BT is one of those organisations that is suppose to be at the cutting edge of telecommuncations but in reality is living in the dark ages. It's all very well having pilot schemes for paperless e-billing but why can't they get the simple stuff right? By way of example, I recently had to make changes to one of the many BT accounts I operate (both personally and through my business) and the ensuing confusion over account numbers and amounts owing was incredible. So incredible that I actually went out of my way to complain about the trouble they had caused. Of course, the billing department blamed the sales guys but a very nice manager in the billing department offered me £50 off a bill I was trying to pay as a "goodwill gesture" for all the trouble I had been caused. Naturally, I accepted and thought that was the end of the matter.

This morning I was somewhat surprised to receive a Notice of Debt Collection for, yes, you've guessed it, £50, from Wescot Credit Services, debt recovery agents for BT. So I rang them and having been kept holding for about 20 mins spoke to someone who said it was probably an error and I should speak to BT.

So I rang BT and spent another 20 minutes getting to the bottom of what had happened. Of course, the £50 was the "goodwill credit" and "the computer", because it's always the computer, had not deducted it from my account. Nor, it seems, had the computer told the debt recovery people. So guess what? I asked for another £50 credit against my next bill, given that BT had caused this hassle and was given it without a further thought. So that's £100 for goodwill, although it hasn't generated any in me. Not that I am complaining, but when are they going to sort themselves out. It really is no way to run a business.

Interesting development this: judges dispensing justice from their Spanish villas. I wonder how long it will be before solicitors and barristers acting in criminal cases can "attend" virtually?

David Millar is one of the UK's leading cyclists. Resident in France he rides for the Cofidis team. He had a nasty accident a few weeks ago and has been forced back into racing early by his team management. The life of a professional cyclist is a very, very hard one. What is interesting about David is that he keeps a website going that provides regular detailed information about what he is up to. I think it's his sister who does it, but for up-to-the minute information about what he is up to, it can't be beaten. Plus they don't seem shy of telling it like it is. In the last few days they have been reporting on ructions within the team. And the team's failings are why David is being forced to race when he is not fully fit. Not that you would find that on the team's official website.