Email and Spam problem

[#1]

My main pc is upstairs. I can send and receive email from/to it No Problem. I use Incredimail.  
I use my downstairs  laptop--(for convenience)-- most of the time. I used to send/receive email No Problem on it. Then about 2 months ago, something changed. Since then I have still been able to Send.OK. But cannot get mail IN.
Can you assist.?
Please note. Do not ask me for any technical details. I am 76 years of age. I am NOT A NERD. Keep the response simple PLEASE.
I am also receiving a massive amount of  Spam , most of which carry Hotmail addresses. As I do not require Viagra, or Penile Extension kits, which are clearly headlined on those unwanted emails, I "Delete" without opening them. I then add the senders address to my  ever increasing "Blocked  senders". list. I have a feelingn that a former work colleague may be responsible for handing them my email address. We fell out over his membership of Facebook,-- and what my opinion of that was--, at about the time that my problems started.
There are currently around 50 addresses on that list.. I am seriously considering applying for a MAC code, changing my ISP. and with it my email address. Time is limited , in which to get this sorted out. I cannot hack the hassle. Your assistance is most urgently required.
Thanks and Oblige. Norappy. ps. If this post is not in the correct place. I would be grateful if you would re-direct it. Thanks.

[#2]

Post split off to it's own thread and title changed

[#3]

Can I address the spam problem.
You wonder about changing providers but that isn't necessary.
You can set up a new email address and blackhole the existing one
If you want to go down that route please advise and we will give detailed instructions
However I am surprised that you are being deluged by spam as the spam filtering is normally very effective.
If you go to https://portal.plus.net/my.html?action=myemail&s=1&redirected=yes and select Manage My Mail then Spam you will see something like this picture - please check that Spam filtering is enabled and Discard obvious spam is selected

[#4]

OK O/J .I have checked out the Spam settings. The only setting which I needed to change --(the others were enabled)-- was the "Aggressiveness of the Spam  filter" which I increased to No4. I do not normally get much email--other than the regular 2-3 per day with offers which I have no difficulty in rejecting-- None of my regular contacts are likely to send me anything which would knowingly contain spy-ware etc. So we will give it a few days. and see how it goes. Spam-wise.
Now for the change of Email address.  If you give me the same level of nice clear indications of how to proceed with that, I would be most grateful.
I realize that you may now be at home, so I can wait until tomorrow, no problem.

[#5]

Jim's at home all the time - he doesn't work for Plusnet!

[#6]

TA Very much.  jelv.   I,m off to watch the news now. I believe I,ll be needed to help fund some Royal Nuptials

[#7]

Rather than me repeating everything in the help system the first step is to follow the guide here for creating a new email address http://www.plus.net/support/email/newemail.shtml which should be set up as "Deliver to a new mailbox"
Once a new email address is set up then you need to set up your email client to receive the new emails as follows
The email address is, for example me@username.plus.com then the Login information is username+me
Once you have set up the new email address then you can receive the emails addressed to both addresses until you are happy that all your contacts are using the new email address.
At this point you can stop collecting email from the redundant address and only check the mailbox ever so often using webmail.
You can leave it at this for an extended period until you are really confident that the new mailbox is getting all your genuine mail at which point you can just delete the mailbox.
One thing you must do is to turn off the catchall which you do by clicking on the catchall tag in Manage my Mail section
The second thing you need to do is to change your contact email address which is seen here https://portal.plus.net/my.html?action=view_details&s=0 so that you continue to receive emails about your account from Plusnet

[#8]

Thanks for the help Jim. I,ll get at it in the morning I have had a long, and busy day, and my eyeballs are doing the tango right now. .