Phone Firm Adds Insult to Bill, Apologizes 
Wed Feb 13, 7:23 AM ET 

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand's largest phone company Telecom Corp. 
of NZ on Wednesday apologized and offered compensation to a customer after 
charging him a "penalty for being an arrogant bastard". 

  
Telecom has ordered an investigation into how Auckland businessman James 
Storrie received the $140 charge shown on his monthly mobile phone bill. 

"How can they speak to their clients like this? It's downright rude," 
Storrie told the New Zealand Herald newspaper, which carried his 
photograph holding the objectionable bill. 

Telecom spokesman Martin Freeth said the company was appalled and 
embarrassed by the rude statement and had made an offer of compensation. 

"We've apologized and taking steps to stop anything like this...it's an 
aberration," Freeth told Reuters

Copyright 2002 Reuters Limited