Please explain exactly what a catch-all email account is?

[AkewataruAurora]

Would just like more information on exactly what a catch-all email account is.
I had asked this previously, and it got this response:


Catchall is a feature on your account that catches all email sent to your domain, even if an email account is not set up.

So if someone sends an email to webmaster@yourdomain.com or blahblah@yourdomain.com or whatever and those accounts do not exist, then if you have a catchall account those email will be delivered to that account.

Spammers take advantage of that and send email to anything they want on your domain and it will still get to you.


This was very helpful, but I'm still unsure about some things. First, is this a feature that you have enable on some setting on your account in order to have a catch-all email account? If so, exactly where is the setting for this feature located?
I looked through all of the different areas on my account pertaining to email, and I didn't find anything like this. To my knowledge, I don't have this feature enabled on my account, but if it is, I would want to disable it.

I have seen a lot of negative posts recently since the email was sent concerning this feature, and I would just like to say that I have been a Bluehost customer for almost 2 years, I have 5 websites hosted on my account, and I have been extremely happy with Bluehost. Everytime there has been some issue which caused my sites to go down (which has been VERY rare), it has been fixed very quickly. I have only had the need to contact customer service twice, and both times the representatives have been very friendly and helpful, and the issues were resolved quickly and completely. I have always felt like customer service and satisfaction has been of utmost importance with Bluehost.

[Early Out]

First, is this a feature that you have enable on some setting on your account in order to have a catch-all email account? If so, exactly where is the setting for this feature located?Yes, it would have been necessary to enable this feature for your domain. Your second question sent me hunting, and the option for enabling the catch-all seems to have disappeared. Either that, or I'm going blind. I'm just guessing that BH has removed that option for anyone who wasn't already using it.

Since it's proven to create quite a burden on the system (and I can fully understand why - it creates a huge, gaping hole for spammers to pour stuff in), and they're seriously considering getting rid of it, they probably don't want any more people to start using it.

[channeler]

the option for enabling the catch-all seems to have disappeared. Either that, or I'm going blind.

It's gone, all right. The link used to be at the bottom of the e-mail forwarders page, but there is nothing there now except white space.

[sleepless]

Yep it gone. I don't know if it still exists for those who had it turned on as I had just turned mine off last week after getting all my accounts and aliases setup.

I wish it was still there. but I can do without it. As, I only use this feature temporarily when setting up a new domain.

:cool:

[AkewataruAurora]

Thanks for the information! :)

[mchasal]

It's still there for me since I was using it, at least for a couple of more days. It does appear that they deleted it for those who were not using it.

[theshadow]

It's still there for me since I was using it, at least for a couple of more days. It does appear that they deleted it for those who were not using it.

Actually it's "back" for those who are using it. It had disappeared for a while. Anyway, hopefully you received a note today as did I, that the decision to terminate the use of the catch-all account has been changed. It will _not_ be terminated on Wednesday - and they are reinvestigating other options, although individual accounts that are getting really hit hard may be turned off at their discretion (with notification) in the meantime.

Additionally the deleting of threads related to this subject and the banning of those posters on the topic, by one particular moderator has also been rebuked and repealed. Unfortunately, I don't think those deleted threads have been or can be re-instated - which is sad because the concerns and answers to most of these questions were covered in them.

However, kudos to Matt and BlueHost for listening to our concerns and reconsidering this drastic action. Thank you!

[aceofspades]

Yes, it would have been necessary to enable this feature for your domain. Your second question sent me hunting, and the option for enabling the catch-all seems to have disappeared. Either that, or I'm going blind. I'm just guessing that BH has removed that option for anyone who wasn't already using it.

Since it's proven to create quite a burden on the system (and I can fully understand why - it creates a huge, gaping hole for spammers to pour stuff in), and they're seriously considering getting rid of it, they probably don't want any more people to start using it. they should get rid of it. I dont see the big deal. Why would use a catch all. Just make the email that people are sending to and forward it to your main. All catch-alls do is like, "look at me if u email me there is a 100% guarantee that ur spam will be delivered!".

[cferd]

The email I received from BH on Saturday triggered drastic actions on my part. I moved my site to another host, only to hear that they won't be getting rid of the catch-all feature afterall. This IS a must feature, because of email solutions like Socketmail and Hivemail. I tried the latter and currently use the former. For those who say that the catch-all feature is not needed or is a must, are just not seeing the whole picture.

[HurricaneDave]

Can anyone tell me how to turn my default address off? I don't need it and I've gone through all the options but do not see a disable feature. I didn't create it in the first place that I can remember.

It's going to my default BH username, not an email address I created.

Mine can be disabled, I don't see a need for it, for me.

[felgall]

Set it to :blackhole to turn it off.

[HurricaneDave]

Ah thanks!

[Bella]

The email I received from BH on Saturday triggered drastic actions on my part. I moved my site to another host, only to hear that they won't be getting rid of the catch-all feature afterall. This IS a must feature, because of email solutions like Socketmail and Hivemail. I tried the latter and currently use the former. For those who say that the catch-all feature is not needed or is a must, are just not seeing the whole picture.

I agree. I realize there are people that do not understand the use of this feature. If they don't use it, that's fine. But it is not fine for them to say I shouldn't use it just because they either don't use it or don't understand it.

I looked around for several weeks before I selected Bluehost. One of the "must haves" for me is the catch-all email feature. I was searching for a host to move to when I got the email from Bluehost that I'll still be able to use the catch-all feature.

Thank you Bluehost! I have never had any problems with hosting here and I really didn't want to move. Thank goodness I don't have to now.