Thanks for all the replies ..
Apparantly 'the problem' is that we're moving from an old Telewest area to an old NTL one and 'the two systems are technically incompatible'. Hence they cannot transfer the (Telewest) Blueyonder email address to the old NTL area. Even though both areas have Virgin fibre-optic services available.
This evening, trying to speak to someone who actually knows what they are talking about and who could offer some help or useful suggestions proved utterly fruitless.....
My "Look, with the greatest respect, you are reading from a script which I don't understand and I don't think you do either, so please could you put me through to a techy person who can help me" was met with "of course, just hold on" and finding myself back at the beginning of the 'press 1 for ... saga'
Eventually I did manage to get put through to 'a technical person' but who was clearly in India or somesuch and on a VOIP connection of such poor quality that I couldn't understand even half of what the poor chap was saying
I will try to forget the two hours of my life I will never get back and try again early tomorrow, when there's a chance that Indians will still be in bed, and someone higher up in the Virgin food chain might just be available. (See, I'm an optimist really!!)
GRRRRRR
CS