Brendan Kelly, who lives in Banagher outside Dungiven, claims he was recently told by BT that he would have to pay £21,000 for a phone line and has now received a final bill for £154.21 and a threat to have his non-existent phone line cancelled.
The local man has been campaigning for twenty years for a phone line so that he can contact a doctor in case of an emergency or talk to his friends and relations.
However, BT have steadfastly argued that he must fork out the cash to connect him with the outside world says the Banagher man.
The sixty-three-year-old, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, doesn't have a water supply to his home either, and claims the water service told him he would have to pay a whopping £100,000 to get this vital amenity installed.
Mr Kelly said he collects water from a well near his home and also keeps a 1000 litre tank in reserve, but his disability now makes the collection of a such a vital resource a major inconvenience.
"It is ridiculous. I'm sixty-three now and I've been trying to get water and a phone line in for years. It would make things much easier for me. There is no problem getting water in the winter but when there is a dry spell in summer there is a problem.
"I contacted the water service and they told me it would cost £100,000 to get connected to the mains water supply."
East Derry SDLP Assembly Member John Dallat who has been campaigning on behalf of Brendan commented: "While Mr Kelly lives in one of the most idyllic parts of the country, there are some disadvantages including the absence of a phone line.
"When Brendan received this bill for £154.21 he initially thought his prayers were answered and he would soon be talking to the outside world but not so.
"When I contacted BT I was told the bad news that Brendan had been turned down for a phone line and the bill had been sent out in error.
"I have a lot of sympathy for Brendan and his family and believe that it is not good enough in this age of advanced technology to simply quote an outrageous price for providing a phone line. Surely there are wireless options which could provide Mr Kelly with the full range of BT services if it proves too costly to use land lines."
In response to Mr Kelly's predicament a BT spokeswoman said: "All additional installation costs relating to the provision of service are assessed at survey stage with all elements, labour, poles, cabling and ducting costed for individually.
"Excess construction costs will arise where additional infrastructure or construction work is required to provide service to the customer.
"As in Mr Kelly's case and fortunately only in extremely exceptional circumstances, this amount may rise significantly due to the remoteness of a customer's location and the amount of associated work required to provide service.
"Excess Construction charges apply where the cost of the work to provide PSTN service exceeds £3,400. Customers are then asked to contribute for any provision work above that amount.
"We have been in contact with Mr Kelly and advised him of the position however we would welcome the opportunity to discuss the matter further with him personally."
A spokeswoman for Northern Ireland Water said: "NI Water recognises the needs of any household not currently served by the mains water network.
"NI Water has received Mr Kelly's application form and our Tactical Asset Management Team is currently reviewing this.
"This assessment is close to completion and NI Water will contact Mr Kelly directly to discuss the situation."