Mary Lunt wasn’t surprised when she recieved a call, apparently from T-Mobile, as her contract with them was due for renewal.

But the caller asked for her bank details – information her mobile provider already had.

“I queried who the caller was and he said he was calling on behalf of T-Mobile. When I checked with T-Mobile they had never heard of him.”

In fact, the rep was phoning from a call centre in Malta and acting on behalf of Birmingham outfit Dialamobile, which was flogging contracts with 3. A few days later a handset arrived followed, inevitably, by invoices, the Daily Mirror reported on Friday.

“I have a phone and contract for 12 months with 3 that I don’t want,” said Mary, of Audenshaw, Manchester.

“They referred me to Dialamobile, which gave no address and has no contactable phone number. I’m about to apply for a mortgage and this company could put me on a credit blacklist.”

Dialamobile director Wasim Saddique said their call agent “took a gamble” in sending the mobile to Mary. It will now collect the handset and will not be billing her. “We are very sorry for the inconvenience,” said a spokesman.