NTL has apologised after sending out 800 letters by mistake to customers demanding payment on "overdue" accounts.

The letters have been sent out over the last couple of weeks to NTL Freedom customers - punters outside of the company's cable areas who subscribe to its Internet and phone services.

One of those who received the letter told us that when he phoned NTL he was informed that 15,000 people had received the letter.

A spokesman for NTL said 800 people had received the letter by mistake. "New processes are already in place to ensure this doesn't happen again."

Letters apologising for the slip have already been sent out.

However, one hacked-off punter told The Register he's going to cancel his account with the cableco. "This really is the last straw," he said. ®