Ref. 25627-93AN 85-YEAR-OLD Swindon widow has been told she has just eight months to pay two years of council tax in another apparent blunder.

Just 13 days ago the Evening Advertiser reported how 73-year-old Leslie Jones, of Godolphin Close in Freshbrook, was locked in a battle with Buckinghamshire-based Liberata over back payments.

Liberata was awarded the contract to handle the council's benefits distributions and council tax collection service in August last year after former company WS Atkins had its contract terminated.

Now, another pensioner Catherine Walker claims she too has fallen victim.

Until the beginning of this month, Mrs Walker, who has lived at her home in Salisbury Street for 62 years, thought her council tax contributions were being taken out of her bank account every month through a direct-debit order.

But she was shocked to discover that the order had been cancelled by Liberata, leaving her with a £1,031.41 bill.

The amout for 2003/04, dated June 26 demanded a payment of £128.41 by August 5, to be followed by seven monthly payments of £129.

The only previous correspondence Mrs Walker had from the firm was a statement dated May 22, 2002, telling her she was £95.72 in credit.

A few days later Mrs Walker had a letter pushed through her letterbox by a neighbour who had just moved in to her property, which had been vacant for months. It seems, that, although the envelope was addressed to her neighbour, the letter was intended for her.

Mrs Walker said that when her former neighbour's ended their direct debit, Liberata

probably inadvertently cancelled her debit order.

Since the debacle, she has been forced to cut back on the few luxuries she enjoys.

She had to cancel her subscription to the NTL Cable network and her £1-a-week dog sponsoring donation with the National Canine Defence League.

She said she she will not be able to go on Stroke Association outings either.

"I am devastated to find that I owe so much money. I have never owed anyone a penny before. Who gave them permission to cancel my direct debit?

"Since my husband George, died in 1996 I spend a lot of time on my own and problems always seem bigger when they are not shared.

"I have thought of nothing else," she said.

On July 1, Mrs Walker spoke to an official who told her that she should have realised the money wasn't coming out of her account and was liable to pay. She then contacted Coun John Taylor (Central) who has taken up her case.

He said: "It is an absolute disgrace. This is the sort of thing you get in nightmares but this is very real.

"We want an apology from Liberata for the severe distress that their actions have had on a vulnerable 85-year-old.

"They should also seriously consider waiving the money that she owes by way of offsetting any further trauma.

"This sort of mess only serves to reinforce the Shape Up or Shift Out headline the Adver-tiser ran on its front page less than a fortnight ago," Coun Taylor said.

Liberata refused to comment on the case.

However, the organisation said it was investigating the matter and will be contacting Mrs Walker.