(Q) How much does it cost?
(A) ASK is only available to WCTA customers and is provided at no cost.
(Q) What is a "whitelist"?
(A) A whitelist is a list that contains a list of email addresses that you
know of that you want to receive mail from.
(Q) What is an "ignorelist"?
(A) An ignorelist is a list of email addresses that you don't want email from.
Email from these address get discarded -- you will not be notified, the sender
will not be notified and there is no way to retrieve the message once it is gone.
(Q) Why would I want to add someone to my "whitelist"?
(A) A whitelist is a list that contains a list of email addresses that you
know of that you want to receive mail from.
This is useful if you subscribe to a list, or get email from some automated source where the sender isn't really a live person.
For Example, let's say you get mail from a list. Depending on how the list you subscribe to works, you may have to add "from somebody@listserver.com" if all the email from the list has the same "From:" address. If you subscribe to a list they may also choose to "BCC:" (Blind carbon copy) everyone on the list. In this case the "To:" address is always the same, so for this you would add "to somebody@listserver.com" to your whitelist.
(Q) Why would I want to add someone to my "ignorelist"?
(A) An ignorelist is a list of email addresses that you don't want email from.
Email from these address get discarded -- you will not be notified, the sender
will not be notified and there is no way to retrieve the message once it is gone.
This is useful for those pesky folks who who keep forwarding you all their silly jokes and chain letters, but never actually compose something you want to read.
(Q) How do I add/remove/change someone in any of my lists??
(A)
NEW!
We now have a web site you can use to do this. If you are already an ask subscriber please login at http://ask.wcta.net
If you have email only, you can compose a message to yourself and put "ASK HELP" into the subject line. Send the message.
ASK will then respond to you with all of the options available. ASK does this by sending you an email. Simply follow the enclosed instructions. Once you are familiar with ASK's options you can try a subject of "ASK EDIT WHITELIST" or "ASK EDIT IGNORELIST" directly and ASK will email you back with the form you need to do just that.
(Q) HELP! ASK is ignoring my emailed request for "ASK HELP" or "ASK EDIT ..."!
(A) Make sure your reply address is correct. If incorrect ASK will not reply.
(Q) HELP! ASK is treating my emailed requests for "ASK HELP" or "ASK EDIT ..." like a normal message!
(A) See the above question.
(Q)Will I lose any emails? / How can I make sure I'm not missing an email?
(A) We'll give you access to a web site where you may see all the messages in your "queue." Check this often. If there are any email in the queue, simply use the website to allow those message into your inbox. Messages in your queue that are 7 days or older will be removed automatically.
If you have email only acces you may, at any time, send yourself an email with "ASK PROCESS QUEUE" in the subject line.
For example, if you buy something on-line, the seller might send you an email to confirm your purchase. Because you may not know in advance where it will come from, you should check your queue. You will then have an opportunity to deliver the email normally and add them to your whitelist.
(Q)What is a "Pass Phrase" and what is it for?
(A) A pass phrase is usually two or more words. A "Pass Phrase" can be very useful, should you decide to use it,
Because ASK will accept any email that has your "Pass Phrase" in it.
For example, if you send a message to someone who isn't in your whitelist, either because you didn't add them in advance, or they have not emailed you since you had ASK installed, ASK will *SEE* your pass phrase and allow that message in. Somebody might have your "pass phrase" if you email them first and you included your "pass phrase" in the body of the email, and the recipient simply replied to your message and included your original text.
This is useful if you initiate contact. You won't have to check your queue to allow the messsage into your inbox.
(Q) Must I type in my "pass phrase" manually?
(A) You can, but there is a better way. Make yourself a "signature" that you want to appear at the bottom of
every email you compose, and include your "pass phrase" in it.
For Outlook Express: Click on Tools, Options, then click the Signatures tab. Type in your signature in the "Edit Signature" box, and then click the "OK" button.
(Q) My question isn't listed here? Now what?
(A) Send us an
email and let us know your question. We might even put it on this list!
(Q) How do I sign up?
(A) Send us an email, with your request to be signed up for ASK. Also tell us what "pass phrase" you would like to use.
Remember: A "pass phrase" must be two or more words.