How to verify email addresses (to avoid getting Error 553 when sending email)

We strongly recommend that you print out these instructions. Use the 'printable version' link at the bottom of the article.

We've improved the security of your BT Yahoo! Mail account to help prevent fraud and spam. To send emails from alternate addresses to your @btinternet.com email address you now need to verify them by following the steps below. If you don't verify addresses your outgoing emails may be blocked and you might get an Error 553 message.

1. Go to http://bt.yahoo.com/webmail. You will need to log in with your BT Yahoo! username and password (your username is your email address, which will usually end in btinternet.com or btopenworld.com).
   
   
2. Click Options in the upper-right corner of the page.
   • If you're using the "all new" BT Yahoo! Mail you will be presented with a drop down menu. Click Mail Options. You then need to select Accounts from the menu on the left, then the Add or edit an account link that will appear.
   
   
   • If you're using the "classic" BT Yahoo! Mail, a new page will be presented. Click Mail Accounts on the right-hand side of the page.
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3. Click on the Add button.
   
   
4. If you wish you can, for your own reference, enter an account name in the box provided, such as Work or Home (no one else will see this), and then click Continue.
   
   
5. Now you'll see two boxes. In the first one, put the Name you'd like others to see when they get email from this address. In the second one, type the email address you'd like to send from within BT Yahoo! Mail. Click Continue.
   
   
6. Next you'll see "Step 3 Setup Mail Server". Click Skip this Step.
   
   
7. On the next page, check you've entered your email address correctly. If you need to make changes, click Edit Address. If it looks OK, click Send Verification. This sends an email to that address containing a confirmation code.
   
   
8. The 'Verify Account' page opens.
   
9. • Leaving the 'Verify Account' page open, use a different browser window or application to sign in to your other Mail account (in other words, the email address you are verifying).
     
   • Look for an email from Yahoo! Member Services, and open it.
     
   • You can now either click on the link in the email or copy the confirmation code and paste it into the box on the 'Verify Account' page.
     
   • At the bottom of the page, click Verify Account.
     
   • A BT Yahoo! Mail sign-in page opens with your username already filled in. Please sign in with your password.
     
   • You will be logged in to your BT Yahoo! Mail account where you can view a list of verified accounts. That's it. Now you can easily send from the web or from your email program of choice.

I've forgotten my BT Yahoo! password.

How do I verify more than ten alternate email addresses?

Note: If you are using Outlook 2003 (not the same as Outlook Express!), and still getting 553 errors, you probably need to update it. See how to update your Outlook 2003

If you're still receiving 553 errors you may have a 'stuck read receipt'. This page will tell you how to clear it.