BT and certain other companies seem to think that they can do what they like. This happened to me too so I cancelled my direct debit and paid the bill when it came. One day i went to use the phone and was put through to an automated message telling me my service was limited as I had not paid the last bill.

I had paid my bill, but trying to phone through to a human when the automated message kept kicking in was murder. Obviously my internet connection was also mucked up so I couldn’t email or go on to their website, another piece of useless advice from the voice of the robot.

Finally when I did get through and told them that I had not received a bill but as there was a postal strike they might have taken this into account before being so high handed. I was spitting nails as I rely on my phone for incoming business.

They did apologise and restored it within the day but I told them they had no right to withdraw a service without any prior warning - it could cause huge misery if they did it to somebody old or vulnerable.

I could go on seethe seethe.. but i think i’ll just trawl the net and find a better, less autocratic call provider.