Well..... once again a thousand hearty thankyous to Grum...... and (in fact) to a couple of guys in CS (John & Chris ?) ....... phone back after some 6 days out - due to no fault of my own.
However, proof positive (as if it were needed) that NTL actually don't give a

about genuine service & care ..... my initial mail to 'Customer Care' (via the link on the homepage) remains unanswered to this day (acknowledged, but still unanswered) - check the date of my first entry here.
Also, the various Heads & Area geezers listed on the front of this site received mails ....... those too remain unheeded.
This was a problem caused solely by NTL themselves ..... oh ********, why waste my breath on a rant that will never reach the right people .........
Thanks everyone that helped ......