  The standard response is either check your server settings or delete your account and then set it back up.  However - everyone has periods when their email will send normally - so the account must be set up correctly to work then. Also - shutting down wifi and using a mobile hotspot can send the outgoing email without changing any settings.  It is really difficult to believe that "Excessive failed authentication" is the result of too many failed attempts if someone sends one email and it fails immediately.  If there is not current email activity at all - what is causing all the failed authentication attempts?  How can the "firewall, modem, router, etc." be trying to authenticate with Comcast SMTP server with no email initiation? That would imply that the email program is communicating with the Comcast server continuously but that's not consistent with the above complaints where people shut down and then start up later and still have a problem. 

Visitor

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7 Messages

None of the explanations offered by Xfinity explain why this problem suddenly appears - plaguing users for hours - days - weeks and then suddenly goes away and email works fine again for a period of time - until suddenly... it's back

Frequent Visitor

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13 Messages

Agree. I’m nearing the “give up & use Gmail” point again.   Tired of using my mobile hotspot just to send an email or two during the day.

Visitor

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2 Messages

3 years ago

I have been told from Xfinity  and Verizon, who are at odds that the are no longer supporting each other’s products. I hav Comcast email and Verizon phone. I can’t open my email on my phone or IPad. Shame on both companies for putting us in the position to not retrieve our email. We who pay our bills made them the multi million companies  and they  treat us this way, shame on them!!! I guess it is time to check out ATT for my services!

Contributor

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20 Messages

@user_8c7730

I began this thread on Dec. 9th.  Whatever problem you are experiencing I don't think it has anything to do with Verizon and Comcast "not supporting each other's products."  I have a Galaxy S9 phone and use Samsung Mail app (IMAP) on Verizon and have never had any issues accessing my Comcast mail account, including last year when I was experiencing all the email send problems.  In fact, when I couldn't send email via Outlook POP3 on my Dell XPS Windows laptop, I could still access and send email from my Verizon phone.  

        And just another update on my Comcast email service on my PC, I still have not experienced any email send errors since the problem somehow miraculously corrected itself a couple of months ago.  No intermittent errors - no nothing, so keeping my fingers crossed and hoping everything continues to work. 

Visitor

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7 Messages

Still having the same problem sending while connected to my wifi - change connection to my mobile hotspot and email sends immediately.  After 6pm central time can send email without problems.  Tried every fix in this thread but nothing makes a difference.  This has happened periodically to me a number of different times.  Mysteriously appears and mysteriously goes away without me making any changes.  Right now I am still waiting for it to mysteriously go away again - been having the problem this time for a little over a week after at least a month of normal operation since the last episode.  To me this points to something on Comcast end since I basically do nothing to start or stop the problem.

I have Comcast email and T-mobile phone service and using an independent ISP - so not the same scenario as others posting above - but still having the same problem sending email

Official Employee

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1.4K Messages

Hey @user_1c4a0b! Thank you for taking the time to reach out and being part of the Xfinity family. Have you tried to send the email on a different device? Also, are you using any VPN?

I am an Official Xfinity Employee.
Official Employees are from multiple teams within Xfinity: CARE, Product, Leadership.
We ask that you post publicly so people with similar questions may benefit from the conversation.
Was your question answered? Please, mark a reply as the Accepted Answer.tick

Visitor

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7 Messages

I have tried sending email on my phone - tablet - pc - desktop and all fail.  If I connect my pc to my mobile hotspot and turn off wifi - I can send mail immediately.  Also tried to send email via wifi on other networks - including a Comcast ISP and all fail.  Not using VPN on any device. Email sends early in the morning and after 6 pm Central time - same as all the other users complaining about this.  This started recently after email worked fine for months- no changes on my part. This same thing happened before - it comes and goes with no changes by me.  To me that points to Comcast SMTP problems and there are hundreds of others with all kinds of devices - email apps - and ISPs that all have the same complaint - points to Comcast error that is not being addressed

Official Employee

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3.3K Messages

Thank you for all of the troubleshooting you have tried! I would like to do some additional troubleshooting specific to your email. Please send us a direct message to "Xfinity Support" with your full name and address to get started.

 

To send a direct message you may need to:
Click "Sign In"
Click the "direct message" icon
Click the "New message" (pencil and paper) icon
Type "Xfinity Support" in the "To:" line and select "Xfinity Support" from the drop-down list which appears. The "Xfinity Support" graphic replaces the "To:" line
Type your message in the text area near the bottom of the window
Press Enter to send it

I am an Official Xfinity Employee.
Official Employees are from multiple teams within Xfinity: CARE, Product, Leadership.
We ask that you post publicly so people with similar questions may benefit from the conversation.
Was your question answered? Please, mark a reply as the Accepted Answer.tick

Visitor

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1 Message

3 years ago

I have the exact same problem.  Worked fine for 3 years.  Now all of a sudden I can't send outgoing emails.   At some point they go through....but hours later.  Very frustrating.  I called comcast and they tell me to call FIOS.  

Problem Solver

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892 Messages

Hello there @user_39caa5! Thank you for reaching out here via our Forums page! I am sorry to hear that you are having issues with your Comcast email. To confirm, are you no longer a Comcast customer? 

I no longer work for Comcast.

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