Encourage users to find new email addresses for bodies themselves in case of errors/bounces

[RichardTaylor]

When users mark a response for our attention we give them a free text box to explain the problem.

If the issue is the email address for the authority needs updating we should point them to the update authority form.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/change_request/new?body=bens_test_authority

We should encourage users to research a new address for themselves - eg. stressing the site is administered by volunteers and they can help us by finding the address and saying if they provide the address we might be able to re-send their request quicker too.

[garethrees]

Could also include this where we show a failed delivery status for outgoing messages

[garethrees]

One possible way could be to have this as a message, something like:

"We think we've found a delivery error - can you find a new email address for us to use? Click here to let us know"

this could then link to a variant of the change request form, which allows the admin to approve the update and re-send the user's request in a one-click operation.

Why? Quicker for all concerned, and reduces a potential misuse vector (as in, we still want to check the addresses!)

– @mdeuk

[mdeuk]

Why? Quicker for all concerned, and reduces a potential misuse vector (as in, we still want to check the addresses!)

To expand on that one slightly: we get a fair few 'dodgy' address change requests through the existing mechanisms - sometimes it's just misdirected communications (where a little 'hand holding' can help!), other times it's those annoying form spammers.

A workflow that allows for a site admin to quickly verify that the change seems reasonable would help protect against this, and also allow us to ensure that we do right be our users - as in, prevent some of the more evasive bodies we've seen in recent times causing a nuisance.