I am curious though as to why anyone would allow a stranger access to his server.
It is rather easy to create a folder perhaps /woodcollector in this case as was mentioned to exist and set up FTP permissions to allow WC access to said folder.
FTP access to a single folder is no where near giving a stranger access to his server and perfectly safe.
Yes, it is normal...but the fact this happened at all indicates a previous relationship of some kind.