Bill for broadband setup: $70,427.98

CUMBRIA, England, Feb. 8 (UPI) — A British couple said a broadband service quoted them a $70,427.98 installation price because all of the company’s equipment is being used.

Ray and Frei Walker of Cumbria, said they used their dial-up service for nine and years and was finally told by broadband company BT it would cost them $70,427.98 to upgrade because their current network is filled to its capacity and needs new components to add new customers, the Daily Mail reported Monday.

“It’s a farce, and obviously we’re staggered. We don’t have (the money) and if we did we wouldn’t spend it on this,” Ray Reil said.

A BT spokesman defended the charge.

“There can be very rare cases where the amount of work that’s required for the network to deliver a particular service like broadband
is exceptional and in those very rare cases excess charge can be applied,” he said.