[jQuery] [forms] [ajax] Form submits, success message displayed but no data seems to be passed to php file

[jQuery] [forms] [ajax] Form submits, success message displayed but no data seems to be passed to php file


Hi all,
I have this Jquery code, below, which I was hpoing would pass the data
from the form over to form processing script but the problem I have
is that the success is returned but the processing script does not
seem to get the form data passed to it.
I have tested the script is called by just firing a success email off.
What am I doing wrong, I'm lost in the forest and can't see the trees!
I am including jquery, jquery.validate and jquery.form
$(document).ready(function()
{
    $("#myform").validate({
        submitHandler: function() {
            $.ajax({
                type: "POST",
             url: "thanks.php",
                success: function() {
                    $('#contact_form').html("<div id='message'></div>");
                    $('#message').html("<h2>Contact Form Submitted!</h2>")
                 .append("

We will be in touch soon.

")
                 .hide()
                 .fadeIn(1500, function() {
                     $('#message').append("<img id='checkmark' src='/images/
check.png' />");
                 });
                }
            });
        }
    });
});