apache does not give permission to see server

[pabera]

hello

I have got a problem. I just rent a server with apache2 running.. evering works fine except the apache does not give permission to see the users..

the admin programm saves new users in /home on the debian unix system.. now you are supposed to open the users website with the following URL:

http://example.com/~user/

but apache only gives back this:

Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /~user on this server.

how can i change that because otherwise my costumers won't be able to work with their webspace?!

it would be really nice if somebody has an idea!

thank you very much!
greetz
pat

[edited by: trillianjedi at 10:03 am (utc) on April 24, 2006]
[edit reason] Examplifying [/edit]

[pabera]

the following error is logged by apache

(13)Permission denied: /home/user/.htaccess pcfg_openfile: unable to check htaccess file, ensure it is readable

i don't understand it because there is nor htaccess in that folder! :(

[jdMorgan]

Check the permissions on the directories /home and /home/user/

Jim

[pabera]

I have checked them like hundred times already!
I have tried to chmod to 777 or 755, nothing helps at all.

But my server-provider now told me, that only with an domain the whole thing can work! it does not really make sense to me though. because I have to order my domains at my providers control-center and from there they redirect to my webspace/server and my costumers.. but so I always need a domain in order to provide webspace to costumers ... :( might there be some settings I could try out in the apache?!

greez
pat