Playonline server down for Maintenance, Past 6+ hours?

[Feartheflames]

o/

After being given a copy of FFXI, (Been meaning to pick it up for a long time but people keep telling me not to) I managed to get it installed earlier today after a bit of hubbub with the installing.

Upon trying to run the Playonline registration, I was told there was maintenance on the PO server, so I couldn't register, ok no biggy, I'll wait an hour. *1 Hour Later* try again... hmm still down, maybe its daily maintenance time or something, like eve *Waits another hour* Hmmm, ok still down, I go and check the EU Play online site, nothing.... go and google, find nothing, click the Information box on the Playonline client window... nothing found for today... go and check the FFXI servers, all of those are running fine, just the Play online one down...

I've tried it every hour, since 6am (It's now 12:21PM) everytime it says down for maintenance.

Am I missing something? is it really down? is this some error message that I've done wrong but it's giving me this as an excuse? (I've played some strange MMO's, on the trial version of Auto assault it says the next area is down for Maintenance, when it's not)

If it is legit work going on, anyone know how long for? is this a common thing? am I just trying to get going at a wrong time?

After googling and searching for any clues, I came up dry, but chances are I might have missed something.

Anyone able to shed some light on this situation?

[Balfree]

Have you tried registering and it says its down?

[Feartheflames]

I open Playonline, click the register button, it then goes blank, little icon whirls away indicating its loading, then it just comes up with:

Maintenance:

Mainentance Information:
The service is currently unavailable due to maintenance. Please try again at a later time.


But I cant find any reports of maintenance

Knowing my luck I'm doing something stupid here, or have overlooked something.

[Balfree]

Then you just have to wait.

Those maintenances are usually longer than you expect, try again tomorrow is what i'd recommend.

[Feartheflames]

Tomorrow? damn.

Well, I'll just keep trying it every so often then, and hopefully it will come up (Woooo when it's done I then have to patch \o/)

Thanks for the help.

Also, I dont suppose you know of anywhere I can DL a copy of the Chains of Promathia expansion? I have my Legal Legit CD-Key but the Chains install is corrupt so I'd have to go rebuy it as no one else I know plays FFXI . (If asking this question is against any forum rules, I appologise and shall remove it)

[Jupri]

Apparently it's not actually "maintenance". There's a problem with their connection to their billing company. I've got the same problem at the moment too:

FINAL FANTASY XI Official Web Site