Bill's unfair, to be Frank

Jul 12 2009 by Mr Justice, Sunday Sun

“Technically the bill was right, and I suppose I have to accept that now, but I am pleased they have recognised my payment record.”

+ WHO are you going to call when BT stops you making outgoing calls from your landline?

Try Mr Justice on 0191-201 6202.

Alicia Hamilton wanted to call me when BT restricted her service over a bill dispute.

But, oops, she couldn’t.

Instead she contacted me by email to explain why she disputed the bill.

Alicia told me: “I am having a lot of trouble with an unfair charge of £407.10 for an engineer’s call-out BT have added to my account.

“I was informed that I would only be charged if there was a problem with my equipment. The engineer has confirmed there was no problem with the equipment and the work was necessary in order for the line to be set up.

“Despite numerous phone calls and an email to BT, this matter has not been resolved and my service has now been restricted.”

Alicia was worried for her good name if BT passed the case to debt collectors.

She said: “I am certain this charge has simply been added in error, but I am unable to speak to anybody who can help me.”

I passed the complaint to BT, who confirmed Alicia, of Gateshead, was right.

A spokeswoman said: “All sorted. The charge was raised in error, as she thought, and has now been removed.

“The case handler hasn’t spoken to the customer yet but will be ringing today to advise.”

Alicia later told me the case handler had, as promised, scrapped the charge.

She said: “Thank you so much for your help with this.

“It’s obviously very disappointing that as a normal member of the public I was unable to sort this out myself.”