There was a time when Mountain Bell (AT&T) leased rotary-dial telephones to people for $9/mo.
When I was 19 I worked for AT&T as an account specialist. I dealt with accounts all day, every day, that were calling in to find out what a bill was for, and I'd have to ask questions, like verifying they still had the 4 rotary dial phones still. Most did not, as they were left behind in homes they'd sold or replaced with new touch-dial phones.
The people were always horrified to learn they'd been paying on them for 15-25 years.... Even more horrified to learn that they would then be charged for losing the equipment.
Such a FIAT business.
