A MAIL deliverer who returned his set top box to cable provider ntl has just had one returned more than a year later.

Barry Small, 39, from Eldene, is furious after spending more than a year trying to convince the communications company that he no longer wishes to pay for his cable television service.

The service was installed at his home in June 2001, but Mr Small said he decided to cancel it in the December that year.

He handed the set top box back to the ntl shop in the town centre, which closed shortly afterwards.

But this week the firm returned the box to his home and Mr Small and his wife Jill also received an invoice from ntl charging £35 for administration, £275 for 'unwarranted damage' to the set top box and £45 handling and redelivery charge.

"I am beside myself with rage," he said. "The whole problem with ntl has been going on ever since we signed up with them.

"The picture on our television was bad from the start so we have never been pleased with the service.

"I settled our bill and I thought that I was finally rid of them. I cannot believe that they have sent this box back.

" It is not even the same one that we had. We returned a digital set top box and we even kept the serial number.

"I'm no expert but this one appears to be an analogue set top box that has been damaged. I would never return something in that state.

"If they were looking to wind me up, they have certainly done that. The worst thing is that I have not been able to get hold of anyone to tell them the set top box is not mine.

"They are supposed to be a communications company, but communicating with their customers is something they are hopeless at."

He said he wanted to meet someone from ntl face to face.

"I want them to apologise to me for the way I have been treated," he said. "I think they are gutless.

"If it means me having to go to court for non-payment then so be it."

In response, ntl spokeswoman, Odette Sullivan, said: "We have looked into it and we are confused because as far as we are concerned Mr Small doesn't have an account with so he doesn't owe us any money.

"We don't have a contact number for him though so we cannot get in touch with him."