Extra charge for 'being arrogant'

A NEW Zealand phone company sent a bill saying it was charging a man extra for 'being an arrogant bastard'. Telecom is investigating how the letter came to be sent to businessman, James Storrie.

He had complained to the company about his mobile phone being cut off by mistake. He also complained three years ago over a Yellow Pages advertisement for his company.

The NZ$337.50 (£92) 'extra' charge was printed under 'product or service' on Storrie's mobile phone bill. 'How can they speak to their clients like this?' he told the New Zealand Herald website. 'It's downright rude.'

Telecom spokesman Andrew Bristol said the company had apologised. Storrie has said he will accept a confidential compensation package and will keep his account with Telecom.

Consumers' Institute chief executive David Russell said there was no consumer law that protected a customer from being called an 'arrogant bastard'. However, in civil law, it could be viewed as defamation.