BBC has not paid £150 bill (From Stroud News and Journal)

BBC has not paid £150 bill

A BILL run up by Hollywood movie star Joss Ackland and fellow actors at a guest house in Nailsworth is yet to be paid by the BBC four months after the stars checked out.

In October Mr Ackland, and fellow actors Judy Flynn and Nick Le Provost all booked into the Laurels Guest house at Inchbrook, run by Richard Williams-Allen and his wife Lesley, who is mayor of Nailsworth.

When the actors left their £150 bill which was supposed to be met by the BBC.

The actors were in Nailsworth to take part in a BBC radio programme about a guest house. The production called Alison and Maud was written by and recorded at former Guardian columnist and writer Sue Limb's house also in Nailsworth.

Ms Limb had based some of her research on the Williams-Allens' guest house.

Mr Ackland and his thespian colleagues enjoyed three nights at the guest house and struck up a good friendship with Mr and Mrs Williams-Allen.

Mr Williams-Allen said: "Joss was a lovely chap as were the other actors and we drove Joss about during his stay.

"My gripe is certainly not with the actors, it is with the BBC."

After the actors left Mrs Williams-Allen sent the £150 bill to the BBC accounts department.

"My wife sent out a bill out in October but we had no response," said Mr Williams-Allen.

Five further requests and almost four months later and the guest house owners are still awaiting payment.

"I have tried everything. I even asked to speak to Greg Dyke the director general. If we didn't pay our licence fee the BBC would soon be down on us though, wouldn't they?" said Mr Williams-Allen.

Michael Mazoue a customer service support agent for the BBC said: "They failed to give us sufficient facts in the invoice. They will be paid when we get a signature on the invoice and other documentation."

But Mr Williams Allen is doubtful that the bill will ever be paid.

He said: "We have been told that we will receive payment on Friday but after all this I very much doubt it."

"We sent the BBC a signed invoice on January 31 but on February 5 they said they couldn't process it because it was lacking further information such as an invoice number.

We have had no problems like this in the 13 years we have been running the guest house and have dealt with clients such as the Ministry of Defence and Forest Green Rovers. "They manage to pay their bills without any problems."