BRITISH Telecom's decision to stop telling customers they can still pay phone bills free of charge at post offices because it is not cost effective to the company has come under fire.

Until recently, the post office payment method was listed with others on the back of bills.

But BT says it has now decided not to promote the payment because it no longer wants to encourage it, sparking a protest from Ripon and Skipton MP David Curry.

Postmasters say they have received a string of complaints from customers who have been querying whether they can still pay their bills at post offices.

"We are not very happy about the situation, but it appears we can't do anything about it. This is a decision made by BT. But it seems very odd that BT is no longer encouraging customers to pay at their local post offices," said a Harrogat postmaster.

A pensioner who lives at Grewelthorpe, near Ripon, has written to Mr Curry in a bid to get the post office payment listing reinstated on BT bills.

"I think it is terrible that there is now no reference to the post office system of payment.

"Like lots of others, I like to give as much business as possible to the local post office. This omission by BT has left some people confused as to whether the post office payments can still be made - which, of course, they can," he said.

Mr Curry is protesting to the chief executive of BT.

He said: "One of the things which came up constantly on the doorstep in the General Election was people's desire to maintain rural services, particularly for the elderly.

"Foremost among them was the maintenance of the post office, not just to provide services, but as places where people meet and make contact with others.

"It is crucial that we should take every sensible step to enable rural post offices to maintain their business."

On its revised bills, BT points out customers can take up a monthly payment plan; settle the whole bill by direct debit; pay via the internet; by cheque through the post or at PayPoints in supermarkets, newsagents, stores or petrol stations.

A BT official said that although payment could still be made at post offices, it was no longer promoted because it was not cost effective.

Paying bills by a monthly plan could save customers £12 a year.

Asked if BT would eventually phase out the post office payment, the official said: "I have no information it will be phased out."

He said paying by direct debit not only saved on paper but was more cost effective for customers as well as the company.

BT was encouraging other options of payment because it was a competitive company and this would also benefit customers.