Readers might be interested in what happened to my elderly mother recently.

In March 2000, she changed her electricity supplier from British Gas to Beacon.

She was told, at the time, everything would be sorted out between the two parties and made the necessary alterations to her banker's order.

She has just received a bill from British Gas for £43.21, quite out of the blue.

On questioning this on her behalf, I was told the reason was because British Gas refused to accept the final meter reading given by Beacon and £43.21 was the sum owing from between April 1999 and March 2000.

While I realise a company has up to six years to request payment, I feel that asking my mother to make the payment in seven days or face possible legal action is unreasonable, not to say upsetting for her.

My mother is a pensioner and does not have the means to take this further but I wonder if any other readers have experienced similar problems.

-Ms E J Cole, lis.cole@virgin.net