FTP issues on AWS Ubuntu 14.04 server

Hello,
I have a 14.04 ruing ISPConfig in an AWS server. All works well until I try and install a wordpress site. The install itself went fine, but changing themes brought up an error : caot create directory.

So, I thought I'd FTP it up. Coects ok, navigates to folder ok, but will not upload anything, saying 553: Can't open that file: Permission Demied.

I tried to create a directory - same response.

The FTP user is in ISPConfig
The FTP user can log in
The FTP User caot ad or modify files.

I went to ssh and added the ftp user as a ubuntu user. That didn't work either.

Now what?