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Missing phone bills mystery
A year-long dispute between a disabled man and his phone company has been resolved, thanks to the Wigan Evening Post.
Ever since Joseph Heaton, who has osteoporosis, moved from one house on Linney Square, Scholes to another, 12 months ago, his bills have been going to a different address, despite hundreds of phone calls to the service provider, British Telecom (BT).
Mr Heaton said: "I have been at this address for a year now and in that time there has not been a single bill come here.
"But a few months ago there was one reminder that came through telling me I owed about 80, so I don't understand how one letter can get through but nothing else.
"It's been an absolute nightmare and has been really getting to me."
And after a long battle with BT Mr Heaton, 55, was assured last week that the problem had been resolved.
"The issue might have been sorted out now but I'm furious that it has taken so long and needed the paper to get involved for their mistake to be rectified.
Read all the latest local new, sport and entertainment in the Wigan Evening Post every Monday-Saturday ...
"I have been trying for months to sort it out but it didn't seem to matter how many times I called BT, or how many times they told me they'd changed the address over, I still didn't get a bill."
Mr Heaton, who is on benefits because of his disability, says that the issue had taken over his life.
He said: "Every time somebody called the house phone I thought it was going to be BT or debt collectors chasing me for money.
"It was the first thing I thought about in the morning and the last thing at night.
"I recently had a stroke and this problem affected me so much that I was worried for my health."
The bills, that have gone unpaid over two quarters, amount to about 130, which Mr Heaton says he cannot afford.
He said: "Every time that I don't answer a bill or a reminder my credit rating is affected and this is something that I've in no way caused myself."
A spokesman for British Telecom said: "BT apologises for the delay in resolving this issue, which appears to have arisen due to human error.
"We have been in contact with the customer and following further investigations we have corrected the issue."
Mr Heaton said: "I hope that BT are true to their word and the issue has finally been resolved thanks to the help of the Wigan Evening Post.
"I have been told that as a gesture of goodwill the company will clear the outstanding 130, which is a huge weight off my mind."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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