A MONMOUTH man is angry after Two Rivers Housing sent his vulnerable Cinderford parents a services demand which threatens them with court action if they don't pay.

"I am very uspet. My mother is in care with dementia, and Dad has angina and asthma and has just been diagnosed with cancer, yet they are threatening to take them to court for £39, which he refuses to pay," says William Taylor.

His father William, 88, lives at The Keelings, Cindeford, and says he will not give in to the housing association's demands for payments they do not believe they owe.

"Two Rivers have clearly been indiscriminate about who they send these demands to. It's so insensitive," said William.

"Dad already has heart problems and he has now learned he has cancer. It is a big strain.

"I cannot even bring myself to ring or see Two Rivers about this I am so angry – I would be very, very rude."

Campaigner against the service charges Amanda Sterry also criticises the letters.

"This is exactly what I didn't want to happen, – elderly people getting threatening letters and becoming terribly afraid," she said.

"It is outrageous and Two Rivers are just trying to browbeat and bully people into paying. I am recommending people to get in touch with their house insurers to see if they are covered in the event of a dispute. Meantime, I'm urging everyone to stick to your guns and don't pay."

She says Two Rivers have only sold about 200 houses since they took over the council's housing stock in 2003. They inherited about 2,050 properties and it is these homeowners they are mainly in dispute with.

She had also received a letter last Friday stating that if the outstanding bill (£39) isn't paid they would start legal proceedings. She understands from her solicitor it will take about 12 months to get court proceedings started.

She says she believes the majority of homeowners have been sent letters – although this doesn't chime in with Two Rivers' statement which said a 'representative' sample of homeowners would face legal proceedings.