Post Office threatens to hospitalize someone

[deva link]

Has anyone else seen the story (on ITV Teletext today - can't find a web link) about they guy in Carlisle who's been sent a letter threatening to put him in hospital over an unpaid £292 phone bill (presumeably he must use the Post Office for his phone service)?

Royal Mail PLC are investigating - they say it's 'not an official letter'.

>> Edited by deva link on Wednesday 31st August 15:36

[r988]

www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,16445081-13762,00.html

news.com.au said:

Disconnection just the start From: Agence France-Presse From correspondents in London August 31, 2005 A BRITISH man has been sent a letter threatening him with hospitalisation and horrors worse than the London bombings if he failed to pay his phone bill. The Royal Mail customer was warned in an unsigned letter on official notepaper that the terrorist attacks which killed 56 people would be nothing compared to the suffering heading his way, the Daily Mirror reported. Kevin Harding, 39, from Carlisle in northwest England, switched phone line provider to Royal Mail as it promised cheaper calls to his girlfriend in the US. "Dear Mr Harding," the letter began, before informing him in mangled English his balance was going up to £600 ($1430) from £292.65. "Failure to pay will result in you being hospitalised," the chilling letter warned. "If you thought the events of July 7 and July 21 were bad, that is nothing compared to what will happen to you. Advertisement: "If you fail to pay your outstanding bill, we have told you verbally what we will do to you. This is just to remind you we will carry out our promise." Royal Mail vehemently denied the letter was sent officially and vowed to launch an investigation. Harding used international discount cards but Royal Mail refused to accept the number and charged him the full price for his trans-Atlantic calls. "I finally got the bill down to £292.65 when the threat came through demanding £600," Harding said. "I don't know whether this was sent by mistake or by an angry worker as a cruel joke - but you can't treat people like this," he said. A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: "No such letter has been sent by Post Office Ltd. "We will be conducting our own investigation and we will be contacting the police."

Somebody's going to get fired

[timmy30]

Postman pat, Postman pat, Postman pat
.....and his baseball bat