topic Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk in Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc

Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

Mav — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 16:16:27 GMT

I have two lines io my property with a connection for SWMBO and the other for me. Both are FTTC.

My connection won't access argos.co.uk, http://argos.co.uk, https://argos.co.uk, www.argos.co.uk, etc with the following error;

Access Denied

You don't have permission to access "http://www.argos.co.uk/" on this server.

Reference #18.116cd417.1660665902.f9624d7

I hve tried changing the preferred DNS server to 8.8.8.8 then 1.1.1.1 but with the same result.

Yet SWMBO's connection with default DNS servers on the same laptop has no issuesaccessing Argos's website.

Any clues as to why this is happening?

Thanks.

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

Browni — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 16:46:25 GMT

Have a look at Why is Akamai blocking-me?

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

Empire — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 11:05:15 GMT

perhaps a VPN issue, i get this only with Sainsbury's site, sometimes not constantly/everytime trying to amend/place orders. Turn VPN off accesss the site then reconnect VPN, its a damn pain, put simply certain sites dont like VPN access, it also depends whether you have cleaned your browser using CC Cleaner or Wise Disk Cleaner etc etc

in short disconnect from VPN and try to connect, that will clearly point to it being VPN issue, then look at it again

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

Empire — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 11:07:43 GMT

i should have added sometimes it could be browser extensions, not allowing trackers and cookies etc blah, but as before try VPN first.

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

paul_blitz — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 15:07:25 GMT

Yes, it is quite possible that a site will deny access from anyone connecting via a VPN: the main reason for this is security... as a UK supplier, why would anyone from, say, Russia, China or India legitimately want to access my site. yes, I can geo-block them directly, but they could easily connect from a UK address by using a VPN.

Therefore, they may simply decide to block access to VPNs (which is amazingly simple: companies like Brightcloud dynamically maintain list of "threat IPs" eg known bot nets, spam sources, VPN nodes).

Disabling your VPN might therefore work....

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

Mav — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 15:17:50 GMT

Thanks for the replies.

I doubt it was a VPN issue as, although I have a VPN extension, it was turned off.

It has resolved itself but not sure when and with no furrher changes my end.

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

Empire — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 15:43:46 GMT

thats good, just note perhaps after clearing/cleaning history, cookies and browser data out, you cant connect, then you know

one problem i have is vpn, browser extensions, and clearing data, if you are like me forever/daily cleaning, pruning tinkering there are lots of variables.

ebay.uk will not display correctly for me anyway if Disconnect extension is enabled, orig it was Google Disconnect

Sainsbury is VPN sometimes only Disconnect from VPN and reconnect once logged on site, then go back as many times and no problem.

Yeah but at the time IRRITATING as we all want NOW.

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

Champnet — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 15:48:22 GMT

I have no problems as I don’t use a VPN….

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 16:15:29 GMT

It's not just VPNs that cause this kind of thing.

Netflix for example, detects that my IPv6 connection is going over a 6in4 tunnel (rather than native IPv6) and they block me watching videos because they assume that I'm trying to use their service by circumventing their geo-location detection - despite my static IPv6 tunnel IP address being located at Telehouse in London (the same place my IPv4 Plusnet connection comes from !).

Another issue I've seen with Netflix, is that they also block me if I run an IPv4 caching proxy server on my router (that otherwise dramatically improves website loading times - except Plusnets'). Again I'm not doing anything wrong, I just want to view the videos for which I pay them a subscription !!!, but Netflix really doesn't like VPNs, proxy servers, or tunnelled traffic.

Fortunately these problems are rare, even security sensitive online banking works with my setup, and I just have to make router exception rules to watch Netflix on uncached IPv4 !.

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

FedUpAlready — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 10:16:54 GMT

I've been having this problem for the last couple of days. I see the Argos icon (favicon) in the task bar but just a plain text page that says:

Access Denied

You don't have permission to access "http://www.argos.co.uk/" on this server.

Reference #18.beed655f.1787652607.174fba3e

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.beed655f.1787652607.174fba3e

I'm not using a VPN and I tried turning uBlock Origin off and refreshing, but it makes no difference. It seems Argos just don't want my money any more. Maybe they've got enough.

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

ExForce9 — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 10:39:15 GMT

@FedUpAlready

I just tried your Argos link on two different machines, one with a static IP address (not VPN) and without uBlock Origin, and another machine with uBlock Origin, with Privacy Badger, and over a VPN, and both can successfully get to Argos.

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

FedUpAlready — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 11:44:24 GMT

Thanks for checking, @ExForce9 . It's just me they hate, then.

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

RobPN — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 13:22:25 GMT

@FedUpAlready

I'm blocked using Opera, but can reach Argos using Chrome.

Both browsers on the same PC, PN static IP address, no VPN.

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

FedUpAlready — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 13:28:47 GMT

Thanks, @RobPN . I initially got the same Denied message in Chrome, but after I refreshed it let me in - and I'm still blocked in Firefox on the same PC. Very odd behaviour for a retail establishment.

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

ExForce9 — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 13:29:11 GMT

Well spotted @RobPN I didn't check to see whether it was browser dependant !

Both of my previously reported successful attempts were using Firefox 154.0.1 and Firefox 154.0

On the SAME PC I get blocked on Chromium 112.0.5615.49 with no extensions.

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

Mav — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:17:35 GMT

@FedUpAlready Just had a look and no issues with your link with latest Samsung Internet, Firefox or Chrome all either with PN FTTC or Full Fibre and with or without a VPN (Windscribe).

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

pvmb — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:58:03 GMT

@FedUpAlready

"Access Denied

You don't have permission to access "http://www.argos.co.uk/" on this server.

Reference #18.beed655f.1787652607.174fba3e

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.beed655f.1787652607.174fba3e

Access Denied Errors: Troubleshooting & What the Reference Number MeansAccess Denied Errors: Troubleshooting & What the Reference Number Means

https://www.memesita.com/access-denied-errors-troubleshooting-what-the-reference-number-means/

Access Denied: It’s Not Just a Blue Screen of Doom (But It Can Be Frustrating)

One thing possibly worth pointing out in the OP: "http://www.argos.co.uk/"

This is hardly the normal route nowadays (although it worked for me using Edge and Opera) which would surely be: https://www.argos.co.uk/ Or the default www.argos.co.uk

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

pvmb — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 15:14:46 GMT

@FedUpAlready

...As I was trying to say. Before I was VERY rudely interrupted by LITHIUM! 😠

Time to update that "Favicon"!

Lithium - I curse you and all your descendants, for all eternity.

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

FedUpAlready — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 15:45:05 GMT

@pvmb Fair point about the URL, but it does have https in the address bar.

I started with a link from google search, looking for light weight vacuum cleaners. Since that gave the error I tried just argos in the address bar, and let it take me there. If I type in just www.argos.co.uk in Firefox's address bar, it still adds the https and I still get that same error page.

I guess they've employed people, or signed with a hosting company that just don't really know what they're doing, which will no doubt lose them a lot of sales. I can just use Chrome for now though.

Re: Wierd issue accessing argos.co.uk

FedUpAlready — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 15:46:44 GMT

Thanks for checking, @Mav . Yes, it seems to be Argos that's causing the problem.