problems germinating pumpkins

1. windowsill temperature fluctuates a lot at night that might be the reason.
2. have you tried covering them in a poly bag and seal it until they pop?
3. furtle to see if the seeds are rotten (too much water?)
4. personally I found coarse multipurpose with John innes get the squshes burst into life very soon (having said that I've seeded all my squashes in Bee Q multipurpose this year)
5. why dont you give your neighbour good cuppa and cake in exchange of seedlings (Thats the best option..... go for it  )

I've found chitting my pumpkin seeds helps, especially the ones that like real heat such as Atlantic Giant. Take a plastic tub like you'd get from the Chinese takeaway, put a piece of kitchen roll in the bottom and wet it. Pour out the excess water and then put your seeds in a fold in the kitchen paper. Seal it and stick it on the mantelpiece. As soon as a nice long root starts to form, stick em in a pot and watch them go.

I sowed 5 seeds in multi purpose compost and put them in the back bedroom which is cool as no radiator but is south facing. They all sprouted with a week. Problem is, now all but 1 are really leggy. Think I may have to start again

When I opened my last large squash up, some of the seeds had started germinating inside 

I selected a very few (24) and have potted them up.  Rather concerned about where I shall put them all though ... 

can I use the idea of 'very few' being 24 - when I count the choc biscuits I've eaten 

But surely that's only ONE packet 

Heated propagators are well worth it for thngs like squash, pumpkin and I do my tomatoes in there too.
I'm sure you'll get loads of use out of it any they aren't that expensive (got mine from Wilkos).

Update - went for the propagator to find sold out so ordered one from amazon. While at the garden centre bought a couple of packs of pumpkin seed - these have all germinated within a week! I am beginning to think my mate has given me duff seeds as none of his have appeared even after all this time.