What does “Bad Referrer — Access is denied” mean?


Answer: If you see the following error:

The form attempting to use FormMail resides at http://www.whatever.com/cart/, which is not allowed to access this cgi script.

If you are attempting to configure FormMail to run with this form, you need to add the following to @referrers, explained in detail in the README file.

Add 'www.whatever.com' to your @referrers array.


You can fix it one of two ways.

With the RealCart™ program itself or manually with a text editor and WS_FTP LE.

Fixing this problem with the program itself



Typically when you select UNIX as the Server Type in the Checkout Wizard the program will automatically configure the @referrers array, publish the script and set the appropriate permissions. If you have not tried setting the Server Type as UNIX and publishing the store using our Publishing Wizard please try it first. You can close and cancel the upload prior to publishing the entire store. The first page of the wizard will install the mail script before publishing anything else giving you the option to publish the actual store with some other method while still installing formmail.pl for you automatically.

If you have tried doing it with RealCart™ and you are still getting this error, please consider configuring the @referrers array manually by following these step by step instructions.


How do you rate this answer?
Your email:
select a response: Great answer
Good answer
Need more info
Out of date answer
Wrong answer
Enter your comments: (optional)

Copyright © 1998-2004, RealCart.com®
This page last modified on