A MAN has claimed he was not allowed to delay a payment to his mobile phone provider despite being treated for testicular cancer.

Culcheth resident Rob Richardson was diagnosed with testicular cancer in August and underwent surgery that meant he was unable to work – he was left relying on statutory sick pay of £80-a-week and exhausted his savings so had to make arrangements to delay a number of bill payments.

But the 28-year-old claims mobile phone provider EE refused to let him delay a payment of £45 as he hadn’t been a customer for long enough – even though he had been using their service for five years.

The company said that up until six months previously the account had been in his fiancé’s name with Rob as an additional account holder.

Rob, who is hoping to return to his work as a chef after finishing chemotherapy, said: “I knew I had some grants coming so I’d easily clear it, plus I’m hoping to go back to work – it’s not like I was asking to drag it out into next year “Eventually they said they could kind of help but only if I made an appointment to go back to see my specialist and get a special sick note relating to my phone.

“Hasn’t the NHS got enough on its plate at the moment without people going in for their phones?

“The only way EE could help me was for me to go back to my doctor, who is in Liverpool, and take up his time sorting this out.”

Rob said that the conversation had left him ‘fuming’.

He added: “To think what people are going through – you’ve got enough on your plate when you’re diagnosed with cancer let alone this.

“Every other company I’ve dealt with has been really understanding, it’s only EE I’ve had a problem with.

“I want them to cancel my contract – I don’t want to be with a company that has these kinds of moral and treats people like this.”

EE offered to waive the £45 and offered him 50 per cent off Rob’s bill after price comparison site cable.co.uk intervened but he declined the offer.

The company has reviewed the case and apologised to Rob and also allowed him to leave his contract at no cost.

An EE spokesman said: “We have processes in place to help customers manage their bills and delay payments in the event of serious illness.

"Mr Richardson was offered a reduced, delayed repayment rate as soon as we were made aware of his condition but this was declined.

"As a gesture of goodwill we then cancelled his contract and waived all outstanding charges."