Hi my friend and thanks for the reply.
I am in West Hertfordshire area (HP3 postcode) and I have indeed mentioned to them that I do not expect to be charged for this period. Trouble is, I would rather have the service than the refund! Also, and I won't bore you with the whole story now, but I would not trust the NTL accounts people to get it right even if they do refund me something. You should see the mess they have made of my account for the TV and broadband. They admit the account is messed-up, but nobody seems to have been able to sort it out.