Advice on VPN

[JohnM]

Done, thanks @Admin.

 

[snabbu]

That's interesting @JohnM as all my contact with NordVPN have been excellent from their email service to the live chat.
Interested to hear how it turns out.

 

[JohnM]

I may have maligned Nord.

@Admin sent an email and received an OoO reply until 2 Sept.

Too bad they didn’t set that up on their Support email...

I’m sure it will be all good.

 

[Buzzard]

I may have maligned Nord.

@Admin sent an email and received an OoO reply until 2 Sept.

Too bad they didn’t set that up on their Support email...

I’m sure it will be all good.

What is an OoO reply prey tell?

 

[JohnM]

Out of Office.

 

[downgraded]

1. 
   

2. I may have maligned Nord.
   
   @Admin sent an email and received an OoO reply until 2 Sept.
   
   Too bad they didn’t set that up on their Support email...
   
   I’m sure it will be all good.

   If they want to offer a commercial service, an out of office reply is hardly a fit for purpose support response!

 

[juddles]

Am very new to the whole VPN caper but have recently engaged Nord. Not via the AFF special as I did not know about it - shame on me. But so far it has proven very solid.

 

[JohnM]

Am very new to the whole VPN caper but have recently engaged Nord. Not via the AFF special as I did not know about it - shame on me. But so far it has proven very solid.

Don’t go to Uzbekistan and try to use it there, mate .

 

[ish]

Wasn’t aware of the AFF Nord deal. I’ve been using VanishedVPN for a couple of years and it is fantastic. Australian-based provider and un-geo blocks everything I’ve required (US, UK, India, etc), plus some very useful guides on the best value-for-money options in foreign streaming services for various shows, sports, etc....

 

[marki]

I have both Nord VPN and Express VPN the combination of the two means I am never left wanting. Also, Nord has additional AD blocking functionality. Even Norton antivirus offers vpn for privacy. I have noticed the huge difference it makes for me on Public WiFi networks. Mostly I am able to navigate to websites that for instance are blocked by that access point. Interesting. Also, I like the privacy.

 

[JohnM]

I have been advised by @Admin that his contact with the OoO message was an intermediary, not NordVPN Support, so I apologise for that misunderstanding.

It seems that NordVPN Support did not receive my two emails sent through the ‘How can I reach NordVPN?’ page on their website - despite each time returning a popup saying ‘Your message has been sent.’ - although I never received an email acknowledging receipt.

Thanks to @Admin, I now have a direct Support email address, so hopefully this little saga will get resolved soon.

Not impressed.

 

[JohnM]

I’ve heard back from NordVPN Support.

I explained the failure of NordVPN to work in Uzbekistan, noting that I had worked through all the troubleshooting, and that another long-term user was also unable to connect to any server from Uzbekistan, followed by a request for a refund under their ‘money-back guarantee’.

Crystal clear and reasonable, yes? Apparently not.

I get back a very lengthy list of work-arounds, generally centred around using Obfuscated Servers. Dang-it, I’ve already wasted enough time to go fumbling around trying things that also have the possibility of not working.

Also, if NordVPN fails to work readily in Uzbekistan, I can’t imagine that the very country I chose to purchase and use it in is the only one where it will not function readily.

Furthermore, they inform me that Obfuscated Servers will not work under iOS. I have some iOS devices.

I have replied with all this information, and requesting they do the honourable thing and provide me with a refund.

I’m starting to get grumpy about this. I hope they don’t try to continue obfuscating me.

 

[RooFlyer]

Confirming that I too could not get NotdVPN to work in Uzbekistan.

 

[moa999]

You are trying to access the Internet in a country where it is highly controlled (similar to China)

Unsurprisingly these countries also try to block access to vpn endpoints (often a game of whack a mole), so occasionally you need to go down harder paths - suspect using a VPN is actually illegal .

In China I've used VPN back to my home router (Asus) and never had an issue, whereas I suspect a paid VPN that suddenly gets hit by many devices will get blocked.

Now I agree if it doesn't work you should get a refund

 

[JohnM]

I accept that - to a point. The other VPN that I have been using for some time, but which doesn’t have a server located in Australia, works just fine everywhere I’ve been.

I once had one that would not work in Peru (go figure on that?). I ditched that one.

As I noted upthread, I thought it may be useful to change to a VPN that had a server in Australia (to spoof Australian websites that I was in Australia). That’s why I gave NordVPN a crack - something that I now regret.

 

[JohnM]

I have just received a reply from NordVPN that they will issue a refund; expected time 7-10 business days.

 

[ramboflyer]

I have Express VPN and signed up to Amazon Prime Video through a US location. I want to start watching Bosch season 6 which just started in the US but not in Australia for probably 6 months. There are other shows that look appealing as well not on the Australian site.
The US site knows I am using a VPN and asks me to turn it off and try again but then it says "not available in your area" so I can't watch it.
Is this what's called geo-blocking? Any ideas?

 

[hossein_au]

I have Express VPN and signed up to Amazon Prime Video through a US location. I want to start watching Bosch season 6 which just started in the US but not in Australia for probably 6 months. There are other shows that look appealing as well not on the Australian site.
The US site knows I am using a VPN and asks me to turn it off and try again but then it says "not available in your area" so I can't watch it.
Is this what's called geo-blocking? Any ideas?

As I am sure you know, this is a cat and mouse game. Sounds like they have detected Express VPN. I am sure Express VPN is hard at work bypassing this; give it a couple of days. Alternatively disconnect the VPN and connect it to another server in the US; or give it a few hours before connecting the VPN. This very well might resolve the issue.

 

[Buzzard]

I have Express VPN and signed up to Amazon Prime Video through a US location. I want to start watching Bosch season 6 which just started in the US but not in Australia for probably 6 months. There are other shows that look appealing as well not on the Australian site.
The US site knows I am using a VPN and asks me to turn it off and try again but then it says "not available in your area" so I can't watch it.
Is this what's called geo-blocking? Any ideas?

Maybe try a different US server.
Maybe give Nord VPN a try. Never have a problem with Nord watching Netflix US.

 

[ramboflyer]

As I am sure you know, this is a cat and mouse game. Sounds like they have detected Express VPN. I am sure Express VPN is hard at work bypassing this; give it a couple of days. Alternatively disconnect the VPN and connect it to another server in the US; or give it a few hours before connecting the VPN. This very well might resolve the issue.

Thanks. I tried using San Francisco and LA but no go. Also tried using another (new) account with different email address after signing out of the first one.
I sent a message to ExpressVPN and waiting on reply.
Also did Google search and found a UK site (PixelPrivacy) which gives ExpressVPN its top rating for accessing Prime Video in 2020!
I'll try later as you suggest.