Topic: BT quotes pensioner £150,000 to get broadband

[Clive]

Does that come with a free Home Hub? No? Oh

BT has quoted a pensioner £150,000 to install a broadband line to her home in rural Wales.

The national telco contacted Beverley McCartney, who lives in Salem, Carmarthenshire, last week, the BBC reports.

It had previously told her it could not connect her home, but was pleased to say it now could for the bargain price of £129,613.54 plus VAT. BT said it would contribute £8,000.

A shocked Mrs McCartney said: "I phoned BT and said surely this is a typing error and the girl said, 'No, there's been no mistake, other people have had bills for much more than this.'"

Other houses in Salem, which is three miles outside Llandeilo, do have broadband, so the village isn't classified as a "not-spot" which would qualify for a Welsh Assembly subsidy.

BT spokesman Chris Orum defended the quote. "If it's just one individual person and it requires upgrading the network for one person, no company would cover that," he said. ®


http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/05/27/bt_wales_quote/

[Simon]

I guess that's the price you pay for living in the sticks.  

[sam]

indeed, you can't moan.

wonder if it would be cheaper to get some microwave or similar hookup...

[Clive]

Dial-up is better than nothing at all. 

[Rik]

Or satellite. BT are within their rights, and you can honestly expect a company to invest that kind of money on a single customer who won't live long enough to repay it.

[Simon]

You can't, even. 

[Rik]

 

Bloody fingers. 

[Simon]