Swoop your problem is nothing to do with Outlook Express or your service provider, well it kind of is, but it's not a fault. I don't know all the ins and outs of how it works, but to reduce spam you have to use the smtp server of your internet service provider, not your email account provider. If you change your server from smtp.freeserve.net, or whatever you quoted to smtp.orange.net (I think!) that should fix it.

The situation I have described has been the case for a number of years, but it's only recently that the freeserve servers have been closed to their own customers only.

I feel like I've said this before, tho maybe to someone else on a different forum.