diff --git a/defaults.ini b/defaults.ini
index efce6703..29b6ad1f 100644
--- a/defaults.ini
+++ b/defaults.ini
@@ -170,6 +170,14 @@ extratags: FanFiction
 ## Add this to genre if there's more than one category.
 #add_genre_when_multi_category: Crossover
 
+## default_value_(entry) can be used to set the value for a metadata
+## entry when no value has been found on the site.  For example, some
+## sites doesn't have a status metadatum.  If uncommented, this will
+## use 'Unknown' for status when no status is found.
+#default_value_status:Unknown
+## Can also be used for other metadata values
+#default_value_category:FanFiction
+
 ## number of seconds to sleep between calls to the story site.  May by
 ## useful if pulling large numbers of stories or if the site is slow.
 #slow_down_sleep_time:0.5
@@ -278,7 +286,7 @@ sort_ships:false
 #keep_in_order_author:true
 
 ## User-agent
-#user_agent:FFDL/1.7
+user_agent:FFDL/1.7
 
 ## Each output format has a section that overrides [defaults]
 [html]
@@ -1117,6 +1125,7 @@ context_label:Context
 type_label:Type of Couple
 
 [www.fanfiction.net]
+user_agent:
 ## fanfiction.net's 'cover' images are really just tiny thumbnails.
 ## Change this to false to use them anyway.
 never_make_cover: true
@@ -1147,7 +1156,12 @@ extracategories:Harry Potter
 ## fictionally.org storyIds are not unique.  Combine with authorId.
 output_filename: ${title}-${siteabbrev}_${authorId}_${storyId}${formatext}
 
+## fictionalley.org doesn't have a status metadatum.  If uncommented,
+## this will be used for status.
+#default_value_status:Unknown
+
 [www.fictionpress.com]
+user_agent:
 ## Clear FanFiction from defaults, fictionpress.com is original fiction.
 extratags:
 
diff --git a/fanficdownloader/story.py b/fanficdownloader/story.py
index 1137060c..f0eb30e1 100644
--- a/fanficdownloader/story.py
+++ b/fanficdownloader/story.py
@@ -349,6 +349,8 @@ class Story(Configurable):
                 return removeAllEntities(value)
             else:
                 return value
+        else: #if self.getConfig("default_value_"+key):
+            return self.getConfig("default_value_"+key)
         
     def getAllMetadata(self,
                        removeallentities=False,
diff --git a/plugin-defaults.ini b/plugin-defaults.ini
index b4482584..7a4b8fc0 100644
--- a/plugin-defaults.ini
+++ b/plugin-defaults.ini
@@ -142,6 +142,14 @@ extratags: FanFiction
 ## Add this to genre if there's more than one category.
 #add_genre_when_multi_category: Crossover
 
+## default_value_(entry) can be used to set the value for a metadata
+## entry when no value has been found on the site.  For example, some
+## sites doesn't have a status metadatum.  If uncommented, this will
+## use 'Unknown' for status when no status is found.
+#default_value_status:Unknown
+## Can also be used for other metadata values
+#default_value_category:FanFiction
+
 ## number of seconds to sleep between calls to the story site.  May by
 ## useful if pulling large numbers of stories or if the site is slow.
 #slow_down_sleep_time:0.5
@@ -265,8 +273,7 @@ sort_ships:false
 #keep_in_order_author:true
 
 ## User-agent
-#user_agent:FFDL/1.7
-
+user_agent:FFDL/1.7
 
 ## Each output format has a section that overrides [defaults]
 [html]
@@ -1103,6 +1110,7 @@ context_label:Context
 type_label:Type of Couple
 
 [www.fanfiction.net]
+user_agent:
 ## fanfiction.net's 'cover' images are really just tiny thumbnails.
 ## Change this to false to use them anyway.
 never_make_cover: true
@@ -1130,7 +1138,12 @@ extracategories:Harry Potter
 ## this should go in your personal.ini, not defaults.ini.
 #is_adult:true
 
+## fictionalley.org doesn't have a status metadatum.  If uncommented,
+## this will be used for status.
+#default_value_status:Unknown
+
 [www.fictionpress.com]
+user_agent:
 ## Clear FanFiction from defaults, fictionpress.com is original fiction.
 extratags: