So I'm pissed. I'm debating whether or not to try deleting both my game data and my save data to make a new character. Before I go and delete my lvl 17, has anyone tried this and did you still experiance problems from the get go?

Multiple times. Hasn't fixed anything for me.

I actually tried selling the game and rebuying it, just the same.. doh

I'm making it a point if I ever meet someone and when I ask what they do for a living if they ever respond "Oh I'm a game tester (or programer) at Bethesda's ps3 division" then I'm going to politely tell them they owe me $60 and a [censored] apology.

Well, this did nothing. I rebuilt the database after having removed both saved data and game saves, and the game still crashes while the people are talking in the cart. Glad I saved a save to a usb in case.

take everything off of your hdd (everything) put it somewhere else; formatt your hdd and resetup your ps3, plug in skyrim first and let its do its thing, then once that is done transfer your other files over