odd pptp symptom

[jack]

Just moved into new digs.
Got Internet activated, setup Ubu laptop.
All VPNs fail with the same errors in syslog - 

root at Nebo:/var/log# tail /var/log/syslog
Dec 20 12:25:50 Nebo NetworkManager: <info>  VPN service
'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.ppp_starter' signaled state change 3 ->
5. 
Dec 20 12:25:50 Nebo NetworkManager: <info>  VPN service
'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.ppp_starter' signaled state change 5 ->
6. 
Dec 20 12:25:50 Nebo NetworkManager: <WARN>
nm_vpn_service_stop_connection(): (VPN Service
org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.ppp_starter): could not stop connection
'DTRN' because service was 6. 
Dec 20 12:25:50 Nebo pptp[8975]: anon
log[callmgr_main:pptp_callmgr.c:255]: Closing connection (shutdown)
Dec 20 12:25:50 Nebo pptp[8975]: anon log[ctrlp_rep:pptp_ctrl.c:251]:
Sent control packet type is 12 'Call-Clear-Request' 
Dec 20 12:25:50 Nebo pptp[8975]: anon
log[call_callback:pptp_callmgr.c:78]: Closing connection (call state)
Dec 20 12:25:50 Nebo pppd[8969]: Modem hangup
Dec 20 12:25:50 Nebo pppd[8969]: Connection terminated.
Dec 20 12:25:50 Nebo pppd[8969]: Child process /usr/sbin/pptp
64.29.220.150 --nolaunchpppd (pid 8971) terminated with signal 15
Dec 20 12:25:50 Nebo pppd[8969]: Exit.

Using Gnome Network-Manager on Ubu 7.10 ...

I called the ISP and they said that they do allow vpn/gre traffic.

Anyone have any ideas as to how I can run this down? (These same vpn
connections worked fine in the old apartment).

TIA

Jack