# `timeout`: the mail server did not answer within the probe's time limit

A connection was opened but the server went silent before the recipient reply. The mailbox is left unverified.

- Appears in: `smtp_reason`
- Billing: Billed by the verdict it produced: a deliverable answer with smtp_checked false is 1 credit. The settling re-checks are free.

Some providers slow every session down on purpose to frustrate address harvesting; others are simply overloaded. Either way the probe gave up before an answer, smtp_checked is false and mailbox_exists is null.

**What to do.** Pass callback_url with the lookup: Spaw re-checks the address after 5 and 20 minutes and pushes the settled verdict to you at no cost. Or re-verify later; repeats inside seven days are free.

```json
{
    "deliverable": "deliverable",
    "smtp_checked": false,
    "smtp_reason": "timeout",
    "mailbox_exists": null
}
```

Reference: https://spaw.co/docs/reasons/timeout