Woman sues BT for extra charges

Last Modified: 28 Mar 2008
Source: ITN

A woman is suing BT after she was charged extra for paying her bill in cash.

Solicitor Ros Fernihough, 62, has been a BT customer since 1964 and pays her bill over the counter in her local bank.

In May last year, BT introduced the £4.50 charge to cover adminstration costs of processing bills not paid by direct debit.

The move has been highly criticised as a 'stealth charge' that targets the company's poorest customers. Around 2.9 million customers pay by means other than direct debit and Mrs Fernihough's action could affect them.

The grandmother-of-seven claims the telephone company is unfairly penalising its cash-paying customers and is making her case at Walsall County Court.

Mrs Fernihough said: "£4.50 may not be much to someone who is working with a reasonable job but if you are on a state pension it is crucial."

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