I RANG to book seats for Art at the Grand Opera House via the box office.

I rang the number in the theatre's brochure three or four times and each time the message given was "the theatre is currently experiencing a high number of calls and to make your booking easier we are transferring you to our booking hotline which makes a booking fee". I had no choice, when booking two tickets, but to pay a fee of £2.50 for each, which was an increase of more than ten per cent on the ticket price of £22.50.

When I questioned the booking clerk as to why I could not book directly with the box office, she told me that there was not a box office telephone number, therefore the message stating that "a high number of calls currently being experienced" is a total falsehood. I object to having to pay a surcharge for a telephone booking.

Leslie Marten,

Wigton Lane,

Leeds.

Updated: 10:56 Friday, May 20, 2005