One 2 One, the mobile phone giant, has been forced to apologise for harassing an elderly man for a bill he did not owe.

Sidney Adams, 67, of Eastmead Avenue, Greenford received a bill for more than £500 for two mobile phones last year ,, but the retired carpenter has never owned a mobile phone.

Unwell and unable to cope himself, he passed the problem on to his daughter Linda who believed that, after she had explained the situation, the company would stop demanding money. All then went quiet until May 9 when Credit Solutions Ltd, working on behalf of One 2 One, sent Mr Adams notice of legal proceedings which threatened a County Court summons and the possibility of bailiffs being sent to seize his belongings.

Mrs Adams said: 'My father referred to this as the worst day of his life. He has always been proud to pay his bills promptly, but he didn't owe this and didn't know what to do about it.'

Mrs Adams fired off a letter to One 2 One's customer relations department and on June 14 received a letter which said: 'Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience and distress that you and your father have experienced recently due to receiving invoices for One 2 One phones.

'We assure you that you will receive no further requests for payment from One 2 One with regard to this matter'.

All went quiet again, until June 26 when Mr Adams received a letter informing him that his One 2 One service had been suspended and he now owed £952.73.

Mrs Adams said: 'It is absolutely unbelievable. My father is so worried that he's frightened to leave the house in case they come round while he's out and take his belongings.

'It is absolutely shameful they can behave like this.'

The Ealing Times took up the case on behalf of the Adams' and once the situation had been explained, an embarrassed One 2 One spokeswoman said: We are really very sorry. We will be contacting the family immediately to express our apologies and it won't happen anymore.'

Mrs Adams said: 'I've heard from them before that it was all over, so I'll believe it when no more letters arrive.'