Broadband provider Tiscali has egg on its face after an old customer was sent letters threatening him with disconnection.

Euan MacLay was signed up to the Freedom2Surf network, but switched to another provider when Tiscali took over the service.

Despite the fact Mr MacLay was no longer with Tiscali, he received correspondence from the firm accusing him of making illegal downloads, threatening disconnection.

Mr MacLay was surprised to have been told that he had supposedly downloaded the Stargate Atlantis programme, even though it is a show he doesn't watch.

In response to the disgruntled customer's story, Tiscali said in a statement: "Freedom2Surf apologises for this error.

"The email was generated by an automatic F2S abuse system managed externally. This system is no longer in place and has very recently been brought in house as part of the integration of Pipex's platforms with Tiscali."