So what provider is hosting your email now? Thunderbird is email client software that runs on your computer. Client software connects to your providers servers so you can manage your email. But if you do not have a provider, you do not have email.

As far as I'm aware, it is still with whom I purchased my domain name (Tucows). It seems that none of the companies involved seem to want to help. I've been trying to sort this for over a week now and they all seem to pass the problem to each other. All I wanted to do was use my d/name on another website and be able to access my email address that's connected to it. I hope this gives more infomation.

what is you domain name.... without it we are just guessing.

Oh - sorry. It is tinkers-cove.com and my missing email address is support@tinkers-cove.com I really appreciate your help and patience. Many thanks.

issues within issues... I have no idea where this rabbit hole ends..

tinkers cove has no MX record in DNS, so email will not work as there is no registered mail exchanger see http://www.dnsstuff.com/tools#dnsReport|type=domain&&value=tinkers-cove.com

The domain is showing tucows as the registrar and the reseller information as ; Reseller: Siteground.com Inc. Reseller: tucows@siteground.com Reseller: 18008289231

Siteground appear to be a fully fledged domain hosting service with headquarters in Panama http://www.siteground.com/contact_us.htm PortfolioBox appear to be some sort of hybrid offering a domain and a single email address.... me@yourdomain.com see http://www.portfoliobox.net/pricing but if your on their free plan, there is no email at all.

So I think that you have signed up for a service that does not meet your needs (no email other than me@tinkers-cove.com), for a saving or 1 or 2 dollars a month.

Note this part well;

• Tucows are not supplying email services to you.
• SiteGround would have been supplying email services as part of the hosting package as they offer such with their cheapest plan
• PortfolioBox.. I have no idea how you retrieve mail from the only email account they supply. The do not mention such

Thank you for your fast response. I moved from Siteground because of the pricing structure and Portfoliobox offers pretty much what I want for a 1/4 of the price. I have paid for the Pro package with Portfoliobox, and since moving, Siteground has been helpful, but it's taken so much correspondence to get the simplest things done. I was NOT informed by them that I would lose access to my work email, and since it is connected to my domain - I presumed Tucows would be able to deal with it. This email address has been connected with me for over 2 years, and I really need to be able to use it. Is this actually down to Tucows? Thank you so much :)

Tucows have nothing to do with this. As a registrar they register your domain name and delegate an IP address for it. That is about the extent of what a registrar does really.

The issue as far as I can see, is that you have moved from a full hosting package which starts at $9.95/mo with email to a plan similar to that is offered by portfoliobox which does not have email hosting.

Thunderbird can not fill that gap... no mail client can fill that gap. Only a mail server can fill that gap.

Thank you for all your help Matt. I only wish that these companies were honest enough to give the relevant information and let you change providers as you wish without all the hassle. I'm more than happy with my move to a simpler package, and will have to live with a pre-selected address (and change everything connected with the old one!) Thank you once again for your quick response and straightforward explanation. Kindest regards, Nick.