HUNDREDS of people who struggled for up to six days with no phone line or internet are not entitled to a penny in compensation.

Former BT engineer Kevin Andrew was one of an estimated 500 people in Sidcup who were cut off last week following an attempted cable theft in Hatherley Road.

The 57-year-old of Brook End Road said the line was down when he got home on Tuesday, January 31, but he did not report the fault because his neighbour had already done so.

He said: "I didn’t get the phone back until Monday (February 6). I was one of the longer ones. I thought ‘I am going to ring BT and see about compensation’.

"We pay a set amount and get free weekend and evening calls - but we did not have that facility. I paid for the package but wasn’t getting it."

Mr Andrew said he was told by BT call centre staff that because he did not report the fault, he was not eligible for compensation.

After complaining to the manager, he said he was given a £5 goodwill’ payment.

He said: "It is ridiculous. They want every single person to report the fact that the phones are not working.

"There are a lot of elderly people who do not have mobile phones but BT want every person to ring up."

A BT spokesman said the attack to the network meant the loss of service was beyond their control and that the company did not pay compensation in those situations on the whole, but did agree to a goodwill payment for Mr Andrew.

Crackdown welcomed

Bexley Council, which claims to be one of the boroughs worst-affected cable theft, has welcomed government plans for a crackdown.

Home Secretary Theresa May announced proposals to ban cash payments for scrap metal and increase fines for its illegal trade.

Cabinet member for public realm and community safety, Councillor Peter Craske, said: “I am delighted that the government is planning to take robust action to make life more difficult for those whose criminal actions are causing chaos and huge expenditure.”