May I crave space in your column to send a New Year message to those organisations which have enriched my life in 2005. The water company which, after I told them that my metered water usage was much less than estimated, agreed not to increase my monthly

May I crave space in your column to send a New Year message to those organisations which have enriched my life in 2005.

The water company which, after I told them that my metered water usage was much less than estimated, agreed not to increase my monthly debit payments in line with a price rise and then did so.

The housing association where my aunt lived for 17 years which, in the same letter, mis-spelled her surname and referred to her as my uncle.

The building society which sent me documents and even a plastic card with my title shown as Mrs.

The government department which, after I told them I was appointed power of attorney for someone, wrote and informed me that I had been appointed power of attorney - for myself!

The bank, which paid a quarterly standing order - every month.

The television rental company which could not contact its collection van when it was very late for a critically timed appointment and also attempted to claim rental for the TV set after they had collected it.

The garage which failed to spot a leaking tank the first time I reported a smell of petrol and later fitted a new tank with an obstruction in the filler pipe, causing petrol which I had to pay for to spill on the forecourt when I tried to fill up.

The local authority department which says that a complaint I made has been fully investigated yet has never visited me to investigate the exact details.

The electricity company whose automated telephone service for meter readings told me I do not recognise your input several times over a period of two days but managed to recognise a ridiculously high reading which I thought would be noticed as an obvious anomaly - it was not!

Every organisation whose telephone service told me your call is important to us and then kept me waiting with no indication of how long it would be before someone answers.

For you all, I suggest a New Year resolution: in 2006 get things right first time and try to curb the culture of incompetence, indifference and inefficiency which seems to be all-pervasive nowadays.

DAVID PERCIVAL, New Close, Knebworth