Email log in issue

[#1]

I have XP and use Firefox as browser and Office Outlook as email client.  Since yesterday I have been getting a dialog box flashing up which shows my username and password and I click on okay and it disappears only to reappear a few minutes later.  Unfortunately this prevents me from downloading email. 
Any one with any idea what is causing this problem?

[#2]

https://portal.plus.net/supportpages.html?a=2

[#3]

Thanks Peter.  Probably also explains outages previously.

[#4]

When checking email from Mail on our Macs, we're not getting any error messages; it's just as if there's nothing to collect.
When I try logging in to any of our email accounts via webmail there's this message in the left hand column:
ERROR:
ERROR: Connection dropped by IMAP server.
Query: STATUS "INBOX" (MESSAGES UNSEEN RECENT)
and this message in the messge area
ERROR:
ERROR: Connection dropped by IMAP server.
Query: SELECT "INBOX"
I assume this is the problem referred to in the Service Status email I got earlier today.

[#5]

I've started to get the following message when I attempt to log in to email:
"ERROR: Connection dropped by IMAP server."
I have been logged in to email earlier this morning.
Any ideas?
Geoff

[#6]

Just received a message on AOL email to say that plus net are trying to sort the email problem.
Geoff

[#7]

Ah good (well, not really), so it is the same problem as I have. Wasn't sure.
I've got my Service Status emails set to come through on my .mac address, which is how I knew there is a problem with PN mail today.

[#8]

Hey guys,
Yes it's an issue this end, we're keeping our eye on it!
I'm getting updates as soon as they come, so as soon as I know anything i'll get it on the service status to let you know
Sorry!

[#9]

P.s - My email says dropped by IMAP too

[#10]

I ahve had exactly the same problem today and it seems that PN are on to it.... quickly, I hope as we have no other way of accessing our mail.

[#11]

@Martha, This has been going on sins 00:25 so I was told from Technical Support, not good. 

[#12]

I'm getting intermittent access to webmail.

[#13]

@ Midnight Caller
Bit longer than we'd want it to be going on for I admit, one of the people who was on night shifts tonight did pick up on it and call it out to our developers...
Should have an update for you all shortly.
@Nadger
It does seem to be intermittent, strangely!

[#14]

So email takes a dive on the Saturday before Christmas and has so far been down 3 hours. The fact that PN have still not restored service beggars belief. So much for redundancy/backup/best ISP etc. I can't wait to hear the excuse when this problem is finally fixed.

[#15]

Nothing at all here, since late last night.
First request for a password occurred about midnight, thought it must be related to this:
http://usertools.plus.net/status/archive/1292498515.htm
So wasn't worried until this morning. Now little access to e-mail for nearly 12 hours!