Transatlantic phone bill wrangle

Most parents are happy to reverse the phone call charges when their children go to university and Colin was no exception, even though his son was in America.

But Mr Yeandle, 47, claims he waited nine months for the phone bill and then received a letter threatening legal action if he failed to pay immediately.

He said he was kept hanging on by BT, which billed him in April this year for calls made last August.

The calls were reverse-charged from son Mark, 20, who is taking a football scholarship at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee.

Mr Yeandle, of Roedale Road, Brighton, had already paid a larger-than-normal bill in September last year and assumed the account was settled.

So he was shocked when months later he received a bill for more than £200 relating to calls made the previous summer.

He has paid the bill to avoid legal action but insists BT has been unable to provide him with a detailed breakdown of the calls.

At first, he wrote to the company asking for an explanation for the delay before taking a week's holiday in Cornwall.

When he returned he found a solicitor's letter threatening court action if the bill was not paid in full straight away.

Mr Yeandle said: "I have been with BT for years and years but the service I have received recently has been appalling.

"I cannot recall missing a payment since I have been with them but as soon as there is any dispute I am threatened with court action.

"I sent them a letter and the response I got was a solicitor threatening legal action, which is a bit heavy-handed.

"While I do not dispute the calls were made, I am having to rely solely on their word - there is no evidence."

A BT spokesman said: "It is our policy that we try to follow set procedures and keep customers informed along the way.

"We do not like to appear heavy-handed and stronger letters are usually sent out when a period of time has elapsed when a bill has not been paid."