I'm not sure if this applies here, but ignorance of the rules wont be enough to keep this person from paying.

 

I don't know enough about dialups and what happens, but surely you would have to give out your own number for this to work?

If I understand this correctly

 

i) The person has their dial-up modem still connected

ii) They agreed to installing the dial-up software

iii) The dial-up software disconnected their broadband, and used dial-up to connect to a premium line.(does it even need to disconnect their broadband?)

iv) They ran up a huge bill

 

I am afraid that whether they realised what they were doing or not, they clicked the "yes" button which allowed them to dial into this site at a huge cost. They have to pay (unless NTL are feeling very nice). They have my sympathies, and firms like this should be banned, but ignorance is not a suitable defence