New Contributor III

Intermittent Email send/receive failures with POP3 - Again, for weeks

I posted this a couple weeks ago, have received no responses, and discovered it was deleted. So I'm posting it again. Don't delete it again...please solve it.

For the past few weeks now, I've been experiencing the infamous & intermittent email send/receive failures, like many other customers in these forums have reported.

My system specs:
Windows 10 Pro x64
MS Windows Defender active, no other security packages
MS Outlook
Cox Internet Preferred package with the Cox provided DOCSYS 3.0 NetGear N450 modem/router

My issues: For several weeks, my various Cox email accounts have intermittent problems sending or receiving emails through Outlook 2007. When receiving emails, I'll get the Outlook pop-up error window stating:

-------------------------------------------------------------------
"Task 'myemailaddress' - Receiving' reported error (0x800CCC92 or some other error code) : 'The operation timed out waiting for a response from the receiving (POP) server. If you continue to receive this message, contact your server administrator or Internet service provider (ISP)."
-------------------------------------------------------------------

This issue happens consistently, several times a day with all my Cox email accounts...then emails will suddenly work again...then the issue reappears, rinse & repeat...it's an ongoing cycle of working/not working throughout the day for the past few weeks now.

I don't bother calling Support about this because they usually blame Outlook and do nothing. It's not an Outlook problem. Everything works great, when it works...then this sudden issue pops once or twice a year, as so many other customers have been reporting. And as mentioned by other customers, Cox somewhat acknowledges that they know about this problem with email and it's been kicked upstairs for a harder look.

In the past, I've reset my Outlook settings for the Cox emails, tried different settings and ports according to the Cox email support docs, and even deleted my Cox email account profiles within Outlook and recreated them (in case they were corrupted). Nothing has worked.

This happens regularly, so please Cox...don't ask the usual questions about using Webmail, trying another computer, etc. We know, and you know, this has been a persistent, recurring issue with Cox email accounts for many years and these suggestions don't work or fix anything.

Usually, Cox Support hems & haws and says they're working on it...or they wrongly blame Outlook...and nothing gets resolved. After repeated complaints to report the issue, they'll usually reset or do something to solve the issue.

So I'm adding my issue & complaint here to be resolved also. Please fix this email issues ASAP.

Thank you.

email imap pop webmail down downtime

frustrated_advanced_user

help

preferred

17 Replies

Replies have been turned off for this discussion

ChrisL
Former Moderator
@Neuro2015

Can you try disabling the anti-virus and see if you still have problems? Do you have another PC you can try testing with and seeing if that works?
twparish
New Contributor
2/28/17 at 7:58 AM

I am having the same exact problem and have had for about two weeks -- I depend on email contact with my doctors and Humana Pharmacy. I am 91 years old and this not funny. Cox is a big money making business and this looks like something that can be fixed.

If anyone can help me please email me at (email address). I have a new backup email at (email address)

Thanks, T W Parish
twparish
New Contributor
This is a follow up to my earlier reply this morning. My Cox email has worked perfectly since (all morning) with no problems. Glory!

Glad I found this forum this morning. Something happened and I am feeling better about Cox.

From an 91 year old and bald WW 2 vet.
DeeJ1
Former Moderator
Hi Twparish,

Thank you for the follow up. I'm glad your emails are back up and working properly now. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to reach back out to us.
Neuro2015
New Contributor III
Please read my post again. As I mentioned, we've been through these recommendations for years. They don't work because it's not related to the computer, anti-virus software, or other stuff. If they were, these problems would exist consistently. But they don't. It's an issue on the Cox side, and it's been admitted for a long time. Once or twice a year, the issue pops up, then the issue is kicked upstairs and somehow fixed.

Another thing...although I've checked the box to receive email replies to my support posts, I never receive them. Again, this issue has existed for years, and was promised fixed about a year ago...but it's not.
ChrisL
Former Moderator
@Neuro2015

Anti-virus problems usually cause inconsistent problems which is why we ask. Trying with a different computer might be the simplest way to test without making significant changes to your setup.
Neuro2015
New Contributor III
Never mind...just never mind. I'll call in to Support. Not getting anywhere here...just going in circles.
ChrisL
Former Moderator
@Neuro2015

If it helps at all the error you're getting indicates that the POP server rejected the login. When I look at the server no logins are getting rejected suggesting that it's not our POP server you're reaching when you get the 0x800ccc92 error.
WarrenMcBride
New Contributor
This has been an ongoing problem for me also and I am set up as an imap account. It is intermittent and has been going on for months. It is not associated with my antivirus since it was occurring LONG before I installed any antivirus. What happens is outlook attempts to connect and then gives me a message and I quote,

"The server for account "Cox" returned the error "[UNAVAILABLE] Account is temporarily unavailable. Your username/password or security settings may be incorrect. Would you like to try re-entering your password?"

I click no, and wait. At some later point in time, mail be be retrieved or not, that's the intermittent aspect of it. Today for example, mail was retrieved successfully all day long then this evening I started getting the error message again. Note that I do NOT reenter my username or password at any point. Then suddenly, mail is successfully downloaded from Cox.

Cox needs to step and and figure out why YOUR system is intermittently unavailable.

One more thing, I am using Outlook for Mac 2011, version 14.7.2 which is the most current version. And yes, this was occurring before my latest update to MS Office.
MaryF
Former Moderator
Hi WarrenMcBride,

We were experiencing email issues for the past few days. We apologize for any inconvenience. Are you still experiencing an issue with your email?