ON Thursday, April 12, I rang ‘dial-a-ride’ to book a journey on April 19, to my club at Jack Straw’s Lane (the statutory week’s notice). I got the answer machine and left my name, number and message. On Tuesday April 17, I became anxious, having received no answer, so I rang again.

First, I was told there was no record of my call, then that “we have decided to divide Oxford into north and south and we only pick up in your area on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays”. No apology was made and how, might I ask, was I supposed to know this, had I not rung up again?

The person I spoke to went off to discuss my complaint with the manager. On his return I told him that Thursday is the only day I use the service as this was the only club I’m able to go to on ‘dial-a-ride’, so I would have to demand my £5 subscription back. Ten people use this club and will now be lonely and stuck at home.

I finally told the man that I could not afford to talk at length on the telephone.

MRS EDITH PARSONS, Broadhead Place, Northway Estate, Oxford