A ONE-WOMAN business has got into some hot alphabet soup with the Basingstoke-based Automobile Association over the use of its distinctive trademark AA letters.

Annelie Ash named her mortgage broking business "AA Mortgage Services" after her own initials, but now, after months of correspondence, she has been threatened with legal action by Centrica, which owns the AA.

Annelie said: "I set up three years ago in good faith and I didn't think there was any trademark infringement because they don't do mortgages.

"Now they say I've got to change and they want my internet domain name.

"I think they are just bullying me to do it. I hope they will change their minds. It will cost me £6,000 and I don't have it. I'm just breaking even and am committed to another four years on my lease at £10,000 per year."

Although her logo is in blue and white - unlike the yellow and black of the Automobile Association - Centrica's legal department says it makes no difference.

A spokeswoman for the AA said: "If Miss Ash feels bullied we would dispute that because we have bent over backwards to help her.

"We have offered her lots and lots of time to phase out the name and we have helped her out in terms of finding a cheaper supplier of signs.

"In all we have been a lot more helpful than we are obliged to be. We are hopeful we can come to some agreement. Our trademark and logo initials cover a multitude of services and we are in the business of financial advice. We used to have an AA mortgage services business."

Miss Ash thinks the cost of changing her business' name would amount to £6,000 once new signage, stationery and the other legal requirements of her field of work are taken into account.

"That's apart from the loss of business," she added.

She said she has only just built up to 10 mortgages per month and only opened a shop for her business in Aldershot 18 months ago, after working from an estate agent's office.

She said Centrica has only offered her £100 for her domain and about £200 discount on new signs.