NOWADAYS, it seems as if just about anyone can get their paws on a credit card, with mounting consumer debt becoming a national cause for concern.

But one finance firm seems to have taken a step from the sublime towards the ridiculous - by attempting to sign up a dog. Maxi, a Lhasa Apso, has received two applications in the post from Capital One offering her a credit limit of up to £2,500.

And, if that was not enough to tempt the two-year-old pet, she was even offered a selection of goodies on the front, including smarties, a cat or even a cuddly puppy. Karina D'Eyncourt, Maxi's bemused owner, from Oxton, Wirral, said last night: "Everyone says she is very pampered and that I spoil her too much, but this is ridiculous."

Ms D'Eyncourt, in her thirties, said Maxi received the first letter from Capital One just before Christmas.

She added: "It was like they were enticing her to go out and spend in the run-up to the festive season.

"Obviously, if she had taken it up I would have hoped she would have bought me something, but I suspect she would have splashed out on lots of dog biscuits."

After the first letter, Ms D'Eyncourt called Capital One, who assured her they would delete Maxi's records.

However, a few months later, another letter arrived . . . also

addressed to Ms Maxi D'Eyncourt, who said: "I sent the second one back with a note asking them to stop sending these to my dog. I've not heard from them since.

"However, I was a little bit worried Maxi may be a dog with champagne tastes when in reality she only really has lemonade money. There's no way she could afford to make the repayments on a credit card."

Ms D'Eyncourt said she was not sure how Maxi's details got on a mailing list, but it may have come from pet insurance she applied for when her pet was younger.

But she was alarmed that a finance company could make an error which may lead to dishonest dog owners attempting fraud.

Ms D'Eyncourt said: "The letter says to qualify for the card you have to be earning more than £10,000 a year and be over 18, Maxi doesn't meet either of these requirements.

"It even says how the card can be used in 900,000 cash machines worldwide, but Maxi isn't allowed outside the village.

"Anyway, when she comes to the local cashpoint with me, she usually just uses the opportunity of the break to go to the toilet."

Last night a spokesman for Capital One said: "We are sorry for any upset which may have been caused by an inaccurate mailing."

The spokesman added that the company will remove anyone, or indeed any dog, from their mailing lists if asked, but he pointed out other organisations would still be able to use data from the source. * TO AVOID receiving any direct mail people should write to the mailing preference service: DMA House, 70 Margaret Street, London W1W8SS.