?

[Alts]

I have a question concerning the automatic replies that certain administrations or businesses (strictly legitimate ones) use in order to be certain that the message that they had sent has been received. More clearly put, I receive an e-mail from, for example, the Royal Mail, no sooner has the message been downloaded, there is an automatic reply that takes place, and, beyond my control, that guarantees the sender that the mail was received.
With my Outlook Express setup, the people that I send mail to should (in principle) also have a small pop-up window requesting that a receipt be sent in order to inform me that they have received or read the mail.
More often than not, nobody ever ticks the box saying "Yes", and I never receive any confirmation of reception (99%-ish). Other times, especially with some of the administrations or services I deal with, I would die to be sure that they have received my mail.
Is it a program that already exists in my Windows 2000, and only needs to be configured? Or is it anther program altogether?

Thanks for any help.

Alts

 

[bigkuri]

I think from what you're asking - you are after some software or setting that will "insist" that an email recipient sends a read-receipt?

In which case - no. If the users want to, then they do. Like you say; most users turn it off and opt not to send. There is no software that “insists” on this being sent (unless the users all install something that you give them).

If it's for a legal reason you are wanting the receipt - you are covered as long as you keep your sent email & there was no server administration “delivery failure notice”. Electronic Signatures Act goes into this.

 

[xpi0t0s]

You're asking about two different things. One is an autoreply, which means the company will ignore your email for weeks then some idiot in India will make some totally stupid comment that's nothing to do with your original question. It's called "customer service" EWW SPIT SPIT GACK, sorry, that phrase always leaves a bad taste...

The other is a return receipt, where the recipient of your message is prompted, if the email client is appropriately configured, and this is the important bit for me - BEFORE they see your message, if they want to acknowledge it.

Well until I've read a message I have no idea what it is, and I'm not about to confirm my email address to a spammer. So I always select No, then edit the settings never to prompt me again.

If it's a formal communication and you need to know that it's been received, simply ask in the email for an acknowledgement, and possibly even call them to check they got the message. If it's an email to a generic company email address, most companies have some sort of complaints department you could follow up if they persistently refuse to acknowledge your emails.

 

[Alts]

It must be contagious, as I've got that same bad taste in my mouth.

I thought, until recently, that this form of "Customer Service" was pricipally perfected by the French, having lived here since '89, but as of mid-April, I've been getting the royal run-around, not only from the French holding of the Royal Mail Postal Service, but the Royal Mail themselves, not to mention their international parcel service, Parcel Force (or more appropriately: Parcel Farce!).
In the mean time, my new used exhaust system for the G/S is stuck in bl**dy England for the last 3 months, and the G/S ain't runnin' because of this! Looks like we're set for another three, as well! And I'm not joking.

In any case, they have a system that I stumbled across, where there is an automated receipt, that, had I not had a heavy file in my "Outbox", theirs would have been sent without my knowledge or consentment. Odd, perhaps, but true. Since then, I'm looking for the same thing.

I understood the BEFORE receipt setup, as that is the way I've set up my Outlook Express. I appreciate your point of view on why you don't select "Yes". I hadn't thought of it that way before. I guess somthing good is coming out of this forum, after all!
Though I still haven't found the program their using. Patience is a virture that I do not possess in great quantity.

Thanks again.