Nearly all the large service companies have, over past years, jumped on the very lucrative bandwagon and imposed an extra charge on customers who choose not to pay their bills by direct debit.

Now we hear that Virgin are intending to level a further charge on customers, if bills are not paid online.

Despite the fact that both of these are perfect examples of blatant discrimination, I have not heard one voice from the legal profession raised in protest.

If it were a matter of race, creed, sex or age, they would all be screaming from the rooftops, demanding compensation for the 'victims'!

And before any pompous twerp starts spouting about these iniquitous charges being common and quite legal practice, may I point out that owning slaves, bear and bull baiting, the sale of unwanted wives at the local market, shoving small children up chimneys and public executions, were also common and quite legal practices in their time!

Mrs P Hunt Stapleton Bristol