Malaysian man says he’ll fight $218 trillion bill

Published 9:00 pm Monday, April 10, 2006

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – A Malaysian man was speechless when he received a $218 trillion phone bill and was ordered to pay up within 10 days or face prosecution, a newspaper reported Monday.

Yahaya Wahab said he disconnected his late father’s phone line in January after he died and settled the 84 ringgit ($23) bill, the New Straits Times reported.

But Telekom Malaysia later sent him a bill for 806,400,000,000,000.01 ringgit ($218 trillion) for recent telephone calls along with orders to settle within 10 days or face legal proceedings, the newspaper reported.

It wasn’t clear whether the bill was a mistake, or if Yahaya’s father’s phone line was used illegally after his death.

“If the company wants to seek legal action as mentioned in the letter, I’m ready to face it,” Yahaya said. “In fact, I can’t wait to face it.”

Yahaya said he nearly fainted when he saw the new bill.

A company official said Telekom Malaysia was aware of Yahaya’s case and would address it. She did not provide further details.