HAVING recently moved home and wishing to continue receiving gas and electricity from my current supplier, final readings were given to British Gas and in mid-November a bill was received and paid in full by return.

In mid-December I received a British Gas letter headed 'outstanding gas bill', the amount demanded being much larger than just paid, giving me seven days to settle in full. The letter was the first known of any further monies outstanding and contained no justification for any unpaid amount.

My fax response was immediate demanding details prior to payment. In early January I received a second communication, not in reply to my letter but headed 'warning of county court action', stating if payment was not made by return, a bad debt would be registered against my name.

Following a dozen telephone calls, all except one being dealt with by computer-recorded voice, a real person did answer, advising a detailed cost would be sent and in the meantime it might be appropriate to pay the amount outstanding by debit card over the telephone. After a number of further lengthy telephone calls (all robotic in nature), I found that neither Visa nor Mastercard could be used.

In desperation I made full and hopefully final payment by cheque through the post.

The two threatening letters received during this episode were not personally signed, but concluded with "yours faithfully, British Gas, Customer Services". May I suggest whoever signed the letters might invoke a change of name by deed poll to "British Gas bag". As for personal service, bah, humbug!

M PALFREY

Semington Road

Melksham