A pair of neighbours left without working telephones for almost six weeks have been given less than £50 compensation between them.
Diabetic Ian Pennock, 58, of Broadmead Road in the Parson's Heath area of Colchester, had to walk half-a-mile to the nearest public telephone box after the line went dead in August.
His 77-year-old neighbour, Jack Regan, was also without the vital service for 41 days.
Back on line - diabetic Ian Pennock
The phone is Mr Regan's main means of contact with his 103-year-old mother-in-law and has only started working again in the past fortnight.
Workman told Mr Pennock he was due for more than £8 a day to make up for the inconvenience - amounting to more than £300 - but his latest bill reveals only a tenth of that, £33, has been paid due to a change in BT policy, with another £11.55 given to him as a rental rebate.
Mr Regan has been offered £14 compensation.
"I'm disgusted really - it's nothing for being cut off for so long," added Mr Pennock.
A spokeswoman for BT said: "Our policy has changed recently and this does mean less money for customers when things go wrong.
"We can only apologise for the delay - our aim is to repair faults in two days."
Published Tuesday October 15, 2002
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