Firm apologises after worker caught 'mistreating' cat

A company has apologised after one of its workers was caught on a doorbell camera carrying a cat by the scruff of its neck.

Footage showed two people in EE-branded jackets approaching a house in the Broadoak area of Weston-super-Mare, north Somerset. One of them can be seen lifting the white cat onto a wheelie bin, before picking it up and carrying it away again.

Now Money Expert, the third-party provider used by EE, has apologised for the actions of its employees and confirmed they had been suspended indefinitely.

A spokesperson said the company "does not tolerate the mistreatment of animals in any way" and would be reaching out to the owner directly to "check on the cat's wellbeing".

Following the incident, the pet, named Iceberg, had to be put on painkillers for suspected bruising.

Sarah Hunt, the animal's owner, said she was "happy" with how EE had dealt with the complaint, but had not yet been contacted by Money Expert regarding a personal apology.

'Immediate action'

In a statement, MoneyExpert said all field advisors are vetted and given full training around the importance of "engaging respectfully with residents at all times".

"This includes fully respecting property and any pets seen on the premises and in the surroundings," the spokesperson continued.

"We are very disappointed that on this occasion our representatives have fallen extremely short of our code of conduct, and we have taken immediate action by suspending them indefinitely from the campaign."

The company added steps were being taken internally to strengthen guidance and ensure "all animals are consistently treated with the maximum care and respect".

An EE spokesperson previously told the BBC the company "does not condone the mistreatment of animals and are treating the matter extremely seriously".

They added the company worked with "a number of third-party providers" who visited homes and promoted their latest offers.