A probe has been launched by BT bosses after contractors delivering phone books to three villages on the outskirts of Dundee threw them from their car.
Residents of Kellas, Bucklershead and Wellbank saw new telephone directories end up on roads and grass verges.
Ken Scott, 74, of Braes of Kerryston, noticed the unusual delivery method at about 3.30pm on Wednesday.
He said: “I was putting something in the back of my car when a 4×4 pulled up and they just threw the phone books out of the window.
“One landed on the verge and one at the end of my drive. I went to speak to the two men, but they’d already driven off and were doing the same thing for the other houses.”
A spokesman for BT Scotland said: “This is a serious matter as our contractors have a very detailed contract which states that the books must be posted through letterboxes.
“If there isn’t a letterbox, they should leave a letter asking the customer to contact us to arrange delivery or leave the book in a sheltered area, such as a porch.
“Clearly, that has not happened here and we’d like to apologise for the inconvenience this unfortunate incident has caused.”