KILLER FEE

Based on the current promotional price, Verizon Wireless tags the value of an LG HBM-210 Bluetooth headset at a penny less than $20 U.S.—considerably more than they appear to set the worth of a customer’s life, or at least the life of the 62-year-old Verizon subscriber who went missing after fleeing his Caroll, Ohio, home in apparent distress. Asked by the county sheriff to help locate the missing man via his mobile, Verizon refused to connect the phone to the network because there was an unpaid balance of $20 in the man’s account.

The man disappeared after a police received a domestic disturbance call informing them that he was trashing his own house. A witness told police the man had taken several bottles of pills and run off. Some time into what turned out to be an 11-hour search, Sheriff Dale Williams contacted Verizon hoping they could do what two K-9 units, multiple fire departments and a 100-strong search party could not. Instead, Verizon withheld their assistance until Williams finally agreed to get them the $20 himself.

In a bit of luck in Williams’ favour, the man was found, unconscious and in serious condition, just as Williams was about to make the payment.

by SCOTT SAXON