A PENSIONER in Worcester is locked in an ongoing legal battle with her social landlords over service charges for an aerial connection point that does not exist.

The 69-year-old woman of Dines Green is locked in an argument with Fortis Living over service charge payments for a communal aerial connection point which she has always refused and which has never even been installed.

The woman does not want to be identified, but her friend Andrew Brown is acting as her representative.

Mr Brown said the woman did not see the need for the aerial connection as she had a television with a digital tuner built into it and was served by a perfectly good signal.

He said: “I feel she has had a terrible time, really quite devastating and with more to come as it stands. I am pretty appalled by it all.”

Her refusal to pay the aerial charge which included another charge for grass cutting forced her into rent arrears of £511.51plus costs of £100 following a hearing at Worcester County Court in January last year.

A direct debit has been set up to clear her arrears with £341.51 still outstanding.

A possession order for the property was suspended on condition she pays off the arrears which she has been doing.

Fortis (Worcester Community Housing) wrote to the tenant in December 2006 with the promise of installing ‘digital aerials’ to all communal blocks

Mr Brown said the charge increased every year for maintenance even though they had never been out to her home to install the aerial connection point in the first place.

He said: “The service charge isn’t for the aerial. It’s for the connection point and the aerial was never needed anyway. The connection box isn’t even in there because she has refused to have it. It is unethical and damaging to an older person.

“It seems unfair that communal aerials were imposed on these two storey maisonettes (with a compulsory charge) and yet the WCH houses in the same streets as the maisonettes have no such imposition.

“They just carry on with their own aerials as before and so have no communal charge to pay.

“Digital UK online predictor shows excellent signal for WR2 and no need for new aerials, the general premise is supported by Digital UK's letter, and in 2009 the letter from Andy Howarth (finance director) of WCH accepted that in this area a working rooftop aerial would suffice.

“Trading Standards and the TV programme Rogue Traders also warned the public about the scam of 'needing a new aerial' in relation to digital

Sue Heelas, assistant director of housing and communities at Fortis Living said: “This is an ongoing legal dispute that we are committed to finding an appropriate resolution to. The matter returns to court later this year and we will abide by any judgements and rulings that they make.”