Computer billing systems can be immensely stupid without a little human oversight. A few months ago Telecom XT customers got just three days worth of calling out their prepaid cards, and in July a Wellington pensioner had to battle to get her money back after Genesis Energy direct debited her $3,600 for a months' power.

They can go the other way too.

Late last year I switched my landline from Telecom to TelstraClear. I already had an account with them for cable broadband, so when they opened a second account and billed me 19 cents I ignored it.  I expected someone would spot the mistake and amalgamate the two, especially as all subsequent charges went on my old account. But I soon went from, "How long till they fix this?" to "How long will they keep this up?"



Every month for the last ten months they've sent me a bill for the overdue sum of 19 cents.

The postage alone -- even at bulk rates -- must've cost more than 30 cents a pop. And each bill contained a postage-paid envelope to return my payment.

I've joked to friends about burly debt collectors tracking me down and demanding payment, but this month TelstraClear changed tactics to deal with wicked miscreants like me. From October, all overdue accounts will get slapped with a $15 surcharge.

Okay, they win.

This afternoon I wrote out a cheque for 19 cents and sent it off. But I get the last laugh -- even ignoring the postage-paid envelope I sent it in -- because to deposit my cheque will cost them 25 cents in clearance fees!