Re: [Fetchmail-users] fetchmail expunge error

[Hans C. <fo...@gm...>]

On Sun, 25 Apr 2021, Gerard E. Seibert wrote:

> On Sun, 25 Apr 2021 12:24:06 -0500, Leslie Rhorer stated:
>
>>     In any case, I can now login using the IMAP protocol, but fetchmail 
>> can only download a single message at a time, producing a mail expunge 
>> mismatch error (0 actual != 1 expected) and exiting after each message. 
>> Eventually, it does manage to get all the messages, but typically only 
>> after a very long time, whenever several messages come in over a short 
>> time frame.  While not quite critical, this is definitely not good.
>>
>> Is anyone else having this issue with AT&T?  How can I fix it?
>
> Both YAHOO and AOL exhibit the same problem. Most MUAs simply ignore the
> problem. Fetchmail has taken a more stringent approach.

Yup... same problem here with YAHOO.  I asked the same question about a 
year ago and Matthias said this is due to a broken server.  See thread 
here:

   https://sourceforge.net/p/fetchmail/mailman/fetchmail-users/thread/alpine.LFD.2.02.2005041620590.1519%40xippy/#msg37003167

Unfortunately, getting someone like YAHOO to fix their server is next to 
impossible.  Calling "support" results in clueless (fictionalized) 
exchanges like the following:

   Me: <DIAL>...<LONG WAIT ON HOLD>

   Support: YAHOO tech support. How can I help?

   Me: It looks like the YAHOO mail server isn't behaving correctly to the IMAP STORE command.

   Support: <PAUSE> Have you tried to reboot Windows?

   Me: I'm not using Windows, I'm using Linux.

   Support: Linux?  I don't know what that is.  We only support Windows.

   Me: It shouldn't matter, the problem is with the mail server.

   Support: <LONG PAUSE> Have you tried to reboot Windows?

   Me: <SIGH> Never Mind.

   Support: Is there anything else I can help you with?

   Me: Nope. Thanks. <CLICK>

To be clear... I don't recall if I actually called YAHOO support last year 
or not.  I may have.  But based on previous calls to support, I suspect 
this was the type of exchange I would have had.  It might be possible to 
eventually get to someone with enough knowledge to at least understand the 
problem, but getting them to fix it would probably be a different story.

Actually, I wonder if it might be the case that YAHOO (et al) is unwilling 
to fix their servers because so many (major) MUAs depend on the current 
broken behavior.  I have no idea if that's the true or not, just 
speculating.