hi thanks for all the replies, now to hopefully answer them all, the fraying was happening even when using my gutterman thread, it is happening after a few stitches or even after I have backstitched a little so maybe I should be holding the threads though on such a modern machine I didn't think that would be needed.
the bobbin is put in according to the manual and little diagram on the cover, I have pulled up the bobbin thread before starting to stitch
I have actually been in touch with them and am going to get a refund on this machine as its the second time it has started to play up and I intend to get either a brother or possibly a singer instead.
so in the meantime I decided to get out my little mini machine that I bought to begin this sewing journey...and that is doing the same thing!! I did think of the thread which at that point was a cheap one because I was matching colours but I switched it out for a gutermann thread and cleaned out the bobbin area and it just did it again! but not sure that machine is working right though as I threaded it according to instructions but the thread seems to bounce about all loosely and the thing is so noisy as it runs and I don't think that's right,
if I feel like it later I might get out the monstrously heavy jones machine I have and try on that!
thanks for everyone's input