Manx Telecom says Manxnet mail users should make sure their modems are set to 9600 after problems this week.

The email addresses, which people are still apparently using, rank slightly below AOL Online and significantly lower than Hotmail in trustworthiness surveys.

Manx Telecom says anyone experiencing problems should immediately install Windows 95 instead of 3.1, and make sure their acoustic couplers are working properly.

In extreme cases, those with manx.net addresses should return their computers and other devices to retailers, and explain they’re too thick to be allowed on the internet.