I HAVE recently been a victim of the automated phone scam.

The other day I attempted to pay for parking at Riverside Car Park by card, not having the correct change.

I called the number on the meter and a voice asked for my car registration which I gave clearly. The voice then repeated a number different from the one I had given and asked for a yes or no. I said no. I was told to hold on several times after which the voice came back with the right number so it was there all the time . . . a clear case of time wasting. Next I was asked for the location number of the car park, which I did. Sorry, the voice said, number not recognised, you need to phone . . . At this point I gave up and went and parked free at the foot of Down Road.

Modern technology such as mobile phones, e-mails, texts, facebook and twitter may have made it easier for people to communicate with each other but not always.

Anyone who has ever tried to get through to the bank, telephone company, or any other service providers, and had to go through several multiple choice options before waiting ten or more minutes listening to excruciating music interspersed with regular reminders that 'your call is moving up the queue', before finally talking to a person in an Indian call centre, will know what I mean.

Am I being cynical when I suggest that there is a conspiracy with the phone companies to rip the customer off? 

Oh for the days when we could dial a number, get through to a person, and be put through to the right department with a minimum of delay and fuss.

Tony Rushbrooke