File Write Permission Errors - HELP! URGENT!!!

Hi I have the following code that breaks: // PLACE NICK INTO NICKNAMES.TXT AND START OFF MESSAGES.TXT $fileID = fopen($path . "/nicknames.txt", "a") or die("Could not open " . $path . "/nicknames.txt"); chmod($path . "/nicknames.txt", 0755); fputs($fileID, $nickname . "\n"); fflush($fileID); fclose($fileID); $fileID = fopen($path . "/messages.txt", "a") or die("Could not open " . $path . "/messages.txt"); fputs($fileID, "*** WELCOME \"" . $nickname . "\" TO THE ROOM ***"); fflush($fileID); fclose($fileID); I am getting the following error: Warning: fopen("/users/ppowell/web/chat/nicknames.txt", "a") - Permission denied in /users/ppowell/web/chat/chat.php on line 163 I am attempting to write onto the files if they exist, if not, create them on the fly. I need the solution in the next 5 minutes - sorry, kind of an emergency! If anyone can help, please tell me what to do, the PHP manuals are not giving me a clear solution as to how to write to a file that does not yet exist that has to have the permissions of 0755 for both files. Thanx Phil