Hundreds of thousands of TV addicts who open their cable bills this month will find their habit has become a lot more pricey. NTL and Chorus, which promised us "digital TV" last year only to disappoint, have been granted steep price hikes by telecoms regulator Ms Etain Doyle.

This prompted hundreds of consumers to write angry letters complaining about bad customer service and imploring Ms Doyle not to sanction the rise.

But The Margin was struck by one letter sent by the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs. It said: "I wish to advise that we have no views on the matter."

Now that really will make consumers blood boil!